MATI is pleased to announce a virtual workshop:
911 Telecommunication Interpreting, presented by Saul Artega,
founder of SWITS
This virtual workshop is offered FREE of charge to MATI members and to interpreters of languages of lesser diffusion who practice in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Non-members are also welcome to register for a fee or become a MATI member to enjoy this membership benefit!
Virtual Workshop: Saturday, March 21, 8:30–10:30 a.m. CDT
This virtual workshop will be held via Zoom. Registrants will receive a Zoom link in the emailed registration confirmation.
Session Overview
This virtual workshop will teach you how to quickly identify the type of call you are interpreting for a community service call or a potential criminal case. It will demonstrate how artificial intelligence in this type of setting is counterproductive.
Continuing Education Credits
This virtual workshop is approved for 2 Wisconsin court CEUs.
Description
In this workshop, we will discuss approaches for when our intervention is needed to expedite communication without taking over the call. You will learn to be transparent and conduct a quick pre-session or introduction at the right time, setting the ground rules for interpreting for both the law enforcement team and the limited English proficient (LEP) person. This workshop will help you understand how to be mindful of the state of mind and condition of the LEP person (e.g., panicky, intoxicated, etc.) while trying to remain unbiased with the parties.
Furthermore, you will learn how to recuse yourself from a call when you are unable to keep up with the content or because of a lack of credentials. You will begin to develop your own language reference materials to help you interpret accurately, such as translations and glossaries. Common law enforcement forms will also be discussed, such as forms related to traffic and crime.
Virtual Workshop Learning Objectives
Attendees will:
- Identify the setting of the call: adversarial versus collaborative.
- Identify the role of the interpreter to be applied to the call.
- Manage communication flow without overstepping boundaries.
- Remain calm and confident in your language skills in this setting.
- Expand and summarize information without altering the tone, intent, or register of the information due to the urgency of the communication.
Presenter: Saul Arteaga
Bio
Saul Arteaga was born and raised in Lima, Peru. He came to the US at 19 where he worked while attending a community college. He pursued his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and completed classes toward a master’s degree in Translation Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In 2002, Arteaga established SWITS, Ltd., a language service company based in Delavan, Wisconsin, providing all spoken and signed language services to healthcare organizations, law enforcement, circuit and municipal courts, and educational institutions.
In 2004, he became a court certified interpreter as well as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Committee to improve Court Interpretation and Translation in Wisconsin Courtrooms. In addition to legal interpreting, Arteaga pursued medical and community interpreting, passing the Medical Interpreter Competency Examination offered by the National Center of Interpretation at the University of Arizona and attending classes at the Agnese Haury Summer Institute for Court Interpretation and Medical Interpretation at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2004 and 2008, respectively.
Arteaga is certified by the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters and the Commission for Healthcare Interpreters. He completed the Leadership in Language Access in Healthcare advanced certificate program offered by the IMIA Language Access Leadership Academy.
As a believer in interpreter education, Arteaga developed Equal Footing, a 60-hour medical and community interpreter training program accredited by the IMIA CMIE and had served as an adviser for several community college interpreter programs.
