welcome to

Medical Interpreting

PRACTICE STUDIO

Designed by Freepik

ABOUT

The Medical Interpreting Practice Studio offers interactive classes that focus solely on practice, with no theoretical content. These classes are available in small groups or individually and are designed for participants who speak English and Russian.

* LANGUAGE NEUTRAL SESSIONS CAN BE ACCOMODATED IN A ONE-ON-ONE FORMAT

This is the place for you if you are:

N

A bilingual individual or someone who has studied Russian as a foreign language and wants to explore if interpreting is a skill you might excel in.

N

An individual training to become a medical interpreter who needs to test your knowledge by practicing with a Russian-speaking instructor.

N

Someone who previously worked as an interpreter but has had a significant break or has worked in a different field and needs to refresh your skills.

N

An individual whose Russian language skills (even if native) are not as strong as your English due to infrequent use and/or a disconnect from the culture.

We offer practice with original medical setting scenarios, enriched with cultural content, in both group classes and individual sessions.

Exam Preparation: Individual lessons to help you prepare for certification exam, focusing on speed and note-taking.

Mock Exam: A practice exam designed to simulate the pace and length of segments in the actual certification exam.

Group Practice Sessions: Limited to a maximum of 5 participants per class, these sessions focus on interpreting medical dialogues.

Individual practice sessions:

=

Consecutive interpreting

=

CMI exam preparation

=

Note taking

=

Sight translation

CONTENT

WHY THIS

STUDIO

In her search for medical interpreter training courses and later as she enrolled in a program, the Studio founder, Tatiana Ford, noticed a significant imbalance between the abundance of theoretical material on medical interpreting and the limited opportunities for practical application, especially for students with underrepresented languages.

As a student who practiced only one-way interpreting (English into Russian), she often wished for a Russian-English instructor to provide proper feedback and evaluate progress. She also longed for the opportunity to practice in a group with peers who spoke both languages.

Thus, it was decided to create an easily accessible online space where Russian/English-speaking individuals, whether considering or already engaged in medical interpreting training, can practice both in groups and individually.

Interpreter Protocol

Individual Session

Group Session

DEMO

RECORDINGS

BOOK NOW

You can schedule your session now. Please click the button below to schedule your next available session.

FREE ONE HOUR ASSESSMENT SESSION

Contact Us

STUDENTS FEEDBACK

FAQ

What made you start the Studio?

While still in training, I immediately recognized the need for more practice in both English and the target language. I envisioned the setting as being similar to preparing for a midterm exam at university, where you form a study group with peers to quiz each other on terminology and various topics.

What do you teach in the Studio?

I do not “teach” in the traditional sense; instead, I facilitate and assist in practice sessions. In a friendly atmosphere, I share my experience with Studio visitors, guiding them through exercises on various medical topics. The primary goal is to create an informal environment for practice where making a mistake or misspeaking is perfectly acceptable.

How is the Studio different from other interpreting courses?

It is entirely different from a course. While there are many theoretical programs that provide all the relevant materials for interpreting jobs, the Studio’s purpose is focused solely on practice—practice—practice. It is meant to complement the theoretical training you
receive from other platforms.

Original materials?

All scenarios are original and developed by the Studio. Some highlight various challenges in an interpreter’s job, such as dealing with frustrated patients, sensitive topics, and cultural peculiarities. Everything I learn at work is transformed into diverse practice materials, including “bloopers” from providers, patients, and interpreters.

Why only 5 in a group session?

No more than five is ideal because even two people can effectively engage in “group practice”, where they can discuss word choices and compare their versions of interpreting a phrase or sentence. From my own experience, I have found that five is the maximum number that allows each participant enough time to practice, while still providing sufficient opportunity for discussion and feedback.

What exactly do you do during the sessions?

In a group session, we focus on practicing note-taking, interpreting medical scenarios, and, for a bit of fun, reviewing “bloopers from the field.” Individual sessions are tailored to the participant’s specific areas of focus. Recordings of both group and individual sessions can be found on the website under “Demo Recordings”.

What is the language of instruction during the sessions?

It depends on the participants’ preferences. The Studio is an informal space, and we don’t adhere to strict rules regarding the session format. Like “study buddies,” we laugh a lot, as I believe that positive emotions help with better absorption of the study materials.

Mock exam – what is it?

The ultimate goal of the Studio is to help interpreters achieve certification. Certification proves your skill level to potential employers without requiring further testing, distinguishing you from others and adding your name to the NBCMI list of certified interpreters, which can secure a better hourly rate. I have developed a mock exam to help participants evaluate the difficulty level,
the speed of dialogue delivery, and the length of the segments. It also helps identify weak areas so participants can focus on specific aspects to better prepare for the real exam.

DISCLAIMER

Although the dialogues are loosely based on observed cases, no Protected Health Information (PHI) is used, ensuring full compliance with HIPAA. None of the training materials on this platform disclose any part of the content from the NBCMI certification exam.

en_USEnglish