We completed another year of translation training!

Daniela Guanipa joined me as co-trainer all year.

What do the students who finished the course say?

  • They have become much better translators over the 17 weeks of the course.
  • It has made them think more carefully about their writing and they way they translate.
  • They are either more confident about passing the ATA exam or they know what they must do to get there.
  • The writing class helped them be better translators.

As Daniela and I find answers for our students’ questions, we reflect on my own work and get better, of course! We serve our clients better, and as the profession moves forward we are all better equipped to serve the community.

I am an interpreter and a translator

Interpreting: I am an active interpreter again, mostly for the Oregon courts. Interpreting puts me back in touch with those who use the translations I write for the community and gives me a different perspective on my work.

Translation helps me think analytically about accuracy, which makes me a better interpreter.

I love the medical field!

Medical interpreting: I am setting things up to support some medical professionals in their volunteer work, where all of us work pro bono. I am in conversation with two volunteer clinics.

Teaching medical interpreting – possible class coming.

Every month I get emails asking when I will be teaching the next class. I am working on setting something up. These will be the parameters:

  • A new name: Health care interpreter training: Spanish.
  • It will be taught in Spanish.
  • Language proficiency testing will be required for admission.
  • It will have a practicum, so participants leave with the required 15 hours of medical interpreting experience required for Oregon Qualified status… under supervised conditions.
  • No more than 12 students in the class.
  • It will be taught on a week day, during the day, just like a college class. When I have taught in the evening, students have been tired. On weekends, they wish they were with their families. It will be on week days.
  • It is one of the programs listed as a program approved by the Oregon Health Authority to meet the training requirements for Qualification and Certification in Oregon..

Details regarding the schedule will be listed on the Events page and in the Gaucha Translations blog.

Professional involvement

ATA Savvy Newcomer: A blog for interpreting and translation professionals, whether new or experienced. We provide practical and timely insight to meet the needs of our colleagues.

ATA Interpreters Division: The ATA Interpreters Division has about 4000 members. In our blog, we are trying to publish articles from a variety of perspectives, and keep our colleagues informed about the latest issues that affect us in the profession.

Spanish Editors Association: This is the only association for editors of Spanish text in the United States. We are setting a foundation of professionalism for years to come. We have published standards for editing, have reached out to stakeholders, and our association is open for membership. Soon we will be setting up webinars and other training opportunities.

At my core I am a translator and interpreter, supporting the Spanish language access needs of my community. I thoroughly enjoy doing so and thrive on doing my best and helping others to join us in the profession. As I work with clients, I always ask questions when I am not certain about the nuance of a tagline or a phrase. In certain cases, that can make a significant difference.

Accuracy matters. That is why promoting the profession matters.

I look forward to serving you in translation, interpreting or training.