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Training for Professional SOSi Interpreters

Upcoming Webinar:

Continuing education credits are approved for the following states:

2.5 CEUs: [States Pending]

For states not listed, students can individually apply for CEUs in the specific state or states where needed by submitting all necessary information required by state prior to attending.

  • Please login to the meeting 15 minutes early as we will begin promptly at 11:00 am ET/8:00 am PT

  • If you are unable to attend live, please pre-register anyway to be eligible to view the webinar recording and receive a certificate of completion.

  • Only ONE certificate of completion will be provided per SOSi approved registration.

  • If you need special accommodations to attend this webinar, please contact our office at 407-677-4155

Beyond Words: Handling Idioms, Discourse Markers, and Fillers in Legal and Immigration Interpretation

March 28, 2026

11:00 am - 1:30 pm ET
8:00 am - 10:30 am PT

Legal and immigration interpreters frequently encounter idioms, discourse markers, fillers, and culturally embedded expressions that extend far beyond literal meaning. While these elements may seem like "background noise," they carry vital pragmatic meaning that signals hesitation, emphasis, narrative shifts, and witness demeanor. In the high-stakes environment of immigration hearings, these markers are often the primary data points used to assess a respondent's candor and credibility.

This practical, language-neutral webinar explores how interpreters can recognize and manage these linguistic features while preserving the total accuracy of the record. Participants will move beyond "sanitizing" speech to mastering strategies for rendering hesitation markers, handling idiomatic expressions, and responding to ambiguity without guessing. Through real-world immigration scenarios and interactive exercises, interpreters will sharpen their decision-making skills in consecutive interpretation.

As an added resource, participants will receive the Pragmatic Decision-Making Guide for Immigration and Legal Interpreters—a visual framework designed to help interpreters determine when to preserve hesitation markers, request clarification, or verify idiomatic meaning on the record.

Key Takeaways:

  • Identify idioms, discourse markers, fillers, and culturally embedded expressions commonly found in legal and immigration discourse.

  • Explain the pragmatic functions these elements serve in spoken testimony, including hesitation, emphasis, narrative shifts, and stance.

  • Apply strategies for interpreting idiomatic and culturally embedded expressions without relying on guesswork or "near-miss" translations.

  • Demonstrate professional clarification techniques for the "Hot Seat" when encountering unfamiliar or ambiguous expressions.

  • Execute consecutive interpreting techniques that capture both the lexical message and the key pragmatic features of the speaker’s delivery.

Pre-register now to join this practical webinar and strengthen your ability to interpret what truly matters on the record.

Dr. Asmaa Sabre

Presenter

Dr. Asmaa Sabre is a certified court interpreter, applied linguist, healthcare interpreter, and educator with extensive experience interpreting for EOIR, USCIS, DHS, and law firms. She is the founder of Zain Linguistics, where she provides interpretation and translation services across legal, medical, educational, and immigration settings. Dr. Sabre currently works as an independent contractor with SOSi International and other national language service providers, delivering courtroom professionalism and linguistic precision to every assignment. She holds a Ph.D. in Second Language Studies (Applied Linguistics) from the University of Mississippi, along with two master’s degrees from Middlebury College: one in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and another in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL). She also earned a B.A. in English and Simultaneous Interpretation from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. A native Arabic speaker fluent in English, Dr. Sabre has over 15 years of experience teaching both Arabic and English at institutions such as the University of Mississippi, the University of Houston, Middlebury College, and Reed College. She is a certified OPI tester (ACTFL) and an active member of NAJIT, ATA, TAJIT, AATIA, AAITE, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Sabre has successfully passed the Texas Licensed Court Interpreter exams and currently holds the Certified Master Licensed Court Interpreter credential. She is also pursuing certification as a medical interpreter, working toward both the CoreCHI™ and CHI™ credentials. Her professional training includes coursework with the De La Mora Institute and the Southern California School of Interpretation, as well as multiple HIPAA certifications and specialized training in localization. In addition to her fieldwork, Dr. Sabre is a dedicated instructor and mentor, with expertise in interpreter training, curriculum design, second language acquisition, and cross-cultural communication. She brings academic rigor and practical insight to her teaching, empowering the next generation of interpreters through high-impact instruction and mentorship.

Previous Webinars

  • Interpreter Skill Building

    Agustin de la Mora

  • AIM for Accuracy: Honing Your Consecutive Skills

    Agustin de la Mora

  • In the Age of Information, Where Do You Actually Find It?

    Agustin de la Mora

  • Getting Started with Remote Interpreting

    Tamber Hilton

  • In-Depth Consecutive: Advanced Skill Building

    Claudia Villalba

  • Over the Phone Interpreting Strategies for Success

    Maria Ceballos-Wallis and Agustin de la Mora

  • VRI/RSI Webinar: Part 1

    Agustin de la Mora

  • VRI/RSI Webinar: Part 2

    Tamber Hilton

  • Weightlifting for Court Interpreters

    Agustin de la Mora

  • Analyze This: Analyze, Prepare and Interpret: Part 1

    Agustin de la Mora and James Plunkett

  • Analyze This: Analyze, Prepare and Interpret: Part 2

    Agustin de la Mora and James Plunkett

  • Analyze This: Analyze, Prepare and Interpret: Part 3

    Agustin de la Mora and James Plunkett

  • Beyond the Basics: Advanced Consecutive

    Aquillia Alowonle

  • Ethics on the Line: Professional Standards for the 21st Century

    Agustin de la Mora

  • Sight and Simultaneous Workshop

    Katty Kauffman

  • Advanced Note Taking

    Claudia Villalba

  • Mental Health Management

    Eliane Sfeir-Markus

  • Advanced Immigration Terminology

    Andrew Bahr

  • Rules of Civil Procedure and "Fundamental Fairness"

    Andrew Bahr

  • RSI for Webex: Using the Webex Simultaneous Feature for Immigration Court

    Tamber Hilton

  • Interpreting for Fast Speakers in Court

    James Plunkett

  • Stages of a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Case

    Andrew Bahr

  • Interpreting at the Speed of Court: Techniques for Keeping Up with Fast Speakers

    James Plunkett

  • Unlocking Mastery in Simultaneous Interpretation: Part 1

    Agustin de la Mora

  • Unlocking Mastery in Simultaneous Interpretation: Part 2

    Agustin de la Mora

  • Mental Health Management for Interpreters

    Eliane Sfeir-Markus

  • Connecting Ethics, Professionalism, and Research: A Practical Approach

    James Plunkett

  • Nurturing Personal Growth and Networking for Freelancers: A Pathway to Success

    Eliane Sfeir-Markus

  • How to Understand and Interpret Bond Procedings

    Andrew Bahr

  • Mastering Consecutive Interpreting in Court

    Eliane Sfeir-Markus

  • Preparing for the Federal Certification Exam

    Katty Kauffman

  • How to Interpret Legal Citations

    Andrew Bahr

  • How to Prepare for Oral Decisions Using Addenda of Law

    Andrew Bahr

  • Interpreting the Oral Decision After Expert Testimony

    Andrew Bahr

  • The Simultaneous Mode in Immigration Court: From Fundamentals to Mastery

    Katty Kauffman

  • Enhancing Memory and Note-Taking Skills for Interpreters: Part 1

    Eliane Sfeir-Markus

  • Cinematic Memory: Techniques to Improve Confidence and Ease of Recall

    Agustin de la Mora

  • AIM For Accuracy: Honing Your Consecutive Skills: Part 1

    Agustin de la Mora

  • AIM For Accuracy: Honing Your Consecutive Skills: Part 2

    Agustin de la Mora

  • A Brief Overview of a Credible Fear Process

    Olga Dubeshka

  • The Interpreter's Toolkit: Navigating the Hot Seat in Immigration

    Dr. Asmaa Sabre

  • Deep Dive into USCIS and EOIR Forms, Jargon, and Interview Procedure

    Dr. Asmaa Sabre

  • Federal Criminal and Procedural Law Terms Every EOIR Interpreter Should Know

    Katty Kauffman

  • Current Events in Immigration: Removal

    Tamber Hilton

Verified SOSi interpreters are eligible to a receive 15% discount on all other courses and materials.

Use promo code SOSi15 during checkout. Click below to browse our full course catalog.

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