4 Effective Ways to Mentor Interpreters
Mentorship plays a vital role in shaping skilled, confident, and ethical interpreters. Experienced practitioners hold not only technical expertise but also the ability to guide others through the complexities of professional practice. By mentoring, interpreters ensure the sustainability of the profession and raise its standards as well. Below are four effective ways to mentor interpreters, with clear examples of how each can be applied in practice.
A mentor is going through a recorded interpreting assignment with a mentee
1. Provide Constructive Feedback
Feedback is the cornerstone of professional growth. For newer interpreters, the opportunity to receive insights into their accuracy, tone, and delivery is invaluable. Constructive feedback focuses on strengths. Constructive feedback also helps the new interpreter to identify areas they need to refine. For feedback to be constructive and positive, it needs to be delivered in a supportive and solution-focused manner.
Example: After shadowing a colleague during a medical assignment, a mentor meets with the trainee and points out how effectively they handled patient confidentiality. The mentor also gently highlights moments where the pace was too fast, suggesting techniques like strategic pausing and note-taking for future improvement.
2. Model Professional Standards
Mentors have the responsibility to demonstrate professional conduct both inside and outside assignments. Observing how an experienced interpreter manages confidentiality, boundaries, and ethical dilemmas gives mentees a living example of best practices.
Example: A mentor invites a trainee to observe a legal setting. Before entering, the mentor explains how to manage impartiality and why it’s important not to engage in side conversations with clients. The mentee then sees the mentor model this behavior during the assignment, reinforcing the importance of boundaries in practice.
3. Encourage Reflective Practice
Reflective practice helps interpreters to evaluate their work critically. By such evaluation, they identify strategies for growth over time. When mentors teach mentees to reflect on their experiences, they empower the mentees to build resilience and independence as professionals.
Example: After completing a school-based interpretation assignment, the mentor asks the trainee to write a short reflection about what strategies worked well and what challenges arose. During a debrief, the mentor guides the mentee to notice patterns—such as how classroom distractions affected concentration—and encourages them to explore practical coping techniques.
4. Create Opportunities for Professional Development
Mentors can support mentees in accessing resources, networks, and experiences that expand their skills. Encouraging attendance at workshops, conferences, and study groups helps interpreters remain current and connected within the field.
Example: A mentor suggests an upcoming online seminar on interpreting in healthcare. They register together, then meet afterward to discuss key takeaways. The mentor encourages the mentee to present one learning point to a peer group, reinforcing the value of sharing knowledge while deepening understanding.
In what ways do you think you can benefit from a mentor? If you have mentored, what strategies have worked for you? Mentorship is a critical part of many professions, including interpreting. By mentoring, the next generation of practitioners is being prepared to take over.
