In this episode of Deep Listening, we have the opportunity to listen to Eva Hussain who is an accredited NAATI translator and foreign interpreter. She is also the founder and CEO of Polaron a language services provider. The mission of Polaron is to transform the language services sector and be the leading authority on European citizenship worldwide. The company has seen steady growth since Eva has been managing it.

Eva’s voluntary roles include founding member of Australasian Association of Language Companies, deputy president of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and secretary of Polish Community Services of Victoria. Eva is originally from Poland and wants to solve complex communication problems between different cultures and geographical areas. She speaks 6 or 7 languages, but English and Polish are her strongest languages. Listen in as Eva shares her story and communication philosophy.

Today’s Topics:

• Eva always wanted to immigrate to Australia, but started out in France first.
• Her first few years in Australia were incredibly difficult even though it was her desire to integrate.
• Interpreters are actors who act out other people’s words. What comes out of the mouth of an interpreter needs to represent the intent and meaning.
• It’s like a loop where the language is stored on the interpreter’s brain and then transformed into a different language and conveyed to the listener.
• There are no opinions. To practice interpreting watch the news and pause it for 30 seconds and then repeat what was just said.
• Preparation for interpreting includes self care and preparing oneself on an emotional level.
• Some interpretation jobs can be quite difficult emotionally, such as when someone is in a life and death situation.
• Acting professionally at all times no matter how difficult it is.
• Breathing techniques can be used to calm the interpreter down.
• Being assertive and asking for breaks is also important.
• The importance of understanding context and getting what is unsaid.
• In difficult situations the best thing that an interpreter can do is to do justice to the words. Be very conscious of not being judgemental.
• The four villains of listening are the lost listener, the interrupting listener, the shrewd listener, and the dramatic listener. For Eva, the interrupter is the worst.
• Give people from other cultures space to get their point across.

Links and Resources:

NAATI

Polaron

Eva Hussain facebook

Eva Hussain LinkedIn

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