How to work with translators

communication, intercultural, gender, role of translaters, social needs, social work

culturesensitive communication between supporter and refugee

8 - 10 max

For the unit »language« the participants will do a role play with one person being refugee, one person being consultant, one person being language and cultural mediator. This group will present difficulties and misunderstandings that can arise as well as ways to prevent and resolve problems of communication. How do refugees express their problems and psycholgical symptoms? How can translators communicate the needs of refugees? Are there cultural differences in describing problems or (mental) health related symptoms? How can the roles of the consultant and translator be made clear and how to communicate in a clear way that the relationship of trust is between the refugee and consultant? How to create a triangle relation with the translator? Are there any difficulties that prevent a well functioning working relation between the translator and the refugee and how to overcome them?

fictitious or anonymized case example with basic information about a fictitous refugee and the social needs that need to be addressed

role play and group discussion

The facilitator should be a person with professional background of a language and cultural mediator or a social worker / psycholgist who often worked with language and cultural mediators for supporting traumatized refugees.

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Facilitator should prepare a fictitious case example presenting the main challenges in working with translators to address the social needs of a refugee.

Bianca Schmolze, MFH Bochum, Germany.