REPORT | Poland 2009
by Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka
Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM)
One of the first things I heard when I came to this year’s EFSLI conference was that EFSLI reunions are like battery chargers. And this simile accompanied me throughout the Estonian event. I wouldn’t come up with anything more apt myself. It’s so true – I’ve experienced it three times in a row now! :o)
For me it usually starts as early as a week or so before the conference. I’m all thrilled preparing my presentation and reports, browsing the AGM documents, thinking of those many questions I’d like to ask to the EFSLI Board and the conference participants I’m hoping to meet. And this year the thrill was even greater, because this year was the first time Poland was to participate in the AGM as an EFSLI full member. I was so excited!
During the AGM, when Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM) was introduced as a new EFSLI member I felt very proud and happy. I was proud that as a very young organisation we found ourselves in such an honourable company, and happy because of the warm welcome we received from other members. I felt we did something important, took a serious step in our attempts to develop the field of sign language interpreting in Poland. Becoming an EFSLI member was like taking on a commitment that from now on we’ll be only moving forward and not backward. Now we feel we’re responsible not only before our members, but also before EFSLI, for our work with regard to introducing better quality and standards in Polish sign language interpreting and assisting our interpreters in becoming professionals at the European level.
EFSLI conferences are always devoted to issues both interesting and relevant to the community of sign language interpreters. This year’s theme was especially valuable from the professional point of view, though. It concerned the interpreter her/himself. This year we discussed not the standards, ethical dilemmas or interpreting strategies, these issues being undeniably vital aspects of the interpreting profession, but the mental and physical condition of an interpreter, so about ourselves. This year’s theme touched upon an extremely delicate and painful issues of the burnout syndrome and the interpreter’s physical and mental health. Here my deep thanks to the organisers and hosts of the conference for addressing such issues and enabling a stimulating debate among those whom they most concern.
Because in their strive for neutrality, professionalism, self-development, customer satisfaction, interpreters tend to forget how important they are in the process of communication between the world of the Deaf and the hearing. In the everyday rush from one assignment to another, dealing with agencies and associations, fighting against discrimination of their clients, promoting knowledge about the communities they work for, they forget about themselves. And, as we learnt from the reports presented during the AGM, in majority of cases there are no laws protecting interpreters, there’s a common lack of special trainings devoted to interpreter’s health and not many sources of professional and personal support.
This conference was a perfect occasion for attracting attention to the fact that sometimes an interpreter also needs to be taken care of. And indeed throughout the conference interpreters took their time to share their experiences and emotions, both positive and negative. They could concentrate exclusively on themselves. I got the impression that during the AGM we discussed the mental and physical threats awaiting interpreters in their work, aspects of the profession responsible for the burnout syndrome and chances for institutional, professional and legal support, whereas during the next two days of the conference we searched for solutions to these problems.
And in the mutual search for solutions, those who already know how to deal with a problem shared their knowledge with those who didn’t have it. This is I think what I enjoy most about EFSLI conferences. This year it was enhanced by raising awareness of the mental and physical possibilities of an interpreter, but also her/his limits and needs. And also the motivation to pay more attention to the signals our body and mind send us, change bad habits, accept support from others and think positive. Serious as it was, the message of the conference wouldn’t be so digestible were it not for a bit of humour and a great atmosphere – something I’m never disappointed with at EFSLI conferences.
Judging from the above I’m not the person who can make a long story short. So as not to exceed the room available for the text and the patience of the readers, I’ll just very quickly say that I loved EFSLI new proposals presented at the AGM, I very much enjoyed the breath-taking artistic part of the conference and was enchanted by Tallinn and its hospitality. Thank you very much, EFSLI, for enabling me to take part in another magnificent conference with your brilliant invention of Special Attendance Fund. Thank you, EVKTÜ, for helping me charge my batteries for the next year.
With best regards,
Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka
Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM)
www.stpjm.org.pl
ps. And the EFSLI bug is spreading in Poland, faster and faster :o)