Simultaneous interpreting not only requires highly developed linguistic skills but also great professional expertise. Equally it requires an extremely high level of concentration. For this reason simultaneous interpreters often work in teams of two per language direction so that they can alternate regularly.

Simultaneous interpreting can also be practiced at a whisper. In this case a small group of people sit around the interpreter who whispers and transfers the message simultaneously.

Consecutive interpreting is traditional interpreting which is performed after the speaker has finished talking or by taking it in turns with them and comes from a time when no interpreting equipment was available. First the speaker talk, then the interpreter translates the relevant part into the target language. A speech or a meeting therefore takes twice as long.

This form of consecutive interpreting is common, for example, at meetings, in the court room or during examinations. In liaison interpreting the interpreter works for two to three listeners, and in two languages, communicating several sentences at a time from one language into the other. In liaison interpreting, interpreters also work without microphones, headphones and interpreting cubicles.

Telephone interpreting works in much the same way as liaison interpreting, but can be carried out remotely, or via Skype.