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Interpreters Are Not Your Secretaries—A Guide

 Interpreter 101

This post is for anyone who has worked with an interpreter, has an in-house interpreter at their company, or is planning to hire one.

Interpreter: A person qualified to interpret. (Source: Naver Korean Dictionary)

That’s the dictionary definition—but what does an interpreter actually do?

Before diving in, let’s clear something up: the term “interpreter” covers a wide range of professionals, and there are multiple ways to categorize them.

  1. Those who can perform simultaneous interpreting, and those who can’t.

  2. Those who graduated from a graduate-level interpretation/translation program, and those who didn’t.

  3. In-house interpreters vs. freelance interpreters.

  4. Interpreters (spoken language) vs. translators (written language).

Let’s unpack that.

Simultaneous Interpreting & Graduate Schools
Categories 1 and 2 are often related. That’s because simultaneous interpreting is a specialized skill taught in professional interpretation/translation graduate schools in Korea—often known as 통대 (Tongdae). These are rigorous, full-time programs, and getting accepted is no small feat. Even many people with excellent English skills fail the entrance exams. Simply put, if you’re a near-perfect bilingual looking to hone interpretation or translation skills, these schools are where you go.

Some of the most recognized programs are at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, and Seoul University of Foreign Studies. While curricula differ slightly, they all teach simultaneous interpreting—an extremely difficult skill to master. Unlike consecutive interpreting, where the interpreter starts only after the speaker finishes, simultaneous interpreting involves following the speaker’s words with a 1–2 second delay. It’s like sprinting while solving a puzzle in your head. Without proper training, it’s nearly impossible to do effectively.

So if someone says they can do simultaneous interpreting without formal training, you can assume one of two things:

  1. They’re a rare genius, in which case, please introduce me.

  2. They’re likely confusing it with consecutive interpreting.

In-House vs. Freelance
Category 3: interpreters working at a company are called “in-house interpreters.” Their roles are often siloed and sometimes misunderstood. Freelance interpreters, on the other hand, take assignments from clients—either through agencies or personal networks. They operate like most other freelancers: project-to-project, gig-to-gig.

Interpreter vs. Translator
Category 4 highlights a common misunderstanding. Interpreters work with spoken language; translators work with written text. While interpreters often do both, it's rare for translators to offer interpretation services. These two skills are related but distinct.

What People Get Wrong About Interpreters

Having worked as an interpreter across various companies, I’ve noticed a few recurring misconceptions:

  1. Confusing Interpreting with Translating
    People often use the terms interchangeably, but they're fundamentally different. Interpreting is real-time and verbal; translating is textual and time-flexible.

  2. Assuming Interpreters Can “Just Do It” On the Spot
    While we’re trained to react quickly, interpreters need background materials and context to perform well. We study smarter, not just harder—and we need access to information like agenda, participants, and terminology in advance.

  3. Underestimating Interpreters’ Expertise
    Some assume that since interpreters aren’t experts in the subject matter, their input isn’t valuable. But often, we’re well-versed in multiple fields and highly adept at adapting our knowledge quickly. Our value lies in enabling communication—not in being the subject matter expert.

  4. Treating Interpreters Like Assistants or Secretaries
    This one’s tricky. In roles supporting executives, the line between interpreting and administrative work can get blurry. But just like you wouldn’t ask a doctor to do a nurse’s job, asking interpreters to do unrelated tasks misses the point of their specialization.

Every year, new interpreters enter the field, but you rarely see or hear about them. In fact, remaining unseen and unnoticed is often considered a virtue in this profession. Still, I want to take a moment to recognize the countless interpreters out there—working silently, tirelessly, and professionally.

I’ll close with an article that struck a chord with me during my interpreter training days—a piece from the New York Times that unexpectedly resonates with the discipline and mindset required in this field:
👉 The Zen of Weight Lifting – NYTimes


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