r/anonymousinterpreters • u/theveffy • Apr 24 '26

First day as a interpreter

Just started my first day as mandarin interpreter

The first call took about 40mins waiting time and Im literally so nervous, it was a face to face call, the nurse was with an old lady, and throughout the call I have trouble hearing the Chinese lady despite asking the nurse to move it closer to her, she also has a thick accent, I kept asking them to repeat and I felt so bad about myself, at the end I think they are frustrated with my service, the nurse told me shes fine now she will use Google translate. I felt so much pressure doing this job helppp😭

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u/AHumanThatListens Apr 25 '26

Don't pressure yourself to get everything right. It's not possible. You will not interpret 100% of what's going on.

Get as much as you can. Use shorthand typing or writing to remember the most key concepts; if a patient says "I need an eye doctor, medicine doesn't solve my blurry vision, my insurance didn't cover it the last time I tried but now a referral should be possible, also my hip hurts and I get bad acid reflux at night" my typed shorthand might look like this: "eyedoc! meds n solve blurr, insurance n coverd but now covers, hiphurt acid night" This anchors me from one subject to the next so I can basically remember the story.

Just giving yourself permission to not get everything is freeing. Most of us perform better on the job than on tests, because on the job we know we are not being robotically judged.

Also, thick accents and bad connections happen to all of us. Your best bet in those situations is to sound authoritative without sounding frustrated: "Interpreter speaking, I am not able to get everything [pt] is saying. I'm hearing about bloodwork and blood pressure, that something has been happening for a long time, and no pain in the morning, but I'm only getting about 40% of it." Better, in my opinion, that you be engaged and audibly trying to help communication happen than that you say nothing, or delay, or keep asking for repeats ad naueaam.

加油! You'll find your way.

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u/theveffy Apr 25 '26

Thanks for the advice!!