Is "So You Want to Be an Interpreter?" still good?

S

smokingskull

New Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I'm the boyfriend of a girl that's interested in making interpreting a career. She's still a sophomore in college and has been signing for a few years now through classes in high school/college and through deaf community events, and she's pretty decent.

However, I'm not sure she understands the interpreting career as much as she should and I have been looking through these forums/RID/internet sources to get an idea of what a career in interpreting is like. I've gone through this sub forum (all the way back to 2003!!) looking for information/tips/experiences from current interpreters and students. Also, I've been going through the RID site to get as much info as I can about this career field.

One book I see recommended quite a number of times is "So You Want to Be an Interpreter?" People seem to say this is one of the best books to learn about the career and general background information. But what I don't get is if it's so good, why are the reviews slightly disappointing. I know there aren't lots of reviews to begin with, but there seem to be some complaints about the book being 'outdated' or 'disorganized.'

Before I buy the book, I would like to ask if this book is still as good as it used to be? Should I disregard the average reviews and still get it?

Thanks.


[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Want-Interpreter-Introduction-Language-Interpreting/dp/0976713268/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323597461"]Amazon Link[/ame]
 
It's still an excellent resource for interpreters.

However, I recommend that your girlfriend consider enrolling in a college level interpreter training program because there's a lot more to it than just being "pretty decent" at sign language.
 
I would suggest having her read the "So You Wanna" book, and if she's still interested, then she should sign up for an ITP.
 
My daughter is an interpreter.

I think the worst part of the job is you still have to put up with hearing people.
 
It is disorganized but it's the best I've found. Good luck!. Interpreter training program is going to get her where she needs to go; and most likely they use that book.
 
If she socializes with Deaf people, she already knows more than most people in interpreting programs. If not, it would be a good idea to attend some socials and make some friends.
 
It is a good book, but a book can only teach you so much. She needs to sign up for an ITP and start watching other interpreters. You can learn so much through observation.
 
smokingskull said:
Hi,

I'm the boyfriend of a girl that's interested in making interpreting a career. She's still a sophomore in college and has been signing for a few years now through classes in high school/college and through deaf community events, and she's pretty decent.

However, I'm not sure she understands the interpreting career as much as she should and I have been looking through these forums/RID/internet sources to get an idea of what a career in interpreting is like. I've gone through this sub forum (all the way back to 2003!!) looking for information/tips/experiences from current interpreters and students. Also, I've been going through the RID site to get as much info as I can about this career field.

One book I see recommended quite a number of times is "So You Want to Be an Interpreter?" People seem to say this is one of the best books to learn about the career and general background information. But what I don't get is if it's so good, why are the reviews slightly disappointing. I know there aren't lots of reviews to begin with, but there seem to be some complaints about the book being 'outdated' or 'disorganized.'

Before I buy the book, I would like to ask if this book is still as good as it used to be? Should I disregard the average reviews and still get it?

Thanks.


Amazon Link
Click to expand...

You are over looking a serious question if you are her boyfriend.

Do YOU understand what an interpreting career means to you?

Can YOU take the stress? Are you secure with yourself and your relationship?

This is from experience. My daughter is a terp.

Her current love interest and I are eating lunch at a popular restaurant with her. She taps on her blue tooth. "Hi,(name) what's up?"

BF, "My god we are eating lunch. Tell them to call back."

She squints at him. "Yes." head nod. "Yes." Frowns. "Twenty minutes." She stands up, wraps some food in a napkin, jams it into her purse.

BF, "Sit down. You can't leave. We are in the middle of lunch."

"Love you dad," she gives me a kiss and heads for the door.

BF, "Why didn't she kiss me goodbye too?"

"You pissed her off." I'm laughing, which does not help matters.

BF, "She didn't even tell us where she is going."

"Hippo law. (Yes, that is the way I pronounce it). Confidentiality. She can't."

BF, "She could be going to meet some guy in a motel right in front of me and how would I know?"

"You don't. You need another girl friend with a different kind of job. Lots of em out there."

BF, "If she marries me she won't need to work."

"If you are rich enough she would work Pro Bono." I add, "For free," in case he does not understand what "Pro Bono" means. "The situation would be the same. She loves what she does."

BF "We came in her car. How do I get home?"

"I'll take you. But first I'm going to finish my lunch. In the mean time there is a cute waitress over there. I'll bet she never gets phone calls like that." I watch the waitress and pretend I don't notice how he is glaring at me.
 
sallylou said:
If she socializes with Deaf people, she already knows more than most people in interpreting programs.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I've met my share of people who are good signers but terrible interpreters. Socializing might give you a leg up on the language, but it doesn't teach you anything about how to process information and effectively interpret from one language to another, nor does it teach you how to conduct yourself like a professional or give you the tools you need for effective decision making when facing ethical dilemmas.

Besides, any interpreting program that doesn't actively encourage socializing with the Deaf community is worthless.
 
I'm in an introductory interpretation class now and we're using that book. It is somewhat scattered, but it does outline a lot of useful information for you to consider when entertaining the idea of interpreting. Also, the author refers you to many other sources to delve deeper into the issues she raises, so it's a very good starting point.
 
I asked my daughter why she doesn't want to be an interpreter and she said she doesn't like it when deaf people get too emotional (get out of control). She experienced it many times with her emotional mom. Usually hearing people on the other end keep cool while some deaf people don't.
 
CrazyPaul said:
I asked my daughter why she doesn't want to be an interpreter and she said she doesn't like it when deaf people get too emotional (get out of control). She experienced it many times with her emotional mom. Usually hearing people on the other end keep cool while some deaf people don't.
Click to expand...

Most hearing people, especially the professionals, train themselves to an unemotional, uninvolved, detached, robotic, mindset, somehow believing this is an attitude of superior intellect and reason. It comes from an ancient idea that humans are somehow superior to animals because they deny their emotions and their instincts and engage mind alone. The Greeks started it, and it has managed to continue to this day.

I frankly believe it is an unhealthy attitude.

Those who are the best at it are those who don't care about anyone or anything. What does that tell you?
 
CrazyPaul said:
I asked my daughter why she doesn't want to be an interpreter and she said she doesn't like it when deaf people get too emotional (get out of control). She experienced it many times with her emotional mom. Usually hearing people on the other end keep cool while some deaf people don't.
Click to expand...
Say what?

I've been interpreting for more than a few years, and I've never considered this to be a problem.
 
Berry said:
Most hearing people, especially the professionals, train themselves to an unemotional, uninvolved, detached, robotic, mindset, somehow believing this is an attitude of superior intellect and reason. It comes from an ancient idea that humans are somehow superior to animals because they deny their emotions and their instincts and engage mind alone. The Greeks started it, and it has managed to continue to this day.

I frankly believe it is an unhealthy attitude.

Those who are the best at it are those who don't care about anyone or anything. What does that tell you?
Click to expand...

I know people like this. Trust me on this one, you do not want to know such people. They will wreck your life if you let them. :P
 
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Reba said:
CrazyPaul said:
I asked my daughter why she doesn't want to be an interpreter and she said she doesn't like it when deaf people get too emotional (get out of control). She experienced it many times with her emotional mom. Usually hearing people on the other end keep cool while some deaf people don't.
Click to expand...
Say what?

I've been interpreting for more than a few years, and I've never considered this to be a problem.
Click to expand...

Nothing like making assumptions about millions of people based on a handful! Gees.

Of all the Deaf ASL users I've known there's maybe one that fits into the "over emotional" category.
That over emotional etc type of behaviour is an individual "human thing" and has nothing at all to do with someone being hearing , Hoh, deaf or Deaf.

It's too bad she's basing a career choice on 1 or 2 people, because she's just as liking to run into this in the Hearing World as the Deaf one.

I'm a bit curious why her Dad didn't correct her on this misconception of Deaf people, and in stead let her continue believing it.
 
Reba said:
Say what?

I've been interpreting for more than a few years, and I've never considered this to be a problem.
Click to expand...
There are some deaf people who have poor anger management. Of course, some hearing people have it, too.

BTW, what I meant in my post is that my daughter doesn't like to interpret angry messages. I am sure that some deaf people call through VRS and express anger for some reasons. For example, a deaf person gets pissed off when he got a letter from SSA stating that his application for SS disability benefits was rejected because of lack of evidence or something like that. Then he calls SSA through VRS and expresses anger.

At my workplace, one deaf co-worker was angry at her supervisor and the interpreter asked her to calm down but she refused so the interpreter had to be patient with her "yelling" for like 30 minutes. I can tell that the interpreter was glad that the meeting was over and left the building immediately. LOL

So you know, some people have a problem with their anger management.
 
CrazyPaul said:
There are some deaf people who have poor anger management. Of course, some hearing people have it, too.

BTW, what I meant in my post is that my daughter doesn't like to interpret angry messages. I am sure that some deaf people call through VRS and express anger for some reasons. For example, a deaf person gets pissed off when he got a letter from SSA stating that his application for SS disability benefits was rejected because of lack of evidence or something like that. Then he calls SSA through VRS and expresses anger.

At my workplace, one deaf co-worker was angry at her supervisor and the interpreter asked her to calm down but she refused so the interpreter had to be patient with her "yelling" for like 30 minutes. I can tell that the interpreter was glad that the meeting was over and left the building immediately. LOL

So you know, some people have a problem with their anger management.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't find it surprising that CODAs would be more reluctant to become professional interpreters than non-CODAs. There are some youtube videos about that, some CODAs were talking about how everyone just assumed they would become professional interpreters and it was the last thing they wanted to do.
 
CrazyPaul said:
...At my workplace, one deaf co-worker was angry at her supervisor and the interpreter asked her to calm down but she refused so the interpreter had to be patient with her "yelling" for like 30 minutes. I can tell that the interpreter was glad that the meeting was over and left the building immediately. LOL....
Click to expand...
The interpreter asked her to calm down? What about the supervisor?
 
DeafCaroline said:
I wouldn't find it surprising that CODAs would be more reluctant to become professional interpreters than non-CODAs. There are some youtube videos about that, some CODAs were talking about how everyone just assumed they would become professional interpreters and it was the last thing they wanted to do.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wonder why. My son, daughter and three nieces are CODAs. I told them that an interpreter makes good money but they are not interested. Oh, well, that's their decision.
 
Back
Top