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Volume I
Section 1.1: Remote Interpreting in the Time of COVID-19

Section 1.1 Remote Interpreting in the Time of COVID-19

→ Learning objective 1.1

After completing this section, the remote interpreter will be able to assess the impact of
COVID-19 on remote interpreters.

→ Section 1.1 Overview

The COVID pandemic changed how most interpreters worked. The single biggest change was
moving from face-to-face interpreting to remote platforms. Starting in March 2020, most face-to-
face contracts and interpreting jobs disappeared in the span of a few short weeks. While face-to-
face interpreting has recovered to some extent, remote interpreting is now widespread in all areas
of the interpreting profession.

During the COVID quarantines, the majority of face-to-face interpreters around the world had
to make a swift transition to a remote workplace. Those who already worked remotely saw their
workload increase, and the work often grew more stressful.

This section offers you a glimpse into the lives of many remote interpreters in the two years after the
pandemic began. This information is partly based on a series of interviews with remote interpreters
who work across several interpreting specializations. These stories primarily feature interpreters
in healthcare; the rest of this textbook will highlight how the pandemic impacted interpreters who
work in other specializations.
Whether you worked remotely already or were new to remote interpreting, the COVID-19 pandemic
probably had a huge impact on your work. COVID-19 represents a permanent before-and-after
moment for remote interpreting.

→ Section 1.1 Content

Transitioning from face-to-face to remote interpreting

Here is the story of one interpreter who lived through the abrupt disruptions to face-to-face
interpreting. She had to make difficult choices between personal safety and the emotional toll it
took not to be able to provide services to clients in need.

This interpreter’s story illustrates the struggles that arose at the beginning of the pandemic, when
many service providers had to find ways to quickly learn how to provide interpreting services
remotely. Meanwhile, those who still provided face-to-face interpreting, especially in healthcare,
had to learn how to keep interpreters safe.

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