by Silvana Tabares

The need for Spanish speaking interpreters to help serve the immigrant community in Chicago is increasing.

Professional interpreters wait to assist callers.
(Source: Extra News)

In Cook County, almost a quarter of the population is of Hispanic descent, with an immigrant arriving to the United States every 19 seconds, according to Louis Provenzano, president and chief operating officer of Language Line Services.

“We’re seeing a tremendous growth in the number of non-English speakers,” Provenzano said. “One of out every five in the U.S., which 60 million people speak another language at home other than English.”

Language Line Services, a company that provides language-based assistance such as translation, phone and video interpretation to thousands of organizations, serves over 176 languages, with Spanish as the number one language, including American Sign Language.

Millie Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico, is an interpreter for Language Line Services and works at the Elk Grove center in Illinois. She interprets calls for people that need assistance with healthcare, government and is trained to assist 911 emergency and medical calls. She receives calls to interpret information that ranges from an electricity service to proceedings in a courtroom.

(To finish reading Interpreters in Demand, click here.)