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Welcome to the NAJIT Observer

The NAJIT Observer (TNO) was created in 2011 in response to NAJIT’s members need for a tool

to share information, first-hand experiences, and the occasional fun moment with colleagues.

We are delighted with the response TNO has received from our members and subscribers. And

thanks to our dedicated and generous contributors, TNO’s archive features an amazing number

of posts that you can search by category or author.

Do you want to contribute a post?  Send us an email at TNO_editor@najit.org.

Enjoy The NAJIT Observer!

01 Jul

Posted at 03:15h in Court Interpreting, Ethics, Janis Palma, New Ideas, Professional Practices, Recent Posts by
0 Likes

The United States District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal have said time and again very clearly that Limited English Proficient (LEP) criminal defendants have a right to understand. This is the only reason for interpreters to have a significant place in the U.S. system...

30 Mar

Posted at 08:46h in Certification, Community, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Hilda Zavala-Shymanik, Immigration, Interpreters, Language Associations, NAJIT Conference, Professional Development, Recent Posts, The Profession, Tools of the trade by
2 Likes

I came to the profession as many of you did, if you started your interpreting career ten or more years ago. I had a 15-minute phone interview with an agency owner, and I was hired on the spot and given very few instructions. I started interpreting...

11 Mar

Posted at 08:12h in Athena Matilsky, Community, Community Interpreting, Conference Interpreting, Interpreting, New Ideas, Recent Posts, Volunteer by
0 Likes

Well, folks, I did it! I got my dream assignment. Perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t for the United Nations, or for any other important governmental (or non-governmental) entity you may have heard of. What was it, you ask? Well, can you guess? What would your dream...

06 Mar

Posted at 10:10h in Advocacy, Community, Court Interpreting, Finances, Hilda Zavala-Shymanik, Interpreters, New Ideas, Professional Hazard, Recent Posts, Self care by
2 Likes

Several weeks ago, a friend and freelance colleague fell in the cafeteria of the courthouse where some of us work. The floor was wet and the “wet floor signs” were out of her line of vision. Once she was embarrassingly sprawled on the floor, the...

27 Feb

Posted at 16:42h in Advocacy, Business Practices, Certification, Continuing Education, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Interpreters, Jiraporn Ann Huynh, Professional Development, Recent Posts, Technology, TRAINING by
0 Likes

I know several interpreters who are terrible with computers yet exceptional with their interpreting skills, and I am sure that there are many more out there. Are some of the rules that we have discriminating against talented interpreters with marginal computer skills? Like many interpreters working...

19 Feb

Posted at 12:58h in Advocacy, Attorney Education, Business Practices, Certification, Community, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Interpreters, Janis Palma, Personal Growth, Professional Development, Professional Practices, The Profession, Tools of the trade, TRAINING by
0 Likes

I have to be really honest. Every time I hear about a problem here or there with some client or court who does not want to pay a fair compensation to the interpreter, or someone wondering why the interpreter needs to prep for an assignment...

15 Feb

Posted at 14:20h in Business Practices, Conference Interpreting, Court Interpreting, Finances, Odds & Ends, Professional Practices, Recent Posts, The Profession by
0 Likes

The Couch is a place to exchange ideas and brainstorm, not only for its contributors but also for our readers who engage in the ensuing discussions. Sometimes, a person needs to ask a large number of people what the best course of action is to be...

06 Feb

Posted at 08:46h in Advocacy, Business Practices, Certification, Community, Court Interpreting, Finances, Hilda Zavala-Shymanik, Interpreters, Leadership, New Ideas, Professional Development, Professional Practices, The Profession by
2 Likes

We are always writing about colleagues asking us about fees, and we are horrified when we learn of new colleagues being lowballed. This is an everyday issue. Many blog writers and other guests write about this subject, and we tend to despair of ever having...

22 Jan

Posted at 10:56h in Advocacy, Attorney Education, Business Practices, Certification, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Janis Palma, Leadership, Professional Practices, Recent Posts, Terminology, TRAINING by
0 Likes

In most states, a bilingual individual who wishes to be on the court’s roster of qualified interpreters must meet certain requirements. These are not whimsical or random requirements. The first one is usually an orientation seminar about the court system in the state where the...

16 Jan

Posted at 10:57h in Advocacy, Attorney Education, Certification, Community, Court Interpreting, Interpreters, Leadership, Recent Posts, Reme Bashi, The Profession by
0 Likes

My heart is racing and the more I think about it, the angrier I get. I was in court, and when the judge called my case, she misspoke and said “Attorney Reme Bashi” instead of “Interpreter Reme Bashi.” The bailiff quickly corrected the judge (an...