Meet The Team: Sumayyah Aleem, Punjabi and Urdu interpreter

Every month, we introduce you to one of The Language Shop team. This month, meet Sumayyah Aleem, one of our Punjabi and Urdu interpreters. Find out about her passion for helping people and how gardening helps her to relax.

Tell us about what you do for TLS

I have been providing face to face and virtual interpreting services for The Language Shop. My responsibilities include converting information from the source language into the target language, carefully communicating spoken messages with efficiency, clarity and sensitivity.

What’s been your favourite project at TLS?

I have worked on many projects so far, some of the projects I have been working on are still on going. It is difficult to choose one particular project, however I felt very satisfied and happy when a broken family was reunited. The young children were back together from the foster care.

What’s been the biggest challenge?

Home visits can sometimes be challenging, as patients can occasionally become aggressive towards the professionals; the challenge is to remain calm before leaving the premises.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you like to do?

I would wish to continue to work in a setting where I am providing help and supporting people, in an educational or medical setting.

Tell us something interesting about you

In my spare time, I grow my own flowers, plants and tea leaves. I find that the process of gardening is quite meditative for me and I believe that it helps me feel more centred during interpreting sessions.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would have loved to have met either Mother Teresa or Princess Diana. Like many people, I felt a strange connection to them. They radiated warmth and humility, and both were such great humanitarians.

What are your ambitions for 2022?

My strong desire and aspiration is to learn another language this year, which should develop my communication skills and contribute to The Language Shop.

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