Medical Interpreter Certification Exam
Prep Rated A+
Are medical interpreters community interpreter? - ANSWER-YES! Along with education
interpreters and social service interpreters, medical interpreters fall under the umbrella
of community interpreters.
Define intervening. - ANSWER-Interrupting
Define legal interpreting. - ANSWER-Interpreting related to legal processes and
proceedings, including but not limited to lawyer-client representation, prosecutor-
victim/witness interviews, and law enforcement communications.
Define mediation. - ANSWER-Any act or utterance of the interpreter that goes beyond
interpreting and is intended to remove a barrier in communication.
Define medical interpreting - ANSWER-Interpreting for patients, families and health care
providers that facilitate access to healthcare services.
Define remote interpreting and name the two most important kinds of remote
interpreting. - ANSWER-Interpreting that involves at least one interpreter who is not
physically present with other parties to the session and who is interpreting using a
remote platform.
Ex) OPI (over the phone interpreting), VRI (video remote interpreting)
Define source language - ANSWER-Language that will be interpreted to a target
language
Define target language - ANSWER-Language into which you interpret
Define working language - ANSWER-Languages in which an interpreter is fluent and
can use in his/her work
Describe communicative autonomy - ANSWER-The capacity of each party in an
encounter to be responsible for and in control of his/ her own communication
Describe the Rozan note-taking method - ANSWER-1) Noting the idea, rather than the
words
2) The rules of abbreviations
3) Links
4) Negations
5) Emphasis
6) Verticality
7) Shift (using the space on the page to represent meaning)
, Do interpreters need to report or interpret (for the other party) what they say when they
intervene? - ANSWER-Yes. Transparency also applies to what you say when you
intervene.
Do you really have to interpret everything that is stated? - ANSWER-Yes, unless it is an
emergency and summarizing is necessary.
How is note-taking for interpreters different from other kinds of note taking? - ANSWER-
Interpreter note-taking must be quick and efficient, so symbols are used to save time.
The goal is the capture meaning rather than exact words. Interpreter notes are vertically
oriented.
How would you handle a term you don't know if it comes up during a session? -
ANSWER-Following the five steps of mediation. (excuse me, as an interpreter I need
clarification....)
Identify four interpreting protocols - ANSWER-Positioning (appropriate place to sit or
stand to Promote direct communication), Professional introduction (Brief and clear),
Direct speech ( speaking in first person), Turn taking (managing the flow)
Identify seven steps of the encounter - ANSWER-Preparation, Briefing (Optional),
Professional introduction, Interpreting, Intervening, Debriefing (Optional), Analysis
If you arrive and you know the person you're supposed to interpret for, what 3 steps
should you take immediately? - ANSWER-1.Notify both parties of the conflict, 2. Offer to
withdraw 3. Self-examine whether you can interpret effectively while following all ethical
principles, 4.Stay only if all parties agree/ask that you do so.
If you decide not to sight translate a document, what should you do instead? -
ANSWER-1) Refer the provider to language services to translation by experts.
2) Ask the provider for an explanation of the text and interpret that explanation.
If you decide to stay and perform legal interpreting, and you don't have training for it,
how will you handle the situation? - ANSWER-Disclose lack of knowledge immediately,
offer alternatives, and follow code of ethics if you must interpret.
If you don't know whether an assignment is legal or community interpreting, what do you
do? - ANSWER-When in doubt, assume it's legal (and stay out)!
If you graduate successfully from a 40/hour interpreting program, are you certified? -
ANSWER-No, you would become a QUALIFIED interpreter but in order to become a
certified interpreter you must pass the assessment.
Prep Rated A+
Are medical interpreters community interpreter? - ANSWER-YES! Along with education
interpreters and social service interpreters, medical interpreters fall under the umbrella
of community interpreters.
Define intervening. - ANSWER-Interrupting
Define legal interpreting. - ANSWER-Interpreting related to legal processes and
proceedings, including but not limited to lawyer-client representation, prosecutor-
victim/witness interviews, and law enforcement communications.
Define mediation. - ANSWER-Any act or utterance of the interpreter that goes beyond
interpreting and is intended to remove a barrier in communication.
Define medical interpreting - ANSWER-Interpreting for patients, families and health care
providers that facilitate access to healthcare services.
Define remote interpreting and name the two most important kinds of remote
interpreting. - ANSWER-Interpreting that involves at least one interpreter who is not
physically present with other parties to the session and who is interpreting using a
remote platform.
Ex) OPI (over the phone interpreting), VRI (video remote interpreting)
Define source language - ANSWER-Language that will be interpreted to a target
language
Define target language - ANSWER-Language into which you interpret
Define working language - ANSWER-Languages in which an interpreter is fluent and
can use in his/her work
Describe communicative autonomy - ANSWER-The capacity of each party in an
encounter to be responsible for and in control of his/ her own communication
Describe the Rozan note-taking method - ANSWER-1) Noting the idea, rather than the
words
2) The rules of abbreviations
3) Links
4) Negations
5) Emphasis
6) Verticality
7) Shift (using the space on the page to represent meaning)
, Do interpreters need to report or interpret (for the other party) what they say when they
intervene? - ANSWER-Yes. Transparency also applies to what you say when you
intervene.
Do you really have to interpret everything that is stated? - ANSWER-Yes, unless it is an
emergency and summarizing is necessary.
How is note-taking for interpreters different from other kinds of note taking? - ANSWER-
Interpreter note-taking must be quick and efficient, so symbols are used to save time.
The goal is the capture meaning rather than exact words. Interpreter notes are vertically
oriented.
How would you handle a term you don't know if it comes up during a session? -
ANSWER-Following the five steps of mediation. (excuse me, as an interpreter I need
clarification....)
Identify four interpreting protocols - ANSWER-Positioning (appropriate place to sit or
stand to Promote direct communication), Professional introduction (Brief and clear),
Direct speech ( speaking in first person), Turn taking (managing the flow)
Identify seven steps of the encounter - ANSWER-Preparation, Briefing (Optional),
Professional introduction, Interpreting, Intervening, Debriefing (Optional), Analysis
If you arrive and you know the person you're supposed to interpret for, what 3 steps
should you take immediately? - ANSWER-1.Notify both parties of the conflict, 2. Offer to
withdraw 3. Self-examine whether you can interpret effectively while following all ethical
principles, 4.Stay only if all parties agree/ask that you do so.
If you decide not to sight translate a document, what should you do instead? -
ANSWER-1) Refer the provider to language services to translation by experts.
2) Ask the provider for an explanation of the text and interpret that explanation.
If you decide to stay and perform legal interpreting, and you don't have training for it,
how will you handle the situation? - ANSWER-Disclose lack of knowledge immediately,
offer alternatives, and follow code of ethics if you must interpret.
If you don't know whether an assignment is legal or community interpreting, what do you
do? - ANSWER-When in doubt, assume it's legal (and stay out)!
If you graduate successfully from a 40/hour interpreting program, are you certified? -
ANSWER-No, you would become a QUALIFIED interpreter but in order to become a
certified interpreter you must pass the assessment.
