As healthcare professionals, we work with people from a myriad of culture and countries. At times, some patients may need a little bit of help with English. We may also elicit language skills from our diverse workforce. But is it the right thing to do?

Timestamps:

0:00 - 1:17 - introduction

1:18 - 4:50 anecdotes of encountering patients who may need a bit of help with English

4:51 - 7:15 a bilingual medical student shares her experience of interpreting for patients

7:16 - 10:18 - language barrier may compound medical jargon

10:19 - 13:07 why getting help from interpreters is important

13:08 - 18:40 should you be asking your colleagues with language skills to help interpret?

19:50 - 23:07 a medical interpreter gives some insight about her role

23:08 - 31:33 reflecting on misunderstanding that arose from misinterpreting verbal and non-verbal communication

33:27 - 39:17 should you be using Google Translate?

39:18 - 47:00 how about using friends and family of the patient to help with interpreting?

According to the Census in 2011, the top three languages other than English spoken in England and Wales are Polish (546,000 people), Punjabi (273,000 people) and Urdu (269,000 people).

Link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/language/articles/languageinenglandandwales/2013-03-04

Expert guest:

Professor Jieun Kiaer is a Professor of Korean Language and Linguistics at the University of Oxford.

Thank you to Wiktoria Ozarek and Candy Lee who contributed to this podcast.

Check us out on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMJStudent

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmj_student/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMJStudent/