The Mentor’s Companion: A Review

Interpreter’s Resource Shelf (appeared in RID VIEWS November, 2007, reprinted with permission)
Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.

The Mentor’s Companion: A Practical Guide to Mentoring by Patty Gordon and Mari Magler. Alexandria, VA: RID Press, 2007. Available at www.rid.org. Member price: $23.95; Non-member price: $29.95.

Finally, a comprehensive mentoring resource squarely aimed at the interpreting field! Gordon and Magler’s information-packed book, based on a plan the two originally developed for an educational interpreter mentoring program in Minnesota, will be welcomed with open arms by mentors and mentees everywhere. Though some of the language of educational interpreting remains, the information has been expanded and repackaged for a wider audience, and so will be useful to interpreters in a variety of settings. This practical guide explains the characteristics of effective mentors and mentees, breaks down the steps in the mentoring process, and gives clear information on how to conduct effective discussions about interpreting work. Gordon and Magler also demystify the processes of goal-setting and writing action plans, and, best of all, include a plethora of hands-on activities geared to developing specific interpreting skills. The appendix offers sample mentorship agreements, feedback forms, rubrics, and planning and evaluation forms. Though there are many mentoring books on the market, until now there have been none generally available that focus on the interpreting profession with the combination of theoretical understanding and practical guidance that this book displays. A top-notch resource for interpreters in any setting.

This column appears monthly in VIEWS. Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions for resources to highlight in future issues to Kathy MacMillan, NIC at info@kathymacmillan.com.