amymarie29
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Amy McCreary
Hi to you two(REBA) lol That's my favorite show
It's also important to remember that the interpreters job is to INTERPRET (not education), it's the Doctors' (RN, LPN etc) job to explain the medical condition to the Hoh/Deaf/SI individual - through the interpreter and the Hoh/Deaf/SI individual's job to ask the doctor/RN/LPN etc for clarification, explanations etc. regarding what something means - through the interpreter.
I agree that it is absolutely the doctor's responsibility to explain medical conditions. I still feel it is very important that a medical interpreter be knowledgeable of medical terms. It's hard to sign concepts that you don't understand. Also, for all that fingerspelling you will have to do, it's important you already know the correct spelling (or ask the doctor for the spelling no more than once - it's the doctor's job to educate the patient, not the interpreter).
Absolutely - To clarify, I'm not saying that the OP shouldn't also become very versed in medical terminology including spelling. The OP absolutely will need to get a number of written English texts etc with medical terms etc so they become fluent in "medical speak". However it's also important that an interpreter has the professional explain the term to the patient (through the interpreter) not the interpreter signing their (the interpreter's) knowledge on what that term is. Do you understand what I mean?
I think of it this way... I'm fluent in ASL, but I know nothing about cars. If I were ever asked to interpret an auto shop class, I don't know what I would do. I could sign in ASL. But, someone else who is fluent in ASL AND knows car repair terminology and concepts would be better suited for the job. Same thing can be applied to medical interpreting.
I'm a seminary student - so my university level classes deal with a lot of very technical and specific terminology. Educational interpreting has some differences espeically regarding "prep" to Drs office visits etc.
For example at the start of my courses (usually a few days before) the prof will give my interpreters & myself certain information about that class - in addition to the course outline that we would have got earlier with a reading list of books, text required for the class (because my interpreters often have to read/have copies of the text/books we use - they have "homework" just like me!). One of the most important piece of "additional information" that we get is a vocabulary list that gives a list of all the technical etc words that we'll be using / learning in the class. Often this vocabulary list will also have brief definitions along side them as well. The profs also will typically provide websites or books that are espeically good at providing concise, clear definitions to vocabulary. At that point it is our job (my interpreters & myself) to make sure that we are familiar with all the words that will be used, research any that we don't know, decide which signs to use if multiple signs are available, and create temporary signs for words that need to assigned them. We also create "cheat sheets" in case on of my usual interpreters is ill and another interpreter has to jump in (who will likely not be as versed in theological terms as my assigned terps)
In GOOD educational interpreting settings the interpreter doesn't just show up for the class and interpret a topic on which they know nothing about, they've in most cases done quite a bit of "prep" so that they are able to do their job well -"jump ins" occasionally happen with subs and it's a nightmare for the interpreter and the Hoh/Deaf person more often than not . Also many interpreters will prefer/specialize in certain fields - which is noted on their file with the interpreter agency so that when a specific job comes an interpreter who is comfortable in that setting can be booked.
My bottom line is this - Become fluent in ASL and medical terminology and you will make a great medical interpreter. Best of luck to you!