Interpreting Training Exercise | Public Service Interpreting (Occupational Health)

Interpreting speech to practice your note-taking skills. WARNING: This speech starts straight away!

Topic(s): Public Service Interpreting, Medical, Occupational Therapy

Terms: factory, loading dock, unloading, shipment, pallet, check-up, emergency department, X-ray, fracture, strain, ligaments, painkillers, inflammation, pain management

Sources: n/a

Also check these books to learn and practice interpreting.

Good For Practicing:

• Consecutive Interpreting
• Note-taking
• Public Service Interpreting

Also available on Speechpool.

Script*:

*Please check the script only after you’ve done the note-taking exercise, otherwise that’s cheating! 🙂

Thank you, nurse. It was just a regular day at work, like any other. I’ve been working at the factory for five years now, and my usual duty is at the loading dock. That day, I was part of a team responsible for loading and unloading heavy boxes onto trucks for shipment.

We had received a large shipment, and the boxes needed to be loaded onto the trucks as quickly as possible. Each of us was assigned a specific section to handle, and I was given the heavier boxes. I remember this particular box I was lifting; it was much heavier than the others I had handled before. As I started lifting it, I felt a sudden sharp pain shoot through my lower back. It was excruciating.

I immediately dropped the box and clutched my back, trying to alleviate the pain. My coworkers who were nearby saw what happened and rushed to my side. They could see the pain on my face, and they helped me sit down on a nearby pallet. I remember feeling a mix of shock, frustration, and worry about what had just happened.

Once I had gathered myself, I informed my supervisor about the incident. He was concerned and immediately told me to go to the hospital for a check-up. I was grateful for his prompt action because I knew something was seriously wrong. My supervisor also arranged for another coworker to take over my duties for the rest of the day.

At the hospital, I was taken to the emergency department, where I had to wait for a while before being seen by a doctor. The pain in my lower back was intense, and every movement seemed to make it worse. When the doctor finally examined me, they ordered X-rays and conducted a physical examination. They wanted to rule out any fractures or more severe injuries.

After the tests, the doctor diagnosed me with a lower back strain. They explained that I had strained the muscles and ligaments in my lower back due to the heavy lifting. They mentioned that it was a common injury among people in physically demanding jobs like mine. I felt relieved to know that it wasn’t something more severe, but the pain was still very much present.

The doctor prescribed me painkillers to manage the immediate pain and inflammation. They advised me to rest and avoid any activities that could strain my back further. They said it would take time to heal, but they didn’t provide any specific guidance on how to recover or prevent future injuries. The focus seemed to be on pain management rather than a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.

So, that’s how it all happened. It’s been two months since the incident, and I’ve been off work ever since. I’ve been taking the painkillers as prescribed, but I haven’t received any other treatment or guidance on how to fully recover and get back to work.