How to Become a Spanish Interpreter in Michigan
About 11 percent of the population of the United States speak Spanish, making it the second-most spoken language in the U.S. While the need for Spanish interpreters is felt across the nation, knowing the geographic area where you would like to work is an advantage, as you can focus your studies and job preparation towards the local needs. If you would like to become a Spanish interpreter in Michigan, complete a local interpreter certification course that will specifically prepare you for work in the field and locality of your choice.
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Instructions
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Work on your fluency in Spanish. If you grew up speaking Spanish at home, have lived in a Spanish-speaking country or have a university degree in Spanish, you may still need to provide proof of proficiency through a test. Remember that as an interpreter you will be primarily concerned with spoken Spanish. Prepare your listening and spoken skills for a test that measures oral proficiency. Expose yourself to the Spanish of different countries, as you may act as interpreter for people from various nations. Visit the Hablamos Juntos website for more information on what certification and testing entails.
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Decide on a focus. The greatest demand for interpreters is in the legal and medical fields. You can choose a course that will prepare you for the specific duties and challenges of working in these areas. If you have experience in these fields, use such experience to your advantage. You also have the option to pursue certificates in both of these fields and widen your scope as an interpreter.
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Sign up for a certification course. Online or live courses are available. A live course may prove more beneficial than an online certification, as a local course will prepare you specifically for work in Michigan. You will also be able to interact with your instructors who can answer specific questions about prospective jobs and what to expect as an interpreter. If you get your medical interpreter's certification through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, you will be qualified to work in hospitals and medical facilities across the nation as well as Michigan. You can also get nationally certified as a court interpreter by taking the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination.
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Tips & Warnings
You may need to look for interpreter jobs in specific cities or counties. A beginning interpreter with little to no experience may need to search for work in areas where the demand for qualified interpreters is not being met within the local community.
References
Resources
- Michigan Immigrant Services Provider Guide
- Michigan Courts: Court Interpreter Testing and Certification
- Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination Information
- Language Training Center: Interpreter Training
- Hablamos Juntos: Interpreter Training Programs
- The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters: Certification Prerequisites
