As an orientation and mobility specialist, I’ve worked with visually impaired individuals of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom speak Spanish as their primary language. Let’s face it, if your Spanish is as limited as mine is, you need an interpreter, but sometimes there are none to be found.
Here are some short-term strategies I’ve used when my back was to the wall:
Hit up your bilingual friends or co-workers. Bribe them with whatever you’ve got. Food usually works, but sometimes they demand alcohol, too.
This approach has some potential benefits and drawbacks. I’ve had some friends who, although they are not professional interpreters, are outstanding. I’ve had others (no names will be mentioned) who were possibly overwhelmed by the task. I noticed this after my Spanish-speaking student spoke at length for a few minutes, and my friend interpreted the lengthy oration by merely saying "He said no." I’m not sure, but I think I may have missed some important information in that interpretation.
Find out if your student has bilingual family members that might be available to serve as an interpreter. It’s not unusual for the children of Spanish-speaking adults to be bilingual and they may actually have served as interpreters for their parents in many situations. I’ve also worked with members of the church that one of my Spanish-speaking students attended. Again, when working with non-professional interpreters, especially children, expect communication gaps. This is far from ideal and not your best long-term solution.
Clean up your communication. I’m not talking about your use of curse words here, I’m talking about your everyday use of language. When speaking with individuals who are English language learners, or working with non-professional interpreters, it isn’t the best time to aim to impress with your fancy-schmancy vocabulary. Instead, it’s probably a better idea to slow your speech down a bit and ensure you enunciate clearly. Use shorter sentences and simpler syntax than you might normally use. Also consider your use of tense, as most new language learners find present tense use easier to understand. Also check yourself if you are a frequent user of idioms. If you want to tell your student that the route you are going to introduce is easy, it might not be the best idea to say “It’s a piece of cake” or you may find your student will be very disappointed. Another avenue of communication to consider, if your student has low vision, is use of gestures and demonstrations. Draw on your past experiences playing Charades — it will be fun!
Download and use a translation or interpretation app on your smart phone. I’ve used iTranslate Voice on a handful of occasions. It’s simple and will provide almost immediate written translation as well as voice interpretation.
You need a sense of humor when using technology for translation and you should be prepared for some very funny mistakes. When my co-editor Matt Hogel and I demonstrated this app at a national conference, he said "Nice to meet you" in Spanish and my phone interpreted it in English as "I love you" for all to hear. This is how rumors get started.
Contact an interpreter by phone. Never fear! Spanish interpreters are available at a moment’s notice by telephone, providing you have a budget to work with. There are a variety of service providers that are easily found through an internet search and fees are charged typically by the minute. Benefits to using such telephone services include the availability of high skilled interpreters in multiple languages at a moment’s notice. I’ve found this type of service to be fabulous for interviews when seated indoors with a landline and a speakerphone. Potential limitations or complications include the possibility of poor wireless connection if relying upon a cell phone during a lesson.
Here are a few tips for using a professional interpreter (by phone or in person):
Allow for extra time when an interpreter is being used. Since everything has to be said twice, doubling the time makes sense!
Prepare the interpreter before beginning your interactions with the student by giving them a brief background about what you will be doing. Ask the interpreter to introduce themselves and their role to the student.
Speak directly to your student. Avoid phrases such as "Tell her my name is Brenda." Instead, just introduce yourself, then pause and allow the translator to relay the message. When using an in-person interpreter, be sure to face your student when speaking (and not the interpreter).
Speak in short segments (a couple of sentences at a time at most), then pause to allow the interpreter to relay your messages.
Be prepared to make an extra effort to develop rapport with your student as this can be trickier when an interpreter is involved. And no matter what, don’t forget your sense of humor!
Brenda J. Naimy, M.A., a certified orientation and mobility specialist, is a Lecturer in the Orientation and Mobility Specialist Training Program, Visual Impairments and Blindness, Division of Special Education and Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles; as well as an Appeals Specialist for ADA Paratransit Eligibility at Access Services, in Los Angeles. She has co-authored a number of textbook chapters on orientation and mobility assessment and program planning and services for children and youths in Foundations of Orientation and Mobility and Foundations of Low Vision, developed online instructional modules, and conducted numerous presentations on various aspects of orientation and mobility.
Learn more about Basic Spanish for Orientation and Mobility Edited By Brenda J. Naimy, Matthew W. Hogel in the AFB Bookstore.
