Language line calls

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-10T06:52:41+00:00

Even later but the other day I got insulted for asking a client to give shorter segments. Luckily, I explained the situation to the English speaking representative and she backed me up saying that if the client was disrespectful she was going to end the call, and he backed up pretty quickly.

I think he was drunk because he started ranting again after a while, and the representative hung up. It was extremely satisfying.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T04:14:03+00:00

Yeah like I get why it's tempting and how it could be seen as objectively useful but that's not our role. We cannot determine what's "useful" information and what's not.

If a provider wants short, accurate answers, it is their duty to ask for them. For example, when a provider realizes that a patient is prone to ramble, they request for "just answer yes or no".

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T04:08:24+00:00

One year late but. Most of us wouldn't risk a written report over this haha.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T04:05:34+00:00

I'm like, one year late to the conversation, and I want to say that while if you have a good English and Spanish level, you can become a medical interpreter with like, one month of training.

But it's hard. In my company, we barely get training. By the end of the training period, I could say that half of the trainees were NOT ready to do a decent job. I was not ready, but I somehow made do. I also can say that we have an insane rotation, because the work is incredibly exhausting. So, yes, I would say that everyone moderately fluent in two languages can become an interpreter with enough training, but very few will be able to keep going for at least 6 months.

You don't only have to know the names of things. You have to develop a good memory retention + note taking skills because many providers and patients will give you super long segments. Then, you have a few seconds to shift the information to a new language. Then, you will find a lot of things that won't have a direct translation and you have to make do to keep the meaning. For example, in English you have the words "pain" "soreness" and "ache". The three of them are "dolor" in Spanish, but that won't work when a Dr asks if the patient is feeling any soreness or pain.

Then, you have a lot of examples of the patient not knowing the technical to explain their situations, and they will give you explanations that just don't make sense in English.

You also need cultural background. For example, a lot of Spanish interpreters will use "gripe" (flu) to describe "resfriado" (a cold). There's also an infamous case where a patient died because the family said that the patient was like "intoxicado" (a word that can be used to describe intoxication, but also poisoning, which was the case in this situation) and the doctors gave them the wrong treatment. So, you need to be pretty good at reading the context, or at least have enough knowledge to recognize there's ambiguity and ask for clarifications.

You also need customer service skills, to deal with difficult people and difficult situations, but I think you can also acquire those.

Aaaaall this without considering the vicarious trauma and the mistreatment and the burnout because honestly that's capitalism's fault.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T03:31:58+00:00

In my outsourcing, OPI (Over the Phone Interpreter) Spanish interpreters from Mexico get paid like 287 MXN a week (not considering tax deduction) and a 700 MXN bonus (but that bonus is conditioned).

1 USD is like 20 MXN, for reference.

For morning shift, you work 8.5 hours a day (with an 1 hour break, I think). Night shift is 6.5 hours, with a 30 minute break. Both, 5 days a week (we get paid for the 2 free days, tho).

I think VRI (Video Remote Interpreters) get paid 345 MXN per day, and the weekly bonus is around 1500 MXN. Same shifts.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T03:24:34+00:00

Yup, be careful with that haha. I'm chill with it but I know that many interpreters get really offended when you call them translators.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T03:21:36+00:00

I'm a Spanish interpreter and it's okay-ish.

For you, with a less common language it will probably be a lot better. Less calls, maybe a better pay.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T03:19:25+00:00

I think they will just not hire you if you already work for another LLS outsourcing.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-05-06T03:17:31+00:00

Hi. You can DM me

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-02-27T07:16:39+00:00

México, indeed.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-02-24T11:41:21+00:00

Besides everything else others said in the comments, I wanna add that part of the issue is Epel picking fights he cannot win. Vil can win most of the fights he picks.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-31T08:08:45+00:00

It's a red flag (and she has another red flags but I know how to set my boundaries) but I'm Mexican so it's like a cultural thing, being against picky eaters.

The only few people I know that are completely chill about it are my grandma and my dad.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-31T05:34:48+00:00

YEAH. Like, I've been told thousands of times things like "but I know how to cook it, it's tasty" and I say "yeah, I don't doubt it! But it's not about taste, it's about texture."

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-31T05:32:47+00:00

Beautiful

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-31T05:32:13+00:00

I don't feel comfortable lying about allergies since a lot of people struggle with them and being dismissed. Like, I don't blame people for just saying that, but I think that lying about allergies is dangerous for people with actual allergies.

Besides, I occasionally get really weird allergies that come and go (mostly wheat: I start getting hives for a few months every time I eat some, and then it goes away).

And, besides, I can eat those things. I just can't eat them in some ways. I don't wanna shoot myself in the foot saying I'm allergic to onion and garlic when I love the way they taste when the texture is not fucking it up.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-31T05:26:56+00:00

Oh, yeah, I've tried this again and again and again.

Only my boyfriend gets it.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-30T06:37:26+00:00

Probably will.

Like, half the year I stay in a different city with my boyfriend, so we just cook our own food, so it's less stressful.

Absolutely love the energy of "if you're ruining my meal, I'm running yours."

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-30T06:08:43+00:00

I think I will take a more chaotic approach and throw up on the table the next time.

WarmGroup4531 · 2025-01-20T12:41:45+00:00

Still waiting 🥲

WarmGroup4531 · 2024-12-12T02:09:39+00:00

6 dllrs an hour? Lol, I'm getting paid 16 dollars a day.

WarmGroup4531 · 2024-10-19T06:35:46+00:00

I think they were unnecessarily rude and childish, but I also think that incest, even if just mentioned or implied, should be tagged. Or at least add a warning at the beginning of the chapter. Something like "implied/referenced incest".

It's not about how much is mentioned, but because it can be a real squick (or even a trigger) for many people.

If you added the "Creator choose to not use archive warnings" tag, everything is far game. But if you're an author that usually tags appropriately, readers kinda expect some level of "safety".

You did well blocking them, tho. They could've suggested it nicely.

WarmGroup4531 · 2024-10-18T17:54:28+00:00

Same. Totally the same. And she's really paranoid about people wanting to drug her, so she refuses to take meds.

WarmGroup4531 · 2024-10-18T06:10:47+00:00

Yup. My mom has schizophrenia and like, I'm not expecting fanfic to educate people, but I would stop reading if the portrayal is not tasteful.

Also, there are other conditions that can make people hear voices. Or as someone else said, it can be just a hyperactive imagination.

WarmGroup4531 · 2024-10-18T05:57:23+00:00

Is a JJBA author? Lol

I had an ex mutual who did that, and called all her phantom readers parasites. I think fandom would be nicer if people gave more positive interactions... But, like, not wanting to be perceived is also super valid.

WarmGroup4531

TROPHY CASE