How to choose the best simultaneous interpreter

(Last Updated On: June 11, 2015)A simultaneous interpreter is needed during a conference, meeting or sermon to translate in real time what the speaker is saying. If you’re planning a meeting in which you’ll have multicultural audience, then you must ensure simultaneous interpreting services in order to be sure that your audience understands the information they receive. The challenge is to find a good company that will offer you the best services at the right price.

How to get a simultaneous interpreter


The International Medical Interpreters Association states that hospitals and clinics will benefit from simultaneous interpreting services when it comes to the relation between the patient and the staff. According to their studies, a patient feels more comfortable when he or she is addressed in their own language by an interpreter that translates what the doctors and the nurses are saying. Of course, it has to be a simultaneous interpreter with strong knowledge of the healthcare policies and medical procedures in order to calm the patients and offer them peace of mind.

When choosing an interpreter, you should take into consideration some fundamental requirements. He or she will need to have at least five to ten years of experience in speaking the foreign language you need translated. Moreover, he or she needs to have a comprehensive knowledge on the topic that you are discussing. For example, if you are holding a conference to a French audience to speak about dentistry and the whole mouth-body connection, you need somebody who speaks French fluently and is also familiar with the topic.

Also, make sure that the simultaneous interpreter you choose is certified. Aside from the prestige his or her certification offers, it also means that the interpreter has desired to become extra skilled in his line of work and has gone the extra mile.. The best way to choose the interpreter you need is to ask the agency for a test. Make a small speech and ask the simultaneous interpreter to translate it while you’re speaking so that you may get a clear idea of his or her skills. You can also choose to use a simultaneous interpreter  for telephone interpreting. Of course, it’s harder to use telephone interpreting when speaking at a conference, but you can use it for any other situation in order to get the results you need.

Now that you have chosen the best interpreter for you, you need to know some tips in order to get the most out of this service. Whether you are benefiting from telephone interpreting services or classic services, you need to avoid slang language. You could confuse your interpreter and make him or her translate your slang without making any sense. Don’t speak too quickly, you need to have the same rhythm as your interpreter. Also, don’t go into many topics at one time because you can confuse both the interpreter and the audience.

A good simultaneous interpreter will make your work easier and will get your voice heard by those who can’t understand you, breaking the language barrier. That’s why it is so important to find the right person.

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