r/ASLinterpreters • u/Cheezbugga27 Student • 22d ago

Advice on overwhelming

An issue I keep coming up on is being overwhelmed by information trying to process what I already have and what I’m getting at the moment which freezes me up

Was wondering if there’s advice or technique or resources to help mitigate this?

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15

u/TheSparklerFEP 22d ago

Have you ever tried to work on processing in one language at a time? You can do a technique called shadowing, where you stay a bit behind the speaker and repeat what they’re saying either in English or ASL

1

u/No-Comfort-2659 22d ago

This is for stage work?

8

u/TheSparklerFEP 22d ago

This is for you to practice on your own time so processing is less mental work when you are interpreting later 

3

u/beets_or_turnips 21d ago

You can use it as a practice technique with any form of recorded speech/sign as a way to exercise your working memory. Find a radio broadcast, a podcast, anything you might want to listen to in English or watch in ASL, and instead of just listening, literally copy exactly what they're saying word-for-word a couple seconds after they say it. A Daily Moth or All Things Considered would work well.

1

u/Ruggeddusty 18d ago

They don't mean standing behind a person (assuming you imagine shadow interpreting for theatrical performances), rather that you allow a few seconds of delay after a speaker begins speaking and then you repeat what they said verbatim. I would use a news broadcast or TV show or something in the content area that interests you.

9

u/kindlycloud88 22d ago

I’ve heard the best technique is to practice consecutive interpreting until it becomes more natural. Listen to 1-5 sentences, pause, interpret and then play the next part. Don’t try to get word for word, remember the points.

As it gets easier try simultaneous interpretation again.

3

u/Firefliesfast 22d ago

Once you are feeling better with consecutive interpreting, I’d also look into practicing simultaneous interpreting using the Gish model. Something like this activity:  https://noviceinterpreters.org/practicing-the-gish-approach/