# bilingual support groups

Category: Language and Culture

## Post 1 by dissonance (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Thursday, 08-Aug-2013 15:04:30

I'm about to begin translating for a therapist as we hold support groups for parents and grandparents of students in the court system. As I prepare for beginning the groups next month, I am trying to figure out the best way to do it. My fear with translating twoo heavily is making the English-speaking participants feel disengaged and frustrated because of the dealys in the conversation. If I translate too minimally, I'm afraid of making the spanish speaking clients feel disengaged or less in the loop. if we hold a separate group altogether, I fear the groups will be too small for members to get the most out of the groups. Do any of you have any thoughts about what would be the most appropriate?

## Post 2 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Thursday, 08-Aug-2013 19:50:12

since there are english speakers, and speakers of another language, I'd think having separate groups would be best. that way, regardless of the fear you feel, you'll likely be able to devote whatever amount of attention is needed, to each individual group.

## Post 3 by Leafs Fan (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 09-Aug-2013 7:41:01

You have to be very careful with this. I am a translator myself and I know how tricky it can be. Translating the written word is one thing, and that is what I do for a living. But simultaneous translation while people are speaking is a specialized field that typically interpreters spend years studying for in order to do it effectively. I am not sure if you are a student in translation or not, but feel free to write me off the boards if you want to talk more about it.