Palm Springs

Persuasion

Do you need some persuading to attend this year’s ATA Conference in Palm Springs? I bet you know about Palm Springs’ delightful weather in the fall, its hot springs, stylish hotels, yummy restaurants, and relaxing spas.

Let’s add to that list the vintage boutiques and design shops that go with its mid-century, modern architecture, so fun for window-shopping after a day of sessions. But the true reason to attend the ATA Conference is inside the host hotel itself. Especially starting last year, the Conference has taken a quality leap for the better.

You may think that the cost is steep, with the early bird price tag at over $500 for registration alone. Then, you factor in accommodations and travel expenses—likely airfare, even within California, and you could be in for well over $1000. But when you consider the caliber and experience of the presenters, and the variety and, as of late, depth of content, you realize that it’s actually well worth it. In a sense, the price serves to deter casual attendees and instead encourage committed translators to attend and collaboratively further their professional skills. For it is not only within the sessions that learning happens. There is a huge amount of talent in the attendees that both presenters and fellow attendees benefit from during discussions and networking sessions throughout the conference.

For a number of years, sessions leaned heavily on the beginners’ side. But a conscious effort has balanced the range of depths and topics covered at the conference. You will indeed still find sessions to support those new to the profession, both in terms of translation and business skills. Of interest for first time attendees and young professionals is the Buddies Welcome Newbies program, where first-timers and veterans are paired up and take part in some getting-to-know-you and networking activities.

But those with longer professional experienced will find juicy sessions as well. Some presenters organize interactive sessions allowing input from the audience and generating (and moderating) valuable dialogue. Some presenters go in-depth with the topics they cover and add valuable insights and tools to the experience translators’ toolbox. And presenters are taking cue from Ted Talk tips: they shake up the delivery of content (yes, if you are or want to be a presenter DO NOT read your session!), they stick to what they know, making it authentic, and use slides for emphasis and examples rather than boring cheat sheets for themselves.)

It all boils down to becoming better translators together. Attending conferences and other continuing education events is also about networking with colleagues. Not a minor advantage is putting real faces and voices together with those we work with digitally. And, of course, the flip side of the synchronous experience is what we take away and sticks with us: the secrets and tips of our craft and the connections with colleagues who will help and support us once we are back home.

Inside and outside the sessions, we learn to revisit what we do, share it with others, incorporate all that technology has to offer, and continue to improve. Attending events like this imbues a renewed love of our craft, a sense of confidence in our ability, and the recognition that it is only in each other’s company that we can truly grow.
I hope that you will join us in Palm Springs and think about sharing what you know as a presenter in the future!

Romina Marazzato Sparano is a translator, editor, and educator with 20 years of experience crafting technical, medical, educational, and creative materials for a variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies. She provides training and consulting on plain language, translation, editing, and localization. As an educator, she designed and launched the Master of Arts in Translation/Localization Management Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She supports continuing education through leadership and training in professional associations.

www.languagecompass.com

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Membership in the Italian Language Division is open to all members of the American Translators Association.
You can become a member of the ILD by selecting the division on the membership forms when first applying for ATA membership or when renewing.