Kat Pearson: The importance of prep before interpreting BSL assignments!

Throughout my training I was taught the importance of preparing for an assignment. Prep improves our interpreting as we can focus on the job in hand rather than processing double the amount of information. Communication on all sides is facilitated better and everyone has the same information to the source language.

As a ‘new terp on the block’ I have been keen to implement this aspect, confident in the knowledge that my mantra of ‘you can never prep too much’ will be one of the keys to my success.

I factor it into my weekly schedule, the fee I invoice is never just for the time on the job, it includes the time (often hours) of unseen work behind the scenes.

However, just because it’s a priority for me, it doesn’t necessarily mean that others are as invested, nor do they make it easy on us poor interpreters. As I reflect on this, I’ve noticed that individuals broadly fit into one of the following categories:

The ‘have you got everything you need?’: My favourite client, a clear outline of the booking, any materials and PowerPoints arrive in plenty of time, availability for a chat before the meeting, and good communication throughout. This is great, I can prep and arrive at a job confident I can do my best and we have already established a positive rapport. If you fall into this category, give yourself a pat on the back, make a cuppa, and carry on reading knowing you are awesome!

The ‘what do you mean you need to know stuff?!’: I’ll be honest, this beast is often only found in the habitats of some interpreting agencies, which irritates me more as I feel they ought to know better! As a freelancer you are encouraged to sign up with multiple agencies, it gives you the best chance of finding out about job opportunities and hopefully results in a full schedule.

Daily notifications appear in my inbox enticing me to apply for interpreting assignments. Eagerly I open them, hoping they match my skills set and preferred domains, only to read a date, time and the word ‘meeting’ or ‘appointment’ This is not enough information! I’ve given up on these emails now, they are immediately deleted, but early on I would seek clarification to be met with the response ‘GDPR, we can’t tell you more’ or ‘the booking is no longer available’.

Both responses are worrying – firstly that they are prepared to let an interpreter walk into a situation with no prior knowledge or information, or secondly, interpreters are taking the jobs without checking details and hoping for the best.

The ‘wait and see’: Recently working at a university I asked the module leader for the information of what the new unit of work involves, the response ‘you’ll find out soon when I tell the students’…wait, what…you mean you won’t tell me?

Some clients behave like MI6 – all information is classified and unless you know the keyword and secret handshape you won’t get access. Which is fine IF you are working for MI6 and you haven’t passed clearance, but a university lecture on animal care rarely fits that criterion! Seriously, if you let me prep then the deaf participants have the same level of access as everyone else in room – play nicely!

The ‘whoops, sorry!’: You send countless emails, and all you get in reply are ‘I’m working on it’, ‘I’ll send it now’, ‘whoops, sorry I meant to send you the file’. I understand as much as anything how busy life can get, but my life is busy too. As a freelancer, chasing people for prep (and payments) uses up many hours of my life. It’s a frustrating category as the prep does arrive, but the emotional energy needed during the process is exhausting.

I encountered a ‘whoops sorry’ in a completely unexpected way when a client sent through all the requested prep for a Geography talk a week ahead of time. You may be wondering (quite legitimately) why then they fit into this category? A good question. It would have been an incredible talk on ‘European Rivers’ had it not been for the fact that the guest speaker was presenting on ‘Rock Formation in Guatemala’!

The ‘last-minute.com’: If for any reason prep can’t be sent in advance, a last-minute chat with the client(s) is invaluable. It’s an opportunity to find out the general content and whether any jokes/anecdotes/videos etc are included. Less helpful is a 1000-page document thrust into my hands minutes beforehand, or lack of clarity about what will be said.

Interpreting in religious settings I have heard the line ‘I’m going to be led by the Lord’ far too many times. I have no issue that people are so faithful to God that they trust on divine intervention, but it requires me to have the same level of faith that God will make me privy to that information too!

As you can see, interpreters love prep! For those of you who already go above and beyond to provide everything your interpreter needs, thank you. For those that are less inclined, I hope this little insight might nudge you to send that document a little more willingly.

Kat decided that the perfect time to start interpreter training was during a global pandemic. Lover of performing arts, sloths and anything a little quirky. Twitter: @TheKatPearson