Best Practices For Interpreters
The following points will help ensure that your multilingual conferences run smoothly and without incident:
- 1. Before the meeting starts
Before the meeting starts, close any windows and stop any other applications on your computer that are not required during the meeting. Make sure that you will not be distracted by email or instant messaging. Completely disable any music players or other applications that could interfere with your audio. Disable any file-sharing or other functions that could unexpectedly consume internet bandwidth.
- 2. Ensure reliable internet access
If you share your internet connection with others (such as family members), caution them not to download videos or play internet games that will consume bandwidth and interfere with your connection.
- 3. If someone gets disconnected
If you are the Moderator and one of your participants gets disconnected, STOP interpretation and explain the situation to the other participants. Wait a few minutes to see if the missing participant re-connects. Once they do, put them back in the proper “room” (language channel) and resume interpretation. If a key participant remains absent for 10 minutes, announce that the meeting will have to be rescheduled.
- 4. If you are having trouble understanding someone
If you are having trouble understanding a participant, STOP interpretation and explain to everybody that you are having trouble. Talk to the specific participant, and ask them to make whatever adjustments they can to help you. (If they are using a speakerphone, they should switch to the handset. If they are in a noisy area, ask them to do whatever they can to eliminate the noise. If they are using a mobile phone, see if they can connect via a fixed line. Ask them to slow down or to speak more distinctly if appropriate.)
- 5. If you hear extra background noise
If you are hearing extra background noise, check the ZipDX Dashboard. If it indicates that someone is “now talking” but you do not hear their voice, they could be the source of the noise. Click on their name and use the “soft mute” function to block their audio.
- 6. If someone is too quiet
If one (or more) of your participants is too quiet (or too loud), use the volume control that is part of your headset, or use the ZipDX Dashboard and click their name, then click the volume control. If participants complain that you are too quiet or too loud, use the ZipDX Dashboard to adjust your own volume.
- 7. If there is too much distraction to continue
If there is too much distraction and you are unable to interpret simultaneously, revert to consecutive interpretation. Click the STOP interpretation in ZipLine, and explain the situation to your participants.
- 8. If you get disconnected
If you get disconnected and cannot reconnect via the web (for example, if your internet connection fails), connect via a conventional phone. Explain what has happened. Revert to consecutive interpretation.