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Children can be taught to take phone messages.
Some translators are disturbed by interruptions from telephone calls. They may destroy a train of thought and it may take time until the translator can get back into swing. Repeated interruptions by the telephone may make it frustrating to translate. What can be done?
A child can take the call or spouse can take the call and take a message. You might give instructions that certain calls which are expected can be put through, while other calls are to be marked down, together with the person’s name, the time of the phone call, the hours that you can call back, and the caller’s phone number. Under these circumstances, if the child or the spouse is trained to be efficient in recording the phone calls, you will not have any interruptions during your translating time.
What are some phone calls which are exceptional and should be put through?
In other cases, you can there are no problems letting your friends and acquaintances be aware of the fact that you have set aside time for translating and that you prefer not to receive calls during this time. There may be some friends who are persistent in calling at this time. However, after they realize that your spouse or child is taking messages at that time and that you call back later on, they will realize that this time is not acceptable.
Be sure that your 4-year-old answers the phone properly, in order to preserve your image as a professional. He or she can learn to use proper phone etiquette and to take proper messages. If, on the other hand, your future prodigy starts talking about what happened in nursery school and what he had for lunch, then the caller thinks he is talking to his grandchild rather than to a professional translator.
The message is of utmost importance. If your child asks “How do you make an R?” then he’s too young for the job.
Place a bulletin board close to the phone, with a pad of paper and a pencil, or with sticky notes. Teach your child to write each message on a separate note and to put it on that bulletin board. The child should learn the following parts of a good message:
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