Use of the microphone
Before you speak, please make sure your microphone is switched on. While you are speaking, keep your receiver set far from the microphone or take it off, since it may create interference. Remember that the interpreters can only hear you if you speak into the microphone, so if you need to move away from your seat, e.g. to point at your slides, you should ask for a neck or lapel microphone.

Avoid speaking a foreign language, if possible
If translation is provided from your own language, interpreters suggest that you speak in your native tongue. You will be more confident and fluent, and you’ll avoid being re-translated into your own language.

Control your speed
Never forget that you are trying to convey a message to your audience. Speaking at a reasonably slow pace will allow everybody, including interpreters, to follow your speech better. What may seem to be too slow to the speaker is very likely just right for the audience.

Speaking is better than reading
A well prepared speech, with a few notes and some visual aids to stress your points will be more interesting for your audience and easier to translate for the interpreters. However, if you have a written text or notes, whether you intend to follow them closely or not, please let the interpreters have them in advance. If this was not possible, hand the texts to the interpreters as early as possible on the day of the conference.

Spell out acronyms
Always identify acronyms at least once in your presentation. A list of all the acronyms and abbreviations you are going to use would also be a very useful document to give to interpreters for their preparation.

Technical jargon
If your paper is technical, please give the interpreters any terminology or background papers on the same subject you may have, in all the languages of the conference or meeting. You may also ask for a briefing with the interpreters. Meeting the speakers would be useful in order to clarify specific points which will help improve performance.

Use of visual aids
If you wish to show slides or transparencies, please make sure that the interpreters receive copies of the slides and that they can see the screen from their booths. If you wish to show a film, you should either provide the script in advance or allow the interpreters to see the film before projecting it. This can be done during a briefing organised before the conference or, if the schedule allows, on the day of the conference, a few hours before the showing of the film.

Booths
Make sure the position of the booth allows the interpreters to have a good view of the room and the speakers. If the interpreters’ booth is too far from the podium or is situated in a different room, the booth needs to be equipped with monitors to allow the interpreters to see the speakers and the slides shown on the screen.