We are seeking volunteers to act as interpreters, transcribers, and translators. You need to be fluent in English and one regional language (Malay, Bahasa, Filipino, Thai, Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, Mandarin, or others).

There are TWO jobs to choose from:

  1. To be present as an INTERPRETER in the interview to take short notes in English of what the interviewee says during the interview. Any questions the interviewer might wish to ask will based on your notes.

  2. To work ‘behind the scenes’ as a TRANSCRIBER or TRANSLATOR: you will watch the recorded digital video footage of the interview, and do one of the following three tasks:
      • Provide a word-for-word (‘complete verbatim’) transcription of the interview.
      • Review a completed transcription and check for errors.
      • Translate the reviewed transcript into English.
  • If you choose (1), the interviewer will get in touch to brief you on what to take note of during the interview. He will brief you fully on the methodology of ‘life history’ interviews.
  • If you choose (2), we will provide you with a set of guidelines to observe in transcription. We will lend you a copy of the recording to take home, and you can send us the transcripts once it is done.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much time do I need to spend translating?
    • You can choose the type and extent of your involvement: how many interviews you wish to translate is entirely up to you.
    • If you choose to act as an interpreter in the interview, you will have to come to the Migrant Voices premises in 65, Kerbau Road, Singapore 219188 (next to Little India MRT station). Interviews will be held on Sunday afternoons.
    • If you choose to transcribe or translate, you will need about 5 to 7 hours to properly transcribe or translate an hour-long interview. You can take the work home and return it within a week or so.
  • Is this a paid or volunteer job?
    • We will provide transcribers and translators with an honorarium fee. The exact amount will be determined very soon.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you would like to get involved, please contact:
SP Ong
Project Coordinator, Migrant Voices Oral History Archive
storytelling@migrantvoices.org
Mobile no.: 90435082