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Is Citizenship Required for Medical Care?

It's a heartbreaking story by a doctor, posted on Valentine's Day... It begins:
 
As I was deciding whether to intubate my new patient--a 23 year-old man, ravaged by cancer, clearly struggling to breath--his mother handed me two envelopes.
 
In broken English, she urged me to open them. In the first was a copy of his medical records... In the second was his certificate of U.S. citizenship.
 
When the shocked doctor asked why, the mother (through an Arabic interpreter) told him that halfway to the hospital, she'd gone back home to get her son's proof of citizenship. Without it, she feared he might not be treated--and might even be turned over to immigration.
 
Welcome to the United States--a nation of immigrants where one child in four is an immigrant or an immigrant's child.
Ex-CIA Officer Will Be Imprisoned in Italy--For Interpreting?
If you listen to the spy's story, she was just an interpreter. Sabrina De Sousa, a former CIA operative, now 60, faces extradition from Portugal to Italy. In absentia, she was sentenced by Italian courts to 4 years of prison. Her crime? Allegedly she helped with the CIA's "rendition" (in this case, Kidnapping to another country inhumane interrogation) of a Muslim cleric.
 
She says she simply interpreted a discussion between CIA and Italian authorities about the possible rendition.
 
De Sousa's family lives in Portugal. When she left the CIA and moved back to Portugal to be with her family, she was apprehended. Now Italy demands that Portugal extradite her.
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK 
What Kind of Personality Do Interpreters Need?
 
This research paper poses the question of whether personality matters for interpreters to succeed--and argues that it does.
 
The article is an international study of sign language interpreter disposition by four researchers (including the distinguished Jemina Napier and Karen Bontempo). Here are just some of the tantalizing conclusions:
 
Openness to experience, emotional stability, extraversion, and self-esteem were bigger predictors of competence in freelance interpreters.

When we examined the data of the English-speaking countries more closely, self-esteem was by far the biggest predictor across all the nations:
  • Australia (n = 205): self-esteem, then conscientiousness;
  • US (n = 1224): self-esteem, then openness to experience;
  • Canada (n = 150): self-esteem;
  • UK (n = 123): self-esteem;
  • NZ (n = 15): self-esteem.
February 24, 2017
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BOOK(S) OF THE WEEK
Picture of books
Rani Srivastava, RN, PhD 
Elsevier, 2007 
 
You'll find a lot of books available now on cultural competence in health care. We can't recommend most of these books. Despite their disclaimers, many of the authors appear to stereotype the very populations they want us to understand more deeply.
 
 
Of particular note, this book does not look at populations by ethno-cultural/religious labels. It does reflect a diversity of perspectives, tackles front-line experience and is broad and inclusive.
ON THE CALENDAR
Did You Miss International Mother Language Day?

Like Mother's Day, it comes once a year. On February 21, did you celebrate International Mother Language Day?
 
As the United Nations says on its mother language page, preserving and disseminating mother tongues will "develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world" and "inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue."
    
Love your mother.


A Doctor/Interpreter Hosts Webinar for Spanish Medical Interpreters

Are all you Spanish interpreters awake this Saturday, February 25 at 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. EST?
 
Consider this two-hour live webinar, "Get to Know - Miembro Inferior." It focuses on the basic anatomy, terminology, diagnostic tools, and conditions related to the lower limb (hip, knee, ankle, foot). The webinar will be in Spanish and English. 
 
CEUS available!
What Being Bilingual Can Really Do for Us
 
There's been a recent explosion in research on the benefits of being bilingual. But this Journal of Cognitive Science guest blog post gives you a bigger picture.
 
Angela Grant, the author, even breaks down what kind of bilingual you are. From birth? Childhood? Later? Did you speak one language at school and another at home?
 
Then she gives a broad overview of what this kind of research really means for us, and what factors might actually confer cognitive benefits. Timely and cool.
CCC CORNER
Just Confirmed: Next Session of TPIO's Online Training of Trainers!

You asked for it and we're happy to deliver -- a second session of The Interpreter Trainer Online: Training of Trainers will take place in April. Interpreter trainers will learn how to use two valuable platforms in order to develop and deliver online interpreter training programs. We've expanded the program from 16 to 20 hours to include even more interactive, skills-based activities.

Our February session sold out before the early bird deadline. Registration for those on the waiting list will open on Tuesday, February 28. Regular registration will open March 1.

Program dates: April 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
                         May 2, 4 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) 
Time: 1:00-3:00p.m. EST
See flier for full program and pricing details.

Sign up here for the waiting list.

Registration details coming soon!
4 Days Left! Pre-Order Your Copy of Our NEW Educational Interpreting Video

Save $15! Pre-order a copy of our latest training video resource: Educational Interpreting: Video Tips for Interpreters and Staff.
 
The DVD offers basis guidance and engaging film vignettes that feature real-life interpreters in schools (and are based on true stories). The brand-new DVD comes out March 1. It will guide school staff and interpreters on basic requirements for educational interpreting. It will also help them to avoid common challenges and pitfalls.

Regular price: $60
Pre-order price: $45 (Good through Feb. 28. Save $15!)
At checkout, use Discount Code: EduPre15

Let's Start Spring with The Community Interpreter® International!

Spring is around the corner (or already here, if you live in the DC area!) and it's time to sign up for the top program in the U.S. for community interpreters. Whether you want to become a professional interpreter for medical, educational or social services interpreting -- or all three -- The Community Interpreter® International will get you there!

Dates: April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 6 (2 Fridays, 3 Saturdays)
Time: 8:30am-5:30pm
Cost: $675 (+$70 language proficiency test)
Early bird cost: $635 (Good through March 17. Save $40!)
Registration and payment deadline: April 7  
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Sincerely,

Marjory A. Bancroft

Marjory A. Bancroft
Director & Founder
Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC
                                                     
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