I do not get it.

[jamesbeary]

I have noted that the nighttime shift for Sorenson Video Relay Interpreter, they are way more personable, friendlier and relaxed. Not like the daytime shift when you might end up with a tired and stressed interpreter on some occasions

Comments

[dodgingwndshlds]

We do have more fun at night it's true.. The callers seem to be more friendly, too.

Also, during the day, the calls come so fast; one right after the other. At night, they come slower, they tend to be more the type of calls where folks are chatting with friends and family, rather than the fast, 2 minute business type calls during the day. It's nicer for us when the calls are a bit longer.

Calls can be stressful, we never have any context. Half the time, I never know what I am interpreting about, I sign and voice what I see and hear and the callers understand each other, and half the time, I never know what is going on. It is stressful. The calls at night, being slower and more chatty, give us an opportunity to get some context.

Not that there is anything wrong with having no context. I mean, it's part of the job, and every interpreter at Sorenson that I work with is dedicated to doing the best job they can do. We all try to be friendly and personable, and yes, sometimes, things get very stressful. Not everyone is as nice to us as I am sure you are. It helps when the callers, both hearing and Deaf, are friendly to us and work with us, rather than get upset when we miss something fingerspelled blindingly fast over a bad video connection while eating and smoking a cigarette and texting on a sidekick at the same time.

;-)

[jamesbeary]

I have been guilty of eating and drinking while on VRS converstation. I don't smoke. On occassion I would check my blackberry during a VRS call, but that's when I am put on hold.

I do try to do a brief explaination about what a VRS call will be. If I say I am calling to Land's End, then they would adapt to that. Helps them to know beforehand.

Since I am the manager for 10 trainers in my region, I wonder if you have any pet peeves about trainers calling to report their activity?

Thanks so much for commenting, it has enlighted me.

[dodgingwndshlds]

And most callers are like you; friendly, and great to work with.

As for the trainers, those are always my favorite calls. There is nothing better than working with callers on BOTH ends that are familiar with our jobs, and part of out team as well... Seriously, the trainers rock, just they way they all automatically know that we struggle with serial numbers that have the letters f, v, o or w that look so much like the numbers 9, 2, 0, and 6, and automatically makeing that clear. It's awesome.

Plus.. Some of those trainers are damn hot.

I totally did not just say that.

oops.

[jamesbeary]

That is great news. I train the trainers and part of their learning experience is how to sign this method. Sorenson developed such a system and I am sure all SVRS terps know this as well. They usually pick it up in a hour.

Even my VP clients pick this up and adopt this for themselves. That's good thing