To help a family become acquainted with the interpreter, what should you do?

• A. Allow some time before the interview for them to meet.
• B. Start immediately with translation.
• C. Have the interpreter translate after the interview.
• D. Use only written translations.

Answer: (A)

Establishing rapport with the interpreter before the interview helps the family feel comfortable and trust the translation process. Allowing time for them to meet lets the family see who will guide the conversation, understand the interpreter’s role and confidentiality boundaries, ask questions, and voice any preferences. This early connection supports accurate, culturally sensitive communication during the interview and reduces anxiety about language barriers. Starting translation immediately can catch the family off guard and hinder openness, translating after the interview risks missing or misinterpreting important points, and relying only on written translations misses real-time nuance and cannot capture tone or nonverbal cues.