I love my profession. Everyday I have the privilege of helping a fellow human being in the most enjoyable and direct manner.

Many times, the person I'm interpreting for is experiencing a situation I have never experienced; nevertheless, I am able to help him or her by putting all of my resources at his or her disposal.

When I'm interpreting, a great responsibility is put upon my shoulders and I take it very seriously. I have to grasp the meaning of what this person is trying to convey and use all the terminology and skills that I have learned because when I'm interpreting, my voice is not mine, and my words are not my own.

Today I was a police officer taking a report on a 17 year-old run-away girl. Today I was a worried mom thinking that my daughter's boyfriend is not letting her call me to tell me that she is OK.

Today I was a medical practitioner teaching a patient how to use a glucose monitor. Today I was an elderly man concerned about the cost of the strips for my new glucose monitor.

Today I was a printing company employee taking one more of the never-ending orders for checks. Today I was woman placing my first check order on my very first checking account.

Today I was an assistant District Attorney preparing a witness for testimony on an upcoming trial. Today I was a man reliving the horror of having a knife held to my throat while two people took money from my pants pockets.

Today I was an English-speaking representative in an English speaking country trying to do my job. Today I was a Spanish-speaking woman refusing to talk through an interpreter, demanding to talk to a representative that can speak to me directly in my language.

Today I was an immigrant concerned about the possibility of going to jail and paying a fine. Today I was a judge explaining to a Spanish speaking man that there's a consequence to driving without insurance.

Today I was a wife asking a nurse to help me retrieve my husband's dialysis information from his dialysis machine. Today I was a very helpful and patient nurse slowly guiding my patient's wife through a dialysis machine menu that is very familiar to me but a maze to her.

Today I was a bank representative trying to take a report on a malfunctioning ATM. Today I was another bank representative trying to practice my limited English while giving information about a malfunctioning ATM.

Today I was woman in tears, finally admitting that I'm suicidal and seeking help from the behavioral health division of my insurance plan. Today I was case manager trying to determine if a psychologist or a psychiatrist would better help my caller.

Today I was a physical therapist trying to help a man recover his mobility after a car accident. Today I was a man in a lot of pain.

Today I was an oncologist explaining to the daughter of my cancer patient that chemotherapy is the only option that he has left, the possible side effects, and that there are no guarantees. Today I was a daughter trying to put aside my pain and sorrow in order to process the meaning of the information given to me so I can discuss it with my siblings.

Today I was an employee of a nicotine patch distributor trying to get the address of where to send the nicotine patches. Today I was a woman all excited because I have decided to quit smoking and I'm getting help.

Following is a release from NYC Mayor's office that went out earlier this week.

The release discusses the Domestic Violence Work Advantage program, which will provide a rental subsidy for victims of domestic violence and grant an extension after they obtain housing to secure employment.

The release mentions other efforts by the Mayor's office targeting domestic abuse victims, including the Language Line Program, a citywide initiative that equips police officers with special telephones that allow direct access to interpreters in more than 150 languages."

The article notes that through the Language Line Program and other efforts, "major domestic violence felony crime has decreased 20% citywide and family-related homicides have decreased 7% over the last five years."

View the entire release from Mayor Bloomberg

If you or someone you know needs domestic violence assistance, please call 911.

If you are in New York, the New York City hotline is 1-800-621-HOPE.

(San Francisco, CA) On Tuesday, October 30, in honor of October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Chief Heather Fong, City Administrator Ed Lee, and Commissioner Dorka Keehn of the Commission on the Status of Women, joined with AT&T, Language Line Services, and community-based organizations to announce a new tool in the effort to provide assistance to domestic violence survivors who speak English with limited proficiency-mobile phones.

"This collaboration between criminal justice agencies and community providers is a critical step in closing the gaps that may leave some of our residents feeling vulnerable or unsafe," noted Mayor Newsom. "Furthermore, this interpretation tool acknowledges the city's diversity and reinforces our commitment to providing city services that are more culturally competent." View the full news release here >

Response to the past couple issues' announcements that Language Line Services plans to double its global interpreter workforce over the next two years was tremendous.

If you are a professional interpreter or ready to make over-the-phone interpretation your career, we want to hear from you.

We are seeking interpreters fluent in one of these languages and others:

Burmese, Cantonese, Greek, Indonesian, Korean, Mandarin, Marshallese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tibetan or Vietnamese.

The majority of Language Line Services' interpreter employment opportunities in the United States are for work-from-home positions.

Language Line Services provides an extensive orientation program accompanied by ongoing training and mentoring in interpreting for professional fields such as banking, healthcare, and technical interpreting for its employees.

Call or write to us now for more information about Language Line Services' career opportunities. Visit www.languageline.com/careers...

Or call (800) 532-4441.

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