Some people think that being fluent in a foreign language is enough to be a successful interpreter whereas others disagree.

I think that fluency in a foreign language is an important quality, but that alone isn’t enough to make a good interpreter. First of all, interpreters must be aware of the culture of the languages they’re interpreting from and into. Second, they will need to be able to cope with stress and be self-controlled. Medical and legal interpreters may be involved in some difficult cases such as murder trials or emergency medical situations that may be difficult to witness. They must show emotional resilience.

At the same time there’re people who believe that if one speaks two languages fluently, one can easily interpret between them. Vocabulary and grammar are key factors and if one has them, one can be a successful interpreter.

In my opinion these people have a point, vocabulary and grammar are indeed key qualities. However, they are only two of many other qualities that a good interpreter must have. Qualities such as stress resistance, self-control, emotional resilience and others are also very important and one cannot be a good interpreter without them.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that speaking two languages fluently is essential to becoming a successful interpreter. However, there’re other important skills that one must develop in order to be good at the job.