How Does Translation vs. Interpreting. Work?

Translation and interpreting are both about helping people understand each other, but they work a little differently.

Translation is like when you write a letter in your language, and then someone else changes it into another language so the person who reads it can understand it. It’s slow, but you get to think and fix things before sending it off.

Interpreting is more like a live conversation, imagine you're talking on the phone with a friend who speaks another language, and someone is right there helping you both talk at the same time. They listen, then say what the other person said in your language, fast and real-time.

Think of translation as writing a letter: you take your thoughts, write them down, and then someone else changes those words into another language before it gets to its reader.

Interpreting, on the other hand, is like being on the phone with someone while talking, the interpreter listens, understands what's said, and quickly says it in the other person’s language so they can respond right away. It’s more like a conversation than a letter.