The founder of the De La Mora Institute of Interpretation, Agustin de la Mora’s extensive experience includes serving as a supervisor rater for the US National Center for State Courts and a lead rater for federal and consortium oral exams. His newest book, Weightlifting for Court Interpreters: Mastering Performance Through Deliberate Practice, aims to address the unique challenges court interpreters face and provide a structured roadmap for bilingual individuals looking to excel in this demanding field. In this interview, de la Mora shares the journey that led him to write the book and the methodology behind his work.
What inspired you to write Weightlifting for Court Interpreters? Was there a particular moment or experience that made you realize the need for this book?
Twenty-five years ago, I stopped by the 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida to inquire about interpreter positions. After a very brief interview, I informed the person in charge of interpreters that I had done one deposition and was a language teacher at Berlitz.
I was offered my first assignment the next day. Having never set foot in a courtroom, I was the “official” interpreter for a defendant who was being sentenced that day. I realized two things: First, I found the experience very interesting and, second, I had no idea what I was doing.
Right then and there, I decided to stay in the profession and, to do so, I needed to learn about court interpretation. I quickly realized there were no schools for interpreters and very few if any books I could read, other than Fundamentals of Court Interpretation. I believe it was then I started my journey on how to train interpreters, and shortly after that, I came up with the title of the book that took me 25 years to complete.
What are some common misconceptions about the skills needed for court interpretation, and how does your book address them?
It is believed by many people that because a person is bilingual, that automatically makes them an interpreter and that the skills required to interpret in an informal situation, like buying a sandwich at a restaurant, were transferable and sufficient to interpret during a complicated court proceeding.
The fact is that many bilingual individuals could become certified court interpreters after the appropriate time is applied to follow a well-designed training program that can help them use their bilingual skills with specific interpreting techniques. Weightlifting for Court Interpreters is meant to be used by interpreters of all levels of expertise, and can even be used as a roadmap for bilingual individuals to get their first contact with the appropriate skills required to become credentialed court interpreters in their state.
How did your 25 years of experience shape the methodology presented in the book?
As I became more experienced and studied to pass the New Jersey Court interpreter exam, Miguel Valenzuela, myself, and other colleagues in the 13th developed the first training program for aspiring interpreters in our circuit. It was clear to me then, as it is now, that a systematic and pragmatic program to train interpreters was necessary if more bilingual individuals were to become certified court interpreters.
“Deliberate practice” is a key concept in your book. Can you explain how this method is different from regular practice?
I believe that repeating an action over and over, which many people consider practicing, must be done following specific rules and with a clear objective in mind. Otherwise, no improvement will be achieved. To paraphrase Einstein’s famous quote, it would be doing the same over and over again and expecting different results.
Why do you compare the process of developing interpretation skills to weightlifting?
Just like in sports, court interpreting requires people to apply different techniques to achieve their goals. A dedicated runner not only runs, but also uses other kinds of exercises, like weightlifting, to improve their performance. Interpreters must use techniques that are not necessarily interpreting techniques such as mnemonics, note-taking, and attention training to improve their performance as court interpreters.
Who would benefit most from reading this book — newcomers or seasoned interpreters? How does the content cater to both audiences?
This book is addressed to interpreters of all levels. Our methodology will help those who are starting in the profession to understand the basics of court interpreting, and it will also be helpful for those interpreters who are already working in the field or even credentialed to learn some techniques that they can incorporate into their interpreting toolbox.
As an interpreter trainer, what is your perspective on the rise of AI in interpretation? How do you believe interpreters should — or should not — integrate AI into their work?
AI is here to stay. Interpreters who learn to use AI to improve their skills and reach will probably have an advantage over those who don’t. As trainers, we can leverage AI tools to produce training materials and develop learning tools, including feedback, to help interpreters improve their performance.
What’s next for you? What are the next projects on the horizon?
We are already working on the next book, which will be focused on medical interpreters. We hope to make it a series addressing other areas where interpretation is needed, like community and conference interpreting.
