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.

In a Zoom call with two languages enabled, there are three audio channels, or "audio rooms" - the Default Channel, English Channel, and Spanish Channel. Default is the audio channel participants join at first, before choosing a language.

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. This initial activation cannot be done 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.

There is a second activation. Once the meeting starts and the interpreter has joined the call, 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.

Once the second activation is done, if removing or adding interpreters, pull up the same menu again, and after making changes, be sure to press the "Update" button on the bottom left. Closing the window will simply cancel any changes without any warning.

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.

Unlike participants, interpreters cannot speak into the Default Channel.

The host can assign themselves as an interpreter, and everything works normally as expected.

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.

At any point, participants can hop into any of the three audio channels. (The "Off" option is the Default channel)

Flow of Audio

Arrows indicate direction of audio flow. Colors indicate source 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. For purposes of accessing audio, hosts have no special role - they access audio in the same way as regular participants. 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)
• They will hear any interpreter(s) speaking into the English channel.

Participants in the Spanish Channel

• They will hear others in the channel.
• They will hear any interpreter(s) speaking into the Spanish channel.

Participants in the Default Channel

• They will hear Default, English and Spanish channels, but not any interpreters.

If participants uncheck the Mute Original Audio" option, they will hear all three audio channels, but not the interpreters who are talking into a channel that they are not in. So a participant in the Spanish channel without the mute option will hear English, Spanish, Default, and Spanish interpreter, but not the English interpreter.