Zoom/en

Zoom is a live conferencing service.

Language Interpretation

Zoom supports arranging multiple audio channels so that people speaking different languages may be able to join one call but hear the conversation in their own language. The actual work of interpretation must be done by people - it is not done by the computer. Below are instructions specifically for running a meeting in English and Spanish. These instructions provide a more thorough scenario-specific walk-through than Zoom’s documentation.

Account Setup

The Zoom account hosting the call must be a paid Zoom Business, Education, Enterprise level account; or a Pro level account with the optional Webinar add-on.

Host

Before the meeting the host must turn on language interpretation specifically for the meeting in the meeting scheduling option through Zoom’s website. Once a regular meeting starts, interpretation cannot be activated from within the Zoom program.

When turning on interpretation on the website, it is required to assign at least one interpreter. Assign, for example, [[1]] as English-Spanish interpreter - it doesn’t matter who is pre-assigned, as this can be configured later, live during the meeting. If settings seem unclear, see Zoom’s instructions on how to enable interpretation.

Once the meeting starts and the interpreter has joined, select Interpretation in the Zoom program and start typing up the interpreter's Zoom name - Zoom will show a drop-down choice of the user's full Zoom name which can be clicked. Assign them a language, and the interpretation function will be activated.

Participants

Participants must take two additional steps upon joining the Zoom call - in the buttons bar, click “Interpretation” and select one language. They must also check “Mute Original Audio” in the same languages menu.

Flow of Audio

Once the meeting is set up this way, these are the audio sources that users in each role can hear:

What happens if these instructions are not followed?

Without Muting Original Audio, participants in any of the channels will hear all audio - Default, English and Spanish

Interpreter

Once a person takes on a “Interpreter” role, they cannot be in the Default Channel - they will automatically join the Spanish channel.

Once they enter into interpretation mode, they can never hear each other.

Interpreter can hear both English and Spanish. People in the Spanish channel can only hear the interpreter, not people in the English channel.