25
Read more
Sara Bell,
Senior Marketing &
Communications Manager
RWS
Working with Interpreters.
Top tips for course organisers
Companies planning to have international
participants attend their training need a clear
understanding of how to work with
interpreters and prepare in advance to deliver
the most effective results.
First things first. Before you contact
interpreters, confirm the location, format,
agenda and course content. These factors will
have a crucial impact on the language
support required. When budgeting, you will
need to build in travel and subsistence costs
for interpreters and subject to location,
possibly overnight accommodation for the
duration.
Some of the key points to consider during the
planning stage are outlined here. You may
also want to call on the services of an
experienced project manager so they can
ensure your plans are workable and can
support you through the process. When
selecting interpreters, of course, you'll check
they are fluent in the language of course
leaders and participants, but make sure they
have experience of your industry and
terminology.
A perfect match
If the course is mainly delivered through
presentations, simultaneous interpreting is
normally the best choice. In this situation, a
team of at least two interpreters will be
needed as they work in pairs to maintain the
quality of their service throughout the working
day. In cases with less formal content and
more visual or hands on content, it may be
possible to use a consecutive interpreter. The
interpreter will deliver the presenter's remarks
segment by segment and can assist with
language support when delegates are
working on practical tasks.
Simultaneous interpreters will usually need
equipment to deliver content to the delegates
via headsets. This can be done using a
portable tour guide kit which is relatively easy
to operate and set up. It is also ideal for
courses which frequently move rooms or
include social tours or factory visits.
However, there will always be a little
background noise in the room and someone
has to be responsible for charging the
equipment and collecting everything at the
end. A professional booth is relatively
soundproof and allows for a smoother
professional delivery. However, they do
require an on-site specialist technician,
enough room in each classroom to
accommodate them and time to set up and
dismantle.Share: