Spanish Interpreter Vs Scribing

[EdgeTrimmer]

How valuable is working as a Spanish Interpreter at a free clinic compared to working as a Scribe? My son (current sophomore) initially thought of going into scribing but due to lack of time (with research and other ECs) opted for Spanish Interpreter volunteering at a weekend free clinic. He will probably can get over 100 hours by the time he applies. Spanish is not his native language and his focus is on UCs.

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[LizzyM]

Everyone and their brother seems to be scribing these days. It is clinical experience which is important but, in my opinion, interpreting is both clinical experience and a demonstration of one's proficiency in Spanish which is very highly valued by adcoms. Furthermore, if it is in a free clinic, it provides some insights into the life of the members of the community who use that type of service; this is a population that your son might not otherwise get to know and that exposure is of value as well.

 

[Incursio]

I volunteered as a Spanish interpreter, got certified, and now working as a full-time so I could tell you a bit about interpreting. Spanish interpreting seems to be a more unusual experience compared to and involves different responsibilities/tasks than scribing (at least as far as I know). Since your son volunteers at a clinic, he will get exposure and insight into the patient's side of healthcare and get the opportunity to advocate for the patients and their families.

That being said, something you could talk about with your son is recognizing one's own limitations. You mention that your son is not a native speaker, which could potentially do more harm than good depending on his actual level. Another aspect to consider is the difference between interpreter and a native-speaker, the latter one could still be helpful in a lot of scenarios, but there are differences in terms of interpreting for meaning, tone, emotions in an encounter that a native-speaker could potentially miss. If the clinic your son volunteers at is aware and ok with your son's Spanish level (i.e. having some rather than none), I don't see a major issue, but if his Spanish is not there you might want to speak to your son.

If you have any specific questions PM me

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I volunteered as a Spanish interpreter, got certified, and now working as a full-time so I could tell you a bit about interpreting. Spanish interpreting seems to be a more unusual experience compared to and involves different responsibilities/tasks than scribing (at least as far as I know). Since your son volunteers at a clinic, he will get exposure and insight into the patient's side of healthcare and get the opportunity to advocate for the patients and their families.

That being said, something you could talk about with your son is recognizing one's own limitations. You mention that your son is not a native speaker, which could potentially do more harm than good depending on his actual level. Another aspect to consider is the difference between interpreter and a native-speaker, the latter one could still be helpful in a lot of scenarios, but there are differences in terms of interpreting for meaning, tone, emotions in an encounter that a native-speaker could potentially miss. If the clinic your son volunteers at is aware and ok with your son's Spanish level (i.e. having some rather than none), I don't see a major issue, but if his Spanish is not there you might want to speak to your son.

If you have any specific questions PM me

@Incursio - Thank you. My son studied Spanish for 11 years (1st grade - 11th) and last summer did 6 weeks Spanish immersion and public health service program in a Latin country which includes one week of advanced Spanish classes. He stayed with a family which spoke Spanish only.

 

[Incursio]

I think there shouldn't be any problems with his proficiency then and it would just boil down to the training as an interpreter vs native-speaker difference.

This could be a great experience for your son. It all comes down to what he learns from it and how he talks/writes about it when he has to apply to med school. Les deseo suerte a ambos!

 

[sehnsuchtsermedico]

@Incursio - Thank you. My son studied Spanish for 11 years (1st grade - 11th) and last summer did 6 weeks Spanish immersion and public health service program in a Latin country which includes one week of advanced Spanish classes. He stayed with a family which spoke Spanish only.

His Spanish Emerson sounds like my English immersion! Interpreting sounds pretty cool and very different than most applicants. I think it sounds like an amazing experience. Scribing ends up being more like a fly on the wall job, taking notes of what is happening. I feel like your son will appreciate communicating with both the patient and physician in trying to care for someone. Plus, having that language connection with a patient goes a long way! There are so many times I’ve had to step in as an interpreter, and you just see a huge sigh or relief from patients and they tend to open up more.

 

[DrRiker]

Being a Spanish medical interpreter would be a very cool and unique way to stand out on an application. Go for it!

 

[NicMouse64]

His Spanish Emerson sounds like my English immersion! Interpreting sounds pretty cool and very different than most applicants. I think it sounds like an amazing experience. Scribing ends up being more like a fly on the wall job, taking notes of what is happening. I feel like your son will appreciate communicating with both the patient and physician in trying to care for someone. Plus, having that language connection with a patient goes a long way! There are so many times I’ve had to step in as an interpreter, and you just see a huge sigh or relief from patients and they tend to open up more.

How well do you know the spanish level of your son? As someone who is not a native speaker please don't push the idea to him unless he is 100% confident in his spanish abilities. These clinics are desperate for interpreters, but making a bad translation can be very bad for the patient. Make sure he is working very hard to improve spanish, or he may end up hurting patients.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

How well do you know the spanish level of your son? As someone who is not a native speaker please don't push the idea to him unless he is 100% confident in his spanish abilities. These clinics are desperate for interpreters, but making a bad translation can be very bad for the patient. Make sure he is working very hard to improve spanish, or he may end up hurting patients.

@NicMouse64 How did you get the impression that I am pushing my son to be a Spanish Interpreter? He was interviewed in Spanish before he was selected for 6 weeks service program and then again tested before he took the one week Spanish class at a reputed school in the country he visited and was placed in advanced class. His project was interviewing teenagers, parents, grand parents and educators in that country about sex education and prepared a report. So he is 100% confident about his Spanish skills. He is very selective about his ECs and does them seriously not to pad applications. I always preached that to him.

 

[NicMouse64]

@NicMouse64 How did you get the impression that I am pushing my son to be a Spanish Interpreter? He was interviewed in Spanish before he was selected for 6 weeks service program and then again tested before he took the one week Spanish class at a reputed school in the country he visited and was placed in advanced class. His project was interviewing teenagers, parents, grand parents and educators in that country about sex education and prepared a report. So he is 100% confident about his Spanish skills. He is very selective about his ECs and does them seriously not to pad applications. I always preached that to him.

I understand. Plenty of people are 100% confident in their spanish skills that have no business interpreting. I am not doing this to attack your son but rather give a second thought to if it's ethical. I am just trying to protect vulnerable patients, is all. I've seen f ups lead to a cancer Diagnosis not be communicated.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I understand. Plenty of people are 100% confident in their spanish skills that have no business interpreting. I am not doing this to attack your son but rather give a second thought to if it's ethical. I am just trying to protect vulnerable patients, is all. I've seen f ups lead to a cancer Diagnosis not be communicated.

@NicMouse64 - I share your concerns. The free clinic is associated with a T20 medical school and hopefully they are careful with whom they recruit .