Simultaneous English-Russian interpreter

Choosing a profession as an English simultaneous interpreter is a real challenge, requiring the ability to think, listen and speak at lightning speed without losing meaning or intonation. It is a job in which the interpreter does not just interpret, but becomes a link between people, cultures and ideas. Behind the outward ease lie many challenges.

Instant perception and translation

One of the biggest challenges of simultaneous interpreting is the need to process and translate information literally on the fly. Imagine a situation where you are listening to a presentation, translating it immediately and watching the audience’s reactions in parallel. This requires incredible focus and quick thinking on the part of the interpreter.

What difficulties can arise here?

Sometimes speakers speak so fast that the simultaneous English interpreter cannot keep up with their pace.
When it comes to scientific, medical or legal terms, each term must be translated as accurately as possible. Sometimes this requires peeking at a dictionary, but the time one has for it is normally not longer than a couple of seconds.

The interpreter during his/her listening must simultaneously translate the speaker’s thought and attitude while maintaining the context and message.

Stress and pressure on a psychological level

The work of an interpreter is not only intellectually demanding, but also contains an element of a constant psychological pressure. Every interpreter knows that any mistake he or she makes while working live can lead to misunderstandings. In this context, not only professional training is important, but also the ability to remain calm in the most difficult situations.

What can cause stress in this kind of work?

A simultaneous English-Russian interpreter knows that the success or failure of important business negotiations depends on his/her accuracy.
Every word is important, and there is hardly a second to think about it.
Noise in the room, malfunctions in technical equipment or unstable communications can create additional disturbances.

For the most of simultaneous interpreters, stress is part of their job and they must learn to cope with it while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

Simultaneous interpreting – on the surface it may look like a sedentary job with coffee and comfort. However, in reality, it is more like a marathon where every fraction of a second counts. The mental strain is so great that many interpreters say that after intensive sessions they indeed feel like they’ve run a long distance. Several hours spent in the room require absolute concentration, and this in turn causes considerable fatigue.

The work of a simultaneous interpreter does not start at the moment when the interpreting begins and does not end when the event is finished. On the contrary, it requires constant improvement and advance preparation. Each new project is an opportunity to learn something new, to familiarize oneself with new terminology and to understand current trends. It is a learning process that essentially never ends.

Simultaneous English-Russian interpreters understand that constant self-development helps them not only to maintain a high level of qualification, but also to improve their professional reputation.