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 a single, unified call but hear the conversation in their own language. 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. These instructions are current as of version 5.5.2(12494.0204; Feb 2021). Details may change over time with upgrades as interpretation is a relatively new function.

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. This must be done every time a meeting with interpretation is run. 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, yokima@gmail.com as a 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, click Start, and the interpretation function will be activated.

Interpreter

If assigned while scheduling, the interpreter will automatically receive an email from Zoom with the invite link. However, there is nothing special about this link - the interpreter enters as a regular participant, and they must still be manually assigned their role as an interpreter by the host.

Once the host assigns the interpreter within the Zoom program, the interpreter sees a popup window in their computer to accept the assignment.

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 the “Mute Original Audio” option in the same languages menu.

There are three audio channels, or "audio rooms" - the Default Channel, English Channel, and Spanish Channel. Default is the audio channel they join at first, before choosing a language. At any point, participants can hop into any of the three channels. (The "Off" option is the Default channel)

Flow of Audio

Once the meeting is set up following the above instructions (especially with the "Mute Original Audio" option), these are the audio sources that users in each role can hear. Refer to the illustration to the right for a graphical overview.

Interpreter

• Interpreters cannot hear other interpreters.
• Interpreters hear audio from all audio channels.
• Interpreters can choose which channel to speak into - English or Spanish.

Participants in English Channel

• They will hear others in the channel (including the presenter, who must also be in the English channel)

Participants in the Spanish Channel

Participants in the Default Channel

• They will hear everything, except interpreters.

Partip

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.