Interpreter Training

Asylum Access Thailand WHO WE ARE NGO from USA – Thailand office opened October 2007 Qualified lawyers from around the world WHAT WE DO Legal services for refugees Only asylum seekers in Bangkok who register with UNHCR – ‘urban refugees’

Nice to meet you! W E WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU ! What is your name? Where are you from? What language do you speak & how well? What languages can you write & how well? Have you ever interpreted before? Why are you interested in becoming an interpreter?

Welcome Community Interpreters Why you are important: You reduce barriers of communication – enabling individuals to access needed services Interpreters are Professional: Carry high responsibilities with certain obligations Benefit to you: Add to your professional development, join a new community, access AAT’s professional development resources

Interpreting is not an easy process This training is to help you to: 1. Understand your role and obligations 2. Maintain a professional performance 3. Develop or improve your skills Important: Always feel comfortable asking a question or asking for help

Your role as an Interpreter Your role is to assist AAT and the client as a channel of communication Each party speaks through your voice o You are the voice of AAT legal advisor; AND o You are the voice of the client Your role is as a neutral interpreter The aim of the interviews are to gather information and give advice o The accuracy of the interpretation is essential: for the interviewer to have to accurate information to give the right advice and for the client to be able to best understand the advice

What Should You Understand as an Interpreter? You need to have an understanding of the legal context of becoming a recognized Refugee

Word Association “Refugee”

Legal Context The Convention Relating to the Rights of Refugees, 1951 and the 1967 Protocol "A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”

What Should You Understand as an Interpreter? You need to have an understanding of the meaning behind certain ‘legalistic’ or ‘UNHCR’ commonly used words

Terminology RSD Persecution 1st Instance Appeal Well founded fear

What Should You Understand as an Interpreter? You need to have an understanding of the UNHCR Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process

Interpreter Code of Conduct The Code of Conduct are a set of rules that must be followed when you interpret or translate for AAT Based on Codes used by many other organisations/governments who use or train interpreters They are very important to follow – for the client’s case and also so client can properly access services

Code of Conduct – Accuracy and Completeness · Use “I” instead of “she” or “he” · No side conversations · Ask client to speak in short segments for more accurate translation Never guess – ask again · Tell us immediately if there is an error · You are not responsible for what a client says e.g. embarrassing or offensive statements · Tell us if you don’t know a word or if there is no translation for a word · Tell us if there is a misunderstanding e.g. cultural explanations

Code of Conduct – Impartiality You are not on our side or the asylum seeker’s side Never show whether you disagree or agree with us or the client Limit your role to interpreting - do not speak for the client Never tell a client what to do with their legal case – refer questions to us Must not discuss client’s information with anyone Must not tell us whether you think the client is telling the truth or not

Code of Conduct – Conflicts of Interest Tell us before the interview if you know the client and how you know them Ideally: Try to limit communications and relationships with a client outside of the interview Tell us straight away if there is any conflict of interest

Code of Conduct – Confidentiality Everything you learn from interpreting about a client is confidential Must not discuss with anyone, even family members or friends Clients sign confidentiality waiver Failure to respect confidentiality Cannot make profit or advantage from confidential information – must not abuse your power

Code of Conduct – Scope of Role Translation and interpretation only Do what you are capable of – not more Tell us if you are not comfortable doing something Do not explain law or process to asylum seeker if we are not there Do not give your personal opinions to asylum seekers

Code of Conduct – Professionalism/Attitude Be professional at all times – observe Code of Conduct and Interpreters Agreement Be on time Be prepared – bring paper to take notes and a pen Treat clients with respect

Interpreter’s Agreement Each interpreter who works with AAT must sign an agreement By signing the Interpreter’s Agreement you are agreeing to follow the rules in the Code of Conduct We understand that this role is challenging and it’s easy to make errors or mistakes and we will try to discuss these with you, if and when they arise. More serious breaches could lead to a formal warming or possible termination of services.

Things to Remember Some things to remember: 1. Use “I” 2. No side conversations (without explanation) 3. Make sure you are clear when you are talking for yourself and not translating 4. TAKE NOTES 5. Ask for a break 6. Tell us if their are problems 7. Turn your phone OFF (or on silent) 8. Do not yawn or continue to look at clock 9. Turn up on time

General Points/Tips Where to sit Improve your vocabulary Make note of new words/phrases Speak loudly and clearly Practice words you have difficulty with Signal to us when you want us to stop speaking Learn from feedback of lawyer

Remember the “Golden” Rules Neutrality It is not the role of interpreters to take sides. Remain neutral and never act as an advocate or intermediary for the client or the lawyer Accuracy Maintain the highest possible level of performance. Your task is to be as accurate as possible. Confidentiality The confidentiality requirement applies rigidly to all of your interactions at AAT. Never discuss anything from interviews with others. Destroy your interview notes and translation documents as soon as you are finished with them Refrain.....from abusing your power. Being an interpreter, you may be seen as carrying a certain power. Resist any temptations! Empathy Although you have to remain neutral, we are a humanitarian organisation that requires empathy for all asylum seekers..

What to Expect from us We will tell you if we know that the case will be emotionally difficult (rape or torture) You have the right to refuse to interpret for a client We will be professional We respect you – the scope of your role and your personal life We will not ask for your opinion about a case or to do something outside of your role

What to Expect from us We will speak in short sentences, speaking slowly and clearly (remind us if we don’t) We will pay you every month We offer you support – breaks, questions, problems We offer you feedback What else can we offer you?

Thank you! We greatly appreciate your services!!