Can’t Follow Your Own Shadow

(I’m in the process of certifying as a court interpreter, which means several tests and observations of court proceedings. It also requires three workshops. During the second one…)

Trainer: “All right, in this next exercise, you are to shadow the interpreter and simultaneously write the numbers 1-100.”

(We all do this with difficulty, since shadowing means we speak the words of the interpreter four seconds behind them while they’re still talking. I manage to get up to 37 before the end.)

Trainer: “Now, shadow while writing your name, address, and phone number.”

(A few minutes later…)

Trainer: “How was that? Did anyone have trouble remembering their address?”

Me: “I couldn’t remember how to spell my own name…”