Ask NAATI July 2021, features Certification Policy and Development Manager, Aurelie Sheehan and National Operations Manager, Michael Nemarich on the panel.
List of Questions for Part 2:
- I am not an interpreter yet, I have family members who are on workers compensation and often require an interpreter. The problem is the interpreter does not know the terminology for workers compensation. Often my family members become frustrated when dealing with interpreters. I know this is not recommended but there is really no other option, often I have to be the interpreter and waste my time. The LOTE speaker becomes frustrated. This isn't a one-off thing either it's everywhere when interpreters are used on the phone with insurance companies, WIRO, in person with rehab providers, at independent appointments etc. I have seen this happen over 99 per cent of the time. Just the other day a family member called WIRO with an interpreter, they became frustrated and the interpreter was difficult. I called back two days later and funny enough stumbled on the same person who the family member spoke to and she told me that even though she did not speak the language she could feel that the interpreting was going nowhere. The interpreter was yelling and refusing to interpret. This is not acceptable and needs to be fixed ASAP. Thanks
- After a person passes their NAATI exam, they are not really required to sit any other test unless they want a higher accreditation. They must show PD in their language but the is pretty much it. I have spent years observing interpreters for various family members. I have seen interpreters omit large chunks of information, not interpret everything, interpreting in the third person. I once confronted an interpreter because he omitted large chunks of information. I told the family member that the interpreter missed large chunks of information. The interpreter had the audacity to get angry at me because I caught him not doing his job. Another interpreter did not interpret the risks of an angiogram, Lucky I had interpreted the risks prior to my family member. If I am not present at these important appointments for family members, how do I know if the interpreter is doing their job properly? There seems to be a double standard for interpreters and those who want to be interpreters.
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Don’t forget to visit our training website for more information and PD opportunities: https://www.conversations-interpretingandtranslating.com.au/w/