Interpreters, what do clients do...

Hear Again said:
Thanks for your reply Reba. I actually found it helpful, so the next time I have this interpreter (or any tactile interpreter), I will make this request.
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That's the best way to handle it--discuss signals, cues, behaviors, etc., ahead of time so there's no confusion or unintended offense.

Sometimes it seems that terps are (or should be) mind readers but we are not. :giggle:
 
Reba said:
I also carry an EpiPen but I don't expect my interpreting clients to take care of my medical needs.

I'm surprised that your interpreters accept that responsibility.
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I by no means expect them to do that. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I have had A LOT of very severe allergic reactions or very severe asthma attacks that require medical intervention. One thing that I joke about is that EpiPens are my crack :giggle:

I mostly tell them so that when/if it does happen it doesn't come as a surprise. I figured that they would be more upset if they were with me from 4-8 hours a week and were unaware that it may happen and then I were to have a severe reaction.

I have never been in a position where I couldn't administer my own EpiPen. The only thing I sometimes need is for someone to grab it from my purse and give it to me.

I have a good relationship with all of my interpreters for school. Maybe that's why it seems strange that I would not tell them.
 
I wish I had known this cuz there were a few times I wanted to doze off for a short time in a few of my classes when i was a college student but I refused to due to feeling guilty about the terp. LOL!
 
Hear Again said:
In my post above, I said that my tactile interpreter kept tapping my hands to wake me up (during a class lecture). Was that unprofessional of her to do?
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In my opinion it was. As far as I'm concerned clients have every right to fall asleep in class just like hearing people. The hearing students don't have people with them to wake them up, so I don't feel it's appropriate to wake up a client. That is not interpreting, that is caretaking. We are not there to make you better students; we are there to facilitate communication. It's not like we don't get paid if you fall asleep.

Things that have annoyed me from clients: wanting to have a conversation with me while I'm trying to interpret; not paying attention and then wanting me to recap for them (by no means am I including when students are taking notes or consulting the book; I mean like texting during class and then wanting me to re-interpret the past five minutes); asking me questions that should be directed to the interlocutor; signing stuff and then getting pissed off that I voiced it...hmm, those are the ones that leap to mind.

Things I appreciate from clients: polite suggestions/criticisms/corrections regarding my signing/interpreting. I had one student point out an unconscious habit I developed at some point where I was looking over the students' heads while interpreting. If she hadn't said anything I wouldn't have known to make an active effort to fix that. I really like it when clients express their concerns to me directly if it's something we can easily fix by working together on it, although I understand that isn't always possible.
 
Interpretrator said:
In my opinion it was. As far as I'm concerned clients have every right to fall asleep in class just like hearing people. The hearing students don't have people with them to wake them up, so I don't feel it's appropriate to wake up a client. That is not interpreting, that is caretaking. We are not there to make you better students; we are there to facilitate communication. It's not like we don't get paid if you fall asleep.

I can see your point, Interpretrator. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Things I appreciate from clients: polite suggestions/criticisms/corrections regarding my signing/interpreting. I had one student point out an unconscious habit I developed at some point where I was looking over the students' heads while interpreting. If she hadn't said anything I wouldn't have known to make an active effort to fix that. I really like it when clients express their concerns to me directly if it's something we can easily fix by working together on it, although I understand that isn't always possible.
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When I learned tactile sign, I was encouraged to inform my tactile interpreters about what works or doesn't work when it comes to the way they sign, guide me in an unfamiliar environment, etc. Not once have I encountered an interpreter who has been unappreciative of my comments or suggestions. In fact, like you, they appreciate the feedback and use it to make the interpreting experience a better one for their clients. I'm glad my sign language instructor encouraged me to share comments/suggestions because if she hadn't, I never would have realized this was my right in the first place.
 
Hear Again said:
When I learned tactile sign, I was encouraged to inform my tactile interpreters about what works or doesn't work when it comes to the way they sign, guide me in an unfamiliar environment, etc. Not once have I encountered an interpreter who has been unappreciative of my comments or suggestions. In fact, like you, they appreciate the feedback and use it to make the interpreting experience a better one for their clients. I'm glad my sign language instructor encouraged me to share comments/suggestions because if she hadn't, I never would have realized this was my right in the first place.
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Yes, I do the same too. If I am using an interpreter for one afternoon and may never see them again I will give them some feedback very early on if something really isn't working, or if something works really well! If I will be with that interpreter for a year or so at school, then i wait a class or two and see how things evolve. All of my interpreters are REALLY open to feedback and I give it.

The biggest thing I find myself doing is teaching signs for certain disabilities like autism, and downs syndrome. Some people have some pretty interesting and disrespectful signs for them!
 
how about when Deaf clients dont sign clear themselves. It is expected that interpreters sign clearly, but some clients sign lazy or unclear and demand the interpreters to catch it. It is a 2 way street. Also, when Deaf clients sign just fragments of the message and expect the interpreters to read their minds and fill in the gaps. If the interpreters cant read their minds or wave their magic wands to figure out what they meant to say, the clients get an attitude and throw a hissy fit.....but they dont hold themselves accountable.
 
Reba said:
The dozing client no longer bothers me. I continue interpreting because I'm "on the clock". That way, if the client wakes up, I'm just flowing along as though nothing happened. Also, if the hiring party is paying for my time, I deliver my services during that entire time. It also looks better to the hearing audience to not see the terp stop working or doing other stuff while a lecture is going on.

My exception to that would be if the deaf client physically and permanently leaves the room. I would then leave also.
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Well put!
 
Heh, that remind me last few weeks how often I became sleepy in class. I never really fall asleep, but I had entered trance-like state recently which was creepy.

Sometimes my interpreter would jokingly say "Wake up." out of nowhere and that somehow got me to pay attention to interpreter again especially if I have zoned out of the lecture. Heh.
 
when i use tactile sign, it's difficult for me to fall asleep on my terp since tactile sign is so physically demanding.

however, as i mentioned in an earlier post, there was one day where i did fall asleep because i stayed up the night before studying for an exam. my terp tapped my hands and i would open my eyes for a second, but then close them right away. this happened repeatedly throughout the hour and i felt guilty about the fact that my terp had to keep waking me up (her choice to do so).

i can still remember her signing "hahahaha" and then saying at the end of class, "you must have been REALLY tired to fall asleep on me using tactile sign! that doesn't happen very often!" :lol:
 
Hear Again said:
when i use tactile sign, it's difficult for me to fall asleep on my terp since tactile sign is so physically demanding.

however, as i mentioned in an earlier post, there was one day where i did fall asleep because i stayed up the night before studying for an exam. my terp tapped my hands and i would open my eyes for a second, but then close them right away. this happened repeatedly throughout the hour and i felt guilty about the fact that my terp had to keep waking me up (her choice to do so).

i can still remember her signing "hahahaha" and then saying at the end of class, "you must have been REALLY tired to fall asleep on me using tactile sign! that doesn't happen very often!" :lol:
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As long as you didn't actually slump over on me, I would have let you sleep. :lol:
 
This is an interesting thread! ;) JennyB if you don't mind me I have something to ask all the interpreters.

When I went to a court, I had an interpreter provided, but then an interpreter informed me that she cannot sit by me outside/inside of the court room until my name is called because she said she isn't suppose to know about my case, and that she must be sworn in front of the judge. And she also refused to interpreter other cases in court. I thought we have the right to the same access of service as hearing people received, if they can be able to hear what's being said in court, why can't I know what's going on too?
 
Cheri said:
This is an interesting thread! ;) JennyB if you don't mind me I have something to ask all the interpreters.

When I went to a court, I had an interpreter provided, but then an interpreter informed me that she cannot sit by me outside/inside of the court room until my name is called because she said she isn't suppose to know about my case, and that she must be sworn in front of the judge. And she also refused to interpreter other cases in court. I thought we have the right to the same access of service as hearing people received, if they can be able to hear what's being said in court, why can't I know what's going on too?
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What do you mean by "she also refused to interpreter other cases in court"? Do you mean other cases that were being conducted while you were waiting for your case to come up? That is, cases in which you weren't involved?
 
Reba said:
What do you mean by "she also refused to interpreter other cases in court"? Do you mean other cases that were being conducted while you were waiting for your case to come up? That is, cases in which you weren't involved?
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Right. :)
 
Cheri said:
Right. :)
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If I'm following the situation correctly, I would say that she was hired by the court to interpret for your case only. If you wanted other cases interpreted, you would have to request a separate interpreter for that, and I suspect the court would not pay for that because you would be there as a spectator, not a participant.
 
Reba said:
If I'm following the situation correctly, I would say that she was hired by the court to interpret for your case only. If you wanted other cases interpreted, you would have to request a separate interpreter for that, and I suspect the court would not pay for that because you would be there as a spectator, not a participant.
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I thought interpreters are to interpret everything that they hear to their clients. :dunno:
 
Cheri said:
I thought interpreters are to interpret everything that they hear to their clients. :dunno:
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Yes, but you were the terp's client only during your court case. Everything else was outside of the paid-for client time.

Examples:

1. You are a deaf employee at a large business. After your interpreted meeting with the supervisor, you want to go to the work-place cafeteria and chat with co-workers. Do you expect the terp to go with you to the cafeteria and interpret the conversations?

2. You are the deaf play goer, and you arrive early at the theater for an interpreted play. Before the play begins, you see some hearing friends in the audience. Would you expect the interpreter for the play to also interpret for your chat with your friends before the play begins?


In the above examples, you can see why terps often avoid contact with deaf clients prior to, or after, an assignment.

I was told by a senior interpreting mentor that when I interpret for college classes, I should wait outside the classroom until both the student and instructor arrive. That way, I'm not involved in any conversations outside of the scope of my duties.

Also, some hospitals don't allow terps in patients' rooms until time to interpret between the patient and staff. That means no social chit chat before the appointment.
 
:lol: No, I don't expect them to do that. But; it just that I've never experience an interpreter that did not sign everything that is said and say everything that is signed even if it's during the parents/teachers conference, or doctor appointments, or court hearings. You know what I mean? I just felt like I'm being left out, being miss out on what's being said by the other party.
 
reba,

i have a question for you. if a deaf or deafblind student falls asleep during a lecture and is snoring loudly, is it your job to wake them up if the professor makes a comment about that student -- or do you just let them sleep or let the professor wake them up instead?
 
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