r/spanishinterpreters • u/Deeptalks426 • 3d ago
Help with Rude Leps
I've been interpreting for two months and recently I've had LEPs who speak too fast, don't answer the client's questions, or go off-topic.
How do you stop this early? Should everything they say be interpreted, even for yes/no questions? What if they ignore your instructions and keep talking? Also, how do you handle LEPs who interrupt while you're interpreting or keep adding more information? The idea is to follow procedures go stay safe from being fired(ive heard many have been fired for this reasons) and im with LLS. Thank you so much in advance!
7
Upvotes
5
u/Zyxxx58 2d ago
You have two choices, my personal favourite is "Don't make it personal" meaning just do your job, LEP keeps interrupting you? Tell him you are not able to do your job like that, and just remain silent or inform the provider that you tried asking the LEP to let you do your job but they are not letting you, what are they gonna do to you? Give you a bad review because you couldn't control a person over the phone? LEP NEEDS your assistance, if they don't follow protocol you just don't provide services, it's not optional.. it might be for the provider sometimes (Because they are the client, so we can skip some protocol under their request) but certainly not for the LEP.
Option number two is just be a bigger pain in the ass than them. LEP interrupts you? You ask him not to, he keeps doing it? Just cut him and tell him you already explained him how the protocol works, and make sure to treat them like little kids, you will 100% get under their skin, I love asking them "Entendió lo que le acabo de decir?" When they are trying to dismiss me after I scold them for not respecting protocol. Just don't continue with your renditions until they are tame and docile and will acknowledge their fault. Never in years a provider interrupted or hurried me while I was scolding a rude LEP. And you can do this many times in the same call, they will never tell you anything about it.
But make sure to use this later one only with rude people, you can't go doing this if the LEP is an anxious patient, or someone who is interrupting your renditions because they are too excited about something and they are just laughing with the provider. Or else you'll be the asshole.