I really enjoyed this podcast from Dr. Martínez. My eyes have been opened greatly on how important family and culture can be in the healthcare field and especially in the translating involved in the healthcare field. When Dr. Martínez stated that you are never really competent as an interpreter but more importantly you strive to be more humble, especially in regards to the culture, I understood how important culture is for translation. At the end of this class I too want to be able to look back and see what I have learned and how I have changed in the way I view Spanish speakers in a healthcare setting. I want to make sure that I am not just focusing on the linguistics but also on the policies, the cultures, and how I can best be an advocate for each patient.
Dr. Martinez explained a concept that is new to me and quite interesting. By just switching one preposition (Spanish for Health Care) we are able to make it about the speaker (patient). It emphasizes on what the learner (interpreter) can empower the patient to do instead of they can do with the language. Furthermore, he also stated that there is need for the creation of curriculum that focuses on cultural themes. Students will be able to learn about how cultural perspectives shape and impact health and relationships which is very useful for students interested in healthcare interpreting. I believe that this would be highly essential for any student in a T&I major.