31 Jan When Your Brain Splits in Two
Did you know humans can’t actually multi-task? We are capable of lightning concentration if we try, and we can quickly shift focus if we practice. But we can’t actually do two things at once. When we interpret simultaneously, for example, we listen. Then we process....
03 Dec Repetition is Key
Posted at 01:00h
in Athena Matilsky, Interpreters, Interpreting, Professional Development, Professional Practices, Recent Posts
17 Comments
I am not a baker. The world of yeasts and doughs, of icing, flour and exact measurements eludes me. Hand me some garlic and kale, and I’ll make you discover a love you never knew you had for green vegetables. But baking is a different...
08 Oct The Trouble With Memory…
Posted at 11:30h
in Athena Matilsky, Court Interpreting, Interpreting, Past Posts, Recent Posts
5 Comments
The article below was originally posted in 2017. Memory is an interpreter’s best friend; here’s to “remembering” a useful contribution. Enjoy. or How to Forget About Interpreting and Just Listen You know how the saying goes: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself....
17 Sep The Lovely Land of Language Interference
Posted at 01:00h
in Athena Matilsky, Idioms, Interpreting, Language, Recent Posts, Translation
13 Comments
Have you ever taken a dash of one language with a sprinkle of another, mixed them together and simmered to taste? Of course you have! You’re bilingual. You’re bound to have stirred your languages together at one point or another. There’s actually a fancy name...
18 Jun A Virtual Conference: LOTS Interpreter Needs
Posted at 19:19h
in Athena Matilsky, LOTS, NAJIT Conference, New Ideas, Recent Posts, The Profession, Tools of the trade
4 Comments
The first two weekends of June saw our NAJIT colleagues join together from around the country for our 42nd Annual Conference and first ever virtual one. On the West Coast, our valiant Pacific-timers rose at 7am to attend the days’ events. Luckily it was on...
28 May Acrobatics: A Metaphor for Interpreting with Confidence and Humility
Posted at 03:02h
in Athena Matilsky, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Interpreting, Odds & Ends, Recent Posts
7 Comments
This article by Athena was first published in November 2014. We liked it so much that we decided to share it with our readers once again. Enjoy! Those who know me outside of interpreting know that acrobatics (specifically, partnered “Acroyoga”) is my not-so-secret other love....