Jeffrey Alfonso

An Open Letter to My South Carolina Colleagues

1 Comment / Experience, Interpreting, Legal Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Translation / Jeffrey Alfonso / March 31, 2014

Over the last several years, there have been a noteworthy number of interpreters and translators seeking certification in South Carolina. Speaking to interpretation for a moment, I hear occasional complaints from frustrated certified healthcare interpreters that have expended considerable cost and time dedicated to improving their skill (continuing education). After all their effort to reach […]

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How Case Managers Can Work with Interpreters – Part II

4 Comments / Business, Communication, Ethics, Experience, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / March 22, 2014 / Business ethics, ethics, interpreter ethics, interpreting, Medical interpretation, workers comp., Workers compensation

In Part II of case managers and interpreters working together, I highlight a few misunderstood points. Accuracy: The principle is that “Interpreters strive to render the message accurately, conveying the content and spirit of the original message, taking into consideration the cultural context.” Some case managers are annoyed and confused when I repeat the same

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How Case Managers Can Work with Interpreters, Part I

2 Comments / Communication, Ethics, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / March 15, 2014 / case manager, ethics, interpreting, workers' comp

Over the years, I have worked with many insurance company and independent case managers. Case managers coordinate medical care for patients that include doctors’ appointments, exams, therapy, surgery, blood tests, transportation, and interpreters. Whatever a patient might need for medical treatment, the case manager takes care of it. Money is a different issue; if a

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8 Indicators that Reveal if an Interpreter is Professional

4 Comments / Business, Communication, Ethics, Interpreting, Legal Interpreting, Medical Interpreting / Jeffrey Alfonso / March 1, 2014 / Business, Business ethics, court interpreter, interpreter ethics, interpreting, Legal Interpreting, Medical interpretation, spanish

There you are, sitting in a doctor’s office with a patient and his interpreter. Since you don’t speak the LEP patient’s language, how can you ensure that the interpreter is doing his job properly? On some level, you might not be able to tell for sure, but there are markers that will give you clues.

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Agency Needs an Interpreter in 5 Minutes Across Town

4 Comments / Business, Communication, Ethics, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / December 3, 2013 / Business ethics, interpreter ethics, interpreting, Medical interpretation, Workers compensation

An unfortunate reality is the last-minute rush job. It’s a fact of life, at times, unavoidable. It makes sense to prepare for such eventualities. I take pride in handling these matters efficiently for my great clients. These are the direct clients that are happy to pay what we are worth. They pay promptly and are

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Agency work (The nerve of those guys!)

3 Comments / Business, Communication, Ethics, Experience, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / November 25, 2013 / Business ethics, ethics, interpreter ethics, interpreting, Medical interpretation, Workers compensation

Not long ago, one of our favorite case managers called me in desperation looking for a French-speaking interpreter. She had been using a well-known national agency, and for the third time, the French interpreter was not going to be at the appointment! The case manager was angry and frustrated; she needed to ensure the proper

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Classified: Man Seeking a Superpower only women are known to have!

1 Comment / Business, Communication, Experience, Interpreting, Legal Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting / Jeffrey Alfonso / November 21, 2013 / brain exercise, court interpreter, interpret, interpreting, Medical interpretation, mental weightlifting, shadow, simultaneous

When I was a young man in my early twenties, I was in a car with a group of friends: two married couples and my buddy Art. One husband drove and the two women sat in front. The other husband sat in the back with us immature single guys. All of a sudden, something extraordinary

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54th Annual American Translators Association Conference

5 Comments / Uncategorized / Jeffrey Alfonso / November 12, 2013

This year’s ATA conference took place in San Antonio, Texas, a unique and beautiful location! Just a few short blocks of The Alamo site, we translators and interpreters gathered at the Marriott Rivercenter. From the initial outward appearance, San Antonio resembles any other fairly large city. However, there is an entirely different world beneath it.

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When an Interpreter´s Ethics are Tested – Part II

1 Comment / Business, Communication, Ethics, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / October 29, 2013 / Business ethics, ethics, interpreter ethics, interpreting, Medical interpretation, spanish, workers comp., Workers compensation

My previous blog described a claimant desperately beseeching assistance. I remained strong and reminded myself of the code of ethics and why they are in place. Sometimes following the ethical course feels unethical or wrong; it is a thought-out, logical process that at times conflicts with our feeling of right and wrong. Case Number Two

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Who’s Your Potato?

Business, Communication, Ethics, Experience, Sales/Marketing, Translation, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / October 19, 2013 / Business ethics, ethics, Translation, Workers compensation

A while back, I attended a seminar and walked by one of the many booths promoting their services. Setting up a booth exhibit is not a cheap endeavor. First, you have to rent the exhibit space. A sign is provided along with a curtain and table, but something has to be done to attract possible

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An Open Letter to My South Carolina Colleagues

How Case Managers Can Work with Interpreters – Part II

How Case Managers Can Work with Interpreters, Part I

8 Indicators that Reveal if an Interpreter is Professional

Agency Needs an Interpreter in 5 Minutes Across Town

Agency work (The nerve of those guys!)

Classified: Man Seeking a Superpower only women are known to have!

54th Annual American Translators Association Conference

When an Interpreter´s Ethics are Tested – Part II

Who’s Your Potato?

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