If you are organizing an event at which not everyone speaks the same language, you need to plan to engage interpreter/s. There are a number of questions to consider: what language/s are going to be spoken? What type of event is it? What is the subject matter to be discussed? What, when, where, why, how and who are good questions to start with.
 

There are two main modes of interpreting: Consecutive and Simultaneous. Consecutive means that the speaker pauses while the interpreter interprets what was just said, and then resumes - and so on. Simultaneous means that - at the same time the audience hears in their language/s what the speaker is saying. This is achieved with the aid of technology and highly trained interpreters, who can listen in headphones to the words in one language, make the transfer to another language and speak it - all simultaneously. Nicole Kidman brought this occupation to our attention in The Interpreter Movie in 2005. All interpreters need training and practice - they need to deliver the translated words accurately, faithfully and without delay. In the case of simultaneous interpreting, specialized equipment must be used including head-sets for the delegates to listen to the interpreter/s and sound-proof booths for the interpreters to work in.
 

Time is another important consideration: for interpreting to be delivered in Consecutive mode, the event timing will need to double; timing is also relevant in order to secure experienced interpreters, you will need to make the arrangements and bookings well in advance, especially to secure Simultaneous Interpreters.