Translator & Interpreter Training
Translators work with the written word and interpreters focus on the spoken word. They transfer meanings from a source language to a targeted tongue. Translators and interpreters must have specialized training to utilize their language skills.
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Preliminary Training
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Translators and interpreters begin their training in high school. Aspiring translators and interpreters must take courses in English composition, foreign languages, geography, liberal arts, physical and social sciences and technical writing. Foreign trips and exposure to foreign-language environments are helpful. Native fluency in the source language and near-native fluency in the target tongue are important goals for future translators and interpreters.
College Training
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Many U.S. colleges offer translation and interpreter training programs. Future translators and interpreters gain language proficiency by attaining a bachelor's degree in a specific foreign language or interpretation and translation studies. According to the American Translators Association, 29 American colleges and universities offer translation and interpretation programs, as of 2010. Linguistics and cross-cultural courses are also beneficial. Language studies complemented by a bachelor's degree in a field of specialization is necessary for topic-specific future employment.
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On-the-job Training
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Interpreters and translators gain practical training experience in paid and volunteer projects. Translators and interpreters also learn their craft in formal employment settings at translation companies and via internships and volunteer opportunities. For example, the American Translators Association works in tandem with the Red Cross to provide interpreters for medical crisis situations.
Certification
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ATA certfication is an important training credential in the industry. The American Translators Association offers certification in 24 languages with a source language of English. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators provides certification testing for court interpreting. The U.S. Department of State offers a 3-part interpretation examination. The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf offers a certification credential for sign language interpreters.
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References
Resources
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