If you think your client may need a Spanish interpreter, then you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you to navigate the process from start to finish. You’ll learn how to determine if you need a Spanish interpreter, how to secure one and how to ensure effective communication for all involved.
Let’s get started.
1. Determine If an Interpreter Is Needed
Identifying the need for an interpreter is the first step in ensuring successful communication. It may be beneficial to use an interpreter if any of the following criteria apply:
- 1) The client has requested an interpreter.
- 2) The client speaks English as their second language and is in an unfamiliar setting or situation.
- 3) They have difficulty understanding and responding to questions in English.
- 4) They rely on family or friends to interpret for them.
- 5) They prefer to communicate in their first language.
If you need to further evaluate a client’s language ability in English, you could ask open-ended questions that require more thought than a simple “Yes” or “No” response.
Not to mention, while it is important to consider the client’s needs when determining if an interpreter is necessary, it can also be helpful for you to request one if you feel an interpreter is needed, if the situation is serious or troubling, or if you simply feel that an interpreter could help the interaction go more smoothly.
2. Determine If You’ll Need a Spanish Interpreter or an Interpreter in Another Language
It’s important to establish the language spoken by a client, since location of birth does not necessarily indicate the primary language spoken. For example, most people born in Mexico speak Spanish as their native language, but that’s not true of everyone in that group. In fact, more than 6 million people in Mexico speak indigenous languages, such as Mixteco. Accentable Services offers interpreting services in Mixteco. Some indigenous language speakers also speak Spanish well, but others don’t, which makes it important to know which language your client would prefer.
Which language is best for your client may be determined in a variety of ways. First, you can ask the person directly or consult a family member, friend or support worker who knows them well. Second, visual aids that list different languages can help you to identify their language. Accentable Services offers this type of visual aid to current clients at no charge.
3. Secure Your Interpreting Services
There are two main types of interpreting services: onsite interpreting (also called face-to-face interpreting) and over-the-phone interpreting (also called telephone interpreting). Onsite interpreting requires you, the client and the interpreter to all be in one location.
Over-the-phone interpreting, however, can be used whenever and wherever interpreting is called for. It is useful in emergency situations, when interpreting is needed immediately or unexpectedly, when extra confidentiality is required, when an onsite interpreter is not available and/or when an onsite interpreter would be cost prohibitive.
The easiest way to secure interpreting services for you or your organization is to sign up for over-the-phone interpreting services with Accentable Services. You can sign up online and start using the interpreting services right away. Start by selecting your plan here.
4. Connect to a Spanish Interpreter
Language assistance allows organizations like yours to better serve clients and ensure that everyone receives meaningful access to information and services.
Once you’ve signed up for over-the-phone interpreting services with Accentable Services, it’s very easy to connect to a Spanish interpreter. You can connect to a Spanish interpreter at any time of the day or night. You’ll just need to:
- 1) Dial our dedicated interpreting services phone number (which we provide upon signup).
- 2) Enter your provided access code.
- 3) Dial “1”.
You’ll be connected to a Spanish interpreter right away.
Spanish Interpreters Available on Demand
Do you need a Spanish interpreter? Then sign up now with Accentable Services to provide your organization with reliable over-the-phone interpreting services in Spanish or any other language you might need. We offer interpreting services in more than 260 languages and dialects.