Beijing born Mandarin interpreter and Translator Belinda, moved to Australia in 2005 to further refine her English skills. She has completed a bachelor’s degree in English from China and began interpreting in 2018.
Why did you decide to move to Australia?
“I initially decided to come to Australia to study and further improve my English language skills, because I had a bachelor’s degree in English from China. After completing my study, I decided to stay in Brisbane because I loved the place, the people and found work that I really enjoyed doing.”
Why did you start interpreting?
“During the four years of English learning for my bachelor’s degree in China, I was already exposed to translating and always wanted to explore more in this area. In Australia, my study and work experience in the field of language education further enhanced my four micro skills in English, which formed a solid foundation to becoming an interpreter and translator.”
What do you like the most about interpreting?
“I like interpreting and translating because firstly, they use my strength of being bilingual in Chinese and English. Secondly, they give me the opportunity to learn knowledge in different areas every day, especially in the medical area. Last but not least, when interpreting in healthcare settings, patients and the wider community appreciate the work of interpreters immensely as we help to provide critical information that is related to the health and wellbeing of themselves and their family. I remember interpreting at a dental clinic for an elderly Chinese patient who spoke some basic English but had trouble with medical terms. He suffered from gum problems that bothered him a lot and needed to understand the condition of his teeth and how to best protect them. During the appointment, I had to interpret specialized terms such as plaque, receding gum and periodontal pocket depths. At the end of the appointment, the patient praised my expertise and wrote words of appreciation on my Assignment Completion Slip, which really encouraged me and made me realize the meaning of the work I do.”
What is the hardest thing about interpreting?
“The hardest thing about interpreting is you often do not know what has happened prior and you may encounter unfamiliar situations. As the interpreter, you need to quickly immerse yourself into the situation and draw on relevant prior knowledge to optimize the effectiveness of the communication. When I was still a new interpreter, I had to interpret for a patient who had undertaken an ileostomy surgery and was planned for a reversal. Although at the beginning of the appointment, the doctor briefly asked about the previous operation, which should have given me some prior information, I was still quite lost because I had very little idea about that surgery and the treatment options that might follow. I had to ask the doctor to explain more and look up a few words to ensure accuracy”
Do you have any tips for new interpreters?
“Reflection is an essential part of interpreting, especially for new interpreters. After each assignment, it is important to go back to your notes and look at which words are new and which words need brushing up. It is also a great idea to categorise and record these vocabularies for future reference. I still remember my English teacher told me that it can take up to seven times of encountering a new word in different contexts to be able to memorise them for a long time. Reflecting on, looking up and categorising new words will give you the chance to see these words in different contexts and help you to memorise them more efficiently. The wider range of vocabulary you know, the more confident you are, and the more likely you will be able to handle various situations in a professional manner.”