At nearly every conference I attend, there’s always that moment—during a coffee break, in the hallway, or after a session—when someone walks up to me, eyes wide with curiosity, and asks:
“How do you do it?”
You listen, process, and speak at the same time.
They ask it with awe, disbelief, and sometimes a little fear. Because yes, from the outside, simultaneous interpretation looks like magic. One person speaks, another listens—and at the same time, that second person speaks in another language, with no script, no pause, and no time to think, without hesitation (well, sometimes not really, lol).
I smile. And I usually say:
“With a lot of practice… and a little bit of madness.”
Then comes the bigger question:
“Are interpreters born or made?”
After decades in booths across the globe, my answer remains the same: They are made. But they must be born with a few key wires already in place to be an interpreter.
Beyond the Language
Yes, speaking two or more languages is essential—but it’s just the entry ticket. The real work begins after that.
A simultaneous interpreter needs:
- Nerves of steel: Because speakers can go 200 words per minute, use heavy accents, or dive into technical jargon without warning. And you can’t blink.
- A cool head and a hot brain: You must react in real time, translating not only words but also tone, context, intent—on the fly, without losing your rhythm.
- Trained voice and ears: Your voice is both your tool and your shield. It must be clear, calm, and resistant. And your ears must decode accents, filter out noise, and handle poor audio systems with grace.
- Thick skin: Someone will always say you missed a word, chose the wrong term, or didn’t match the tone. Sometimes they’re right. Sometimes not. You must learn, adapt, and move on.
- Zero ego: This is not a stage—it’s a booth. We shine by helping others shine. The best compliment we can receive? That no one noticed we were even there. We speak someone else’s words.
So… born or made?
Yes, you’re born with sharp ears, a love for language, and the ability to speak and listen at once without short-circuiting. But interpreters are made through years of disciplined training, constant preparation, quiet observation, and the humility to keep learning—even after decades in the field.
So how do we do it? With discipline. With passion. With a calm voice and a racing mind. And just a touch of well-managed madness.
What do you think? If you’re an interpreter, what has been your greatest challenge in the booth? And if you’re a user of interpretation, have you ever been amazed by the “simultaneous miracle”?
Sergio is a chemical microbiologist, licensed interpreter, and the founding president of Colegio Mexicano de Intérpretes de Conferencias.
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