When working with interpreters:

• Provide the interpreter with a safe working environment
• You will need extra time when working with an interpreter
• Avoid long, complex sentences, do not use slang, idiomatic expressions, highly technical vocabulary or jargon
• Speak clearly, loudly and at a moderate pace
• Talk directly to your client/patient not to the interpreter
• Refrain from asking the interpreter for his/her personal opinion
• Refrain from asking the interpreter for community resources or cultural background questions; the client and the interpreter do not necessarily share the same culture since they speak the same language
• For long assignments, provide a break as accuracy declines with time (simultaneous after 30 minutes, consecutive after 2 – 2 1/2 hours)
• Pause frequently to allow the interpreter to render all the information
• Be aware of non-verbal communication
• Encourage the interpreter to clarify terms
• Some words don’t have an exact translation into the foreign language; the interpreter would have to provide an explanation of the term, that does not mean he/she is adding information, feel free to clarify if in doubt.
• Before the appointment, whenever possible, provide background information about the case, for the interpreter to become familiar with the subject matter.

 Booking an Interpreter:

• Book follow-up appointments directly with the agency.
• Cancel appointments directly with the agency.
• Book the interpreter as soon as you are aware you will be needing one.
• Cancel the interpreter as soon as you are aware of the cancellation not only to avoid the 24 hour cancellation policy but to allow the interpreter to take other assignments.
• ASL interpreters work on different parameters, you would need to book them ahead of time, their cancellation policy is 48 hours instead of 24 hours and their rate is different.
• Fill out the feedback form to help us with quality assurance

 Information Needed for Booking Interpreters:

• • Organization’s name
  • Service provider’s full name and extension
  • Language (not nationality)
  • Client/Patient’s name or a file number
  • Date of the assignment
  • Time of the assignment and expected duration
  • If it is a home visit, we need complete address and contact information for the meeting
  • Background information so the interpreter can research and prepare for the encounter

When working with interpreters:

• Provide the interpreter with a safe working environment
• You will need extra time when working with an interpreter
• Avoid long, complex sentences, do not use slang, idiomatic expressions, highly technical vocabulary or jargon
• Speak clearly, loudly and at a moderate pace
• Talk directly to your client/patient not to the interpreter
• Refrain from asking the interpreter for his/her personal opinion
• Refrain from asking the interpreter for community resources or cultural background questions; the client and the interpreter do not necessarily share the same culture since they speak the same language
• For long assignments, provide a break as accuracy declines with time (simultaneous after 30 minutes, consecutive after 2 – 2 1/2 hours)
• Pause frequently to allow the interpreter to render all the information
• Be aware of non-verbal communication
• Encourage the interpreter to clarify terms
• Some words don’t have an exact translation into the foreign language; the interpreter would have to provide an explanation of the term, that does not mean he/she is adding information, feel free to clarify if in doubt.
• Before the appointment, whenever possible, provide background information about the case, for the interpreter to become familiar with the subject matter.

Booking an Interpreter:

• Book follow-up appointments directly with the agency.
• Cancel appointments directly with the agency.
• Book the interpreter as soon as you are aware you will be needing one.
• Cancel the interpreter as soon as you are aware of the cancellation not only to avoid the 24 hour cancellation policy but to allow the interpreter to take other assignments.
• ASL interpreters work on different parameters, you would need to book them ahead of time, their cancellation policy is 48 hours instead of 24 hours and their rate is different.
• Fill out the feedback form to help us with quality assurance

Information Needed for Booking Interpreters:

• • Organization’s name
  • Service provider’s full name and extension
  • Language (not nationality)
  • Client/Patient’s name or a file number
  • Date of the assignment
  • Time of the assignment and expected duration
  • If it is a home visit, we need complete address and contact information for the meeting
  • Background information so the interpreter can research and prepare for the encounter