Preventing Sign Language Interpreter Burnout

As you probably know, sign language interpreting is a demanding job, requiring the interpreter to focus on correctly interpreting the meaning of the speaker as well as the deaf individual’s understanding of their signing. Inevitably, the demands can lead burnout, decreased energy, lack of engagement with the job and less efficiency. Unfortunately, research has shown that the increasing need for sign language interpreting for deaf individuals has led to a corresponding increase in mental stress and physical health problems for sign language interpreters. How can you prevent sign language interpreter burn out?

Set Aside Time for Self-Care

Unlike other types of interpreting, sign language interpreting requires a lot of physical as well as mental work so taking care of your body is important. Research by interpreter Amy Zenizo on other members of the profession found that doing exercise was one of the most important things to prevent burn out. Setting aside time for exercising, stretching or even receiving massages and other relaxing physical experiences can help you better meet the demands of the job on your body.  In addition, physical exercise provides you with mental relief from stress and makes you healthier, more fit and helps prevent obesity. Organizations can help by offering gym memberships, incentives for joining exercising programs and enough time during the day to include physical activity.

Debrief with Other Sign Language Interpreters

Another finding in Zenizo’s study is that communicating with other sign language interpreters was extremely helpful, especially when you talk to one another about concerns you have about your job. Being able to debrief with someone who faces the same problems and concerns each day was reassuring and prevented people from spiraling into self-doubt and criticism about their job performance, which leads to fatigue and often to people feeling they are inadequate for the job. Inevitably, sign language interpreters make mistakes and are often forced into situations where they must interpret without adequate time to prepare for that topic. Creating a climate which helps interpreters to connect and privately discuss their concerns and help one another is an excellent way to prevent burn out.

Set Job Limits

Because of a shortage of interpreters and increasing desire to meet the needs of the deaf community more adequately, sign language interpreters are often asked to work long hours. Inevitably, that is counter-productive both for the individual interpreter and for the organization they work for. Since sign language interpreters often feel a sense of calling and tend to be perfectionists, they have a hard time saying no, and may even be involved in sign language interpretation pro bono outside of their work. However, working too long and too hard is a primary reason that many sign language interpreters leave the profession. You can help by setting limits and recognizing the signs of overworking by noticing:

• Mental stress and tiredness.
• Physical fatigue which doesn’t go away with rest.
• Pain from overuse injuries.
• Job dissatisfaction.
• Negative thoughts and feelings about the job.

Preventing Sign Language Burn Out is Possible

Anyone who has entered the field of sign language interpretation has spent a long time preparing for that career and is difficult to replace. Moreover, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the need for interpreters is sharply on the rise, so preventing burnout is an important priority because many who burn out quit the profession. Recognizing the signs of burn out in sign language interpreters and creating a climate of self-care, debriefing with colleagues and setting job limits can help interpreters not only continue in their careers longer but also help them be more efficient, productive and accurate.

Make Learning a New Language Fun!

There is a reason children learn new languages faster than adults.  It is the simple fact that they have nothing else in their memory to clash with or override what they are learning. Even school-age children have more open and willing brain cells for learning new words, phrases, and their meanings than adults. You can overcome!

Language polyglots emphasize the ideal learning tools for adults depend on the individuals.  Expert for the British Foreign Service, Richard Simcott, is emphatic that you find the unique method that works for you and then stick with it.  Simcott’s work with the Foreign Service has encompassed over 14 languages at the same time. An awesome achievement.  He also advised on learning languages in an informative Forbes article that he recommends  practicing a bit every day without discouragement if you miss a day.  “Whatever works for you personally, do it.  Audio is fine. Classes are fine. The important thing is to be consistent with whichever method works for you and stay with it.”

Simcott has the philosophy that to learn another language,  you must be able to laugh at your mistakes, or you shall surely cry over them, and no one enjoys that behavior. Therefore, the ability to have some fun with both the learning process and the new skill are akin to success.  Mix in social or academic groups where you can practice your studied language in a pleasant atmosphere.  Most importantly for your motivation, have fun with the language!

No Fun, No Motivation

The following categories are adult level fun that will make your study time fly by and your motivation heighten:

Movies.  Select a foreign language film with subtitles in the target learning language. Amazon’s foreign language section is choice.  Watch it with a TV or laptop that you can pause the instant you miss or don’t understand something. Look it up on an online dictionary like Urban Dictionary, the best reference ever for looking up foreign language slang and even cursing.

Music.  Find YouTube music with lyrics you can Google online and learn them until you understand it all. Replay the song while reading the lyrics until you learn the song.  Too hard? You will surprise yourself.

Books.  Get the book that is in over 60 languages: Harry Potter. Absolutely, get it done. Don’t argue. Get a Harry Potter book in the language you are studying and a copy in English to translate as you read, and you’re good to go.

Class.  After you consider yourself with a good grip on the language’s handle, you might consider taking a course in your studied language in philosophy or a related subject that enables you to use the colloquialisms your studies have taught, and to learn some more. You can perfect your accent by participating in a group such as this, and the subject is less than splitting an atom.

Benefits of New Languages

Adults learn additional languages for many reasons, with the primary focus being travel ease and employment qualification. Whether you are planning a vacation in an exotic location with an eye toward living there,  or would like to take advantage of employment opportunities within the government, translating, corporate or educational fields, being multilingual can be extremely rewarding.

Our technology age has shrunk the globe to the size of a pinhead when it comes to interaction between countries, cultures, and economies. Being fluent in another tongue opens new opportunities to you that used to be in galaxies far, far away, but now are on your laptop or tomorrow’s employment application.