Diary of a BSL interpreter: Why you should consider becoming a BSL Interpreter (BSL)

Do you have those days when you wake up and you think ‘uh… I’ve got work today? My job is so monotonous, my son has his Christmas play which I have to miss because my boss won’t give me the time off and I want to go and get my nails done as I’ve chipped my finger and it’s annoying me’. If some of those resonate with you then you need to consider a career change!

Imagine being in a job where your diary works around you and is also full of variety. Monday morning in a clothes store where you get to use your clients staff discount (bonus!), Wednesday afternoon interpreting an ultrasound for a couple pregnant with their first baby which is the boy they both wanted, and Friday morning which you decide to block out to get your broken nail fixed with enough time to sit in a cafe on your own and without your child making potions from salt, pepper and the dregs of your coffee. Heaven! This is an example of a working week for me.

My role as a BSL Interpreter adds value to my life in so many ways and is unbelievably fulfilling. Facilitating communication between people is extremely satisfying and knowing that I have enabled someone to not only gain access but to also express their opinions and thoughts, is what gives me that buzz. Everyone is entitled to speak from their heart and share their ideas but for so many Deaf people, this is a barrier and when I step into my role, I get so much joy from it.

I’d like to share with you why I feel I have one of the best jobs on the planet and why you should also consider a role within this fantastic community.

One of the main reasons I enjoy my job so much is because of the diversity, the experiences and opportunities that it has brought me over the years and will continue to give me. No one day is the same and I truly mean that. I have spent a day in an amazing beauty spa, a hospital supporting a patient who was undergoing surgery and interpreting a session for women experiencing domestic violence.

How could you ever get bored?!! Along the way, I have learnt so much information which has been useful not only in my professional life but also in my personal life too.

Training is no mean feat I can tell you that much, but it’s worth the blood sweat and tears to get that yellow badge. I remember the day that I received mine through the post and I cried when I opened the envelope from NRCPD. What a sense of achievement after so many years of hard work and studying.

It takes an average of seven years and five levels to get to that point but what I really enjoyed was that I was learning whilst training and for me, that’s far more interesting than having to sit in a lecture room a few days a week to study a degree for a role that I won’t have real life experience of until I have qualified.

Interacting with the Deaf community is a great way to practise your skills and you’ll also meet some really supportive people who are encouraging of those who are not only training to become interpreters but also who are taking the time to learn BSL.

As many may agree, BSL is a beautiful language and what drew me to learn it in the first place. It’s fun, expressive and visual. We may interpret something differently but the main aim is that communication was understood by all parties so there is some flexibility in what way we decide to sign.

Let’s not push aside the parts of our job that can be tricky. This wouldn’t be a candid tale of an interpreter’s working week if I wasn’t honest about the other side of my job.

Delivering difficult news about someone’s health is something that is never easy to do, especially when the client is in attendance with family. I will be open and say that I too have shed a couple of tears after having to interpret an emotionally charged booking.

Historically, us interpreters were seen as robots, people in the background, conduits of communication but that is no longer the case. We cannot be ignored and are now recognised as part of the communication interaction. We are human and some situations may trigger us and we shouldn’t feel bad about that.

I always leave a booking noting the positives that came out of it; the client was able to gain full access to the information, I did a splendid job at managing the interaction and I have learnt something new.

There’s a great deal of information out there about how to train as an interpreter. Follow me on instagram @diaryofabslinterpreter for stories from my years of working and also some informative posts which you may find useful.

I wear my yellow badge with pride and feel so grateful that I can honestly say, I love my job!

I am a BSL Interpreter who wants to connect and shout out about my profession. Come and join me on Instagram @diaryofabslinterpreter where I share my experiences, tips and encourage others to use it as a platform to seek advice from peers.