If you speak a second language fluently, you may want to consider becoming a medical interpreter. The Multicultural Association of Medical Interpreters is seeking trainees to participate in a medical interpreting course to help guide others. Our Brad Vivacqua has more.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Multicultural Association of Medical Interpreters is looking for people specifically in the areas of Syracuse and Utica who may be able to help. Officials say there's a high population of refugees in Central New York who don't speak primarily in English. That's why translators are needed to guide them during their medical visits.

In order to become a paid medical interpreter, you must take an 80 hour training course held at the MAMI headquarters on James Street in Syracuse. The intensive course runs each Saturday and Sunday through February 19th. Officials say after completion of the course, you'll be granted a position as a paid independent contractor with potential to work full or part time.

If you speak Hindi, Kirundi, or Vietnamese, your help is needed in Syracuse. Officials say there is currently a shortage of interpreters that speak those languages. If you speak Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, or Vietnamese, help is needed for interpreters in Utica.

Officials say serving as a medical interpreter is a very important and crucial job.

"There needs to be someone helping out who speaks both English and the other language. But, even that is not enough, they need as I was saying, they need to know how to be very accurate in representing what's said by both parties. Otherwise, people's words are what's lost in translation," said Cornelia Brown, MAMI Executive Director.

A training session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. this Saturday, January 28th at the MAMI facility located at 731 James Street in Syracuse.

If you're interested, you must call ahead to get registered this week at (315) 214-5003. Visit www.mamiinterpreters.org for more information.