Many interpreters at Ellis Island were either immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants. To work for the Bureau of Immigration, applicants for interpreter positions had to take a federal civil service examination that rated their speaking, reading, writing and comprehension for each language. —"Interpreter," National Park Service: Ellis Island Which question would best add to your understanding of an interpreter’s experience working with immigrants at Ellis Island? Which languages did the Ellis Island immigrants speak? How did someone get a job working for the Bureau of Immigration? Were all applicants required to take the civil service test?