My Experience as a Student at ATA66

By Maggie Toppass

Photo: Maggie winning a Yeti microphone at the CLD dinner during ATA66.

This October, I attended the American Translators Association’s 66th Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. It was not only my first ATA conference, but my first professional conference. I had a wonderful time and am already looking forward to the next one.

Networking

As an undergraduate student who is not currently studying translation or interpreting, I was nervous about attending. I bought tickets because I love languages, and had such an amazing time at the annual MICATA conference in April. But even on the plane to Boston, I wondered if there would be a place for me despite my lack of experience.

However, everyone was more welcoming than I could’ve imagined. On my very first night, I was handed a Chinese Language Division pin, and from then on, so many people I met greeted me as a “new member” of the CLD. I was even invited to dinner at a restaurant in Chinatown, where I had the chance to further socialize with members of the Chinese Language Division.

The conference breakfasts also provided excellent networking opportunities. Every morning was a chance to meet new friends and continue conversations from previous days. I even ended up going out to explore Boston with some of the people I met at the breakfast, and I’m so glad I got the chance to make those connections.

Sessions

Even though I do not yet work in the industry, I still benefited greatly from everything I learned in the sessions. Some provided insights about a specific target language, while others focused on the rise of generative AI or the effect of national politics on translators and interpreters.

I particularly enjoyed the language-specific sessions. One of my favorite parts of the conference was comparing how I was taught to learn a language in school, and how translators and interpreters tackle maintaining their languages. I was especially amazed to see how interpreters retain so much vocabulary and make split-second decisions about which word to use. I’m looking forward to using everything I learned in my language-learning journey.

Boston

The coastal city of Boston was an amazing setting for the conference. The Seaport District’s towering buildings were gorgeous, and I loved having such a spectacular view every day.

Boston’s efficient public transport system made exploring the city as a tourist a breeze. A bus station was located very close to the hotel, and from there we could connect to the rest of the city’s historic sights. I can’t wait to see what next year’s conference brings!

Maggie Toppass is an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas. She is currently pursuing a double-major in Global & International Studies and Geography, as well as a minor in Mandarin. She also speaks Spanish and French. After graduation, she plans to join a graduate program in translation.

 

Edited by Sijin Xian.