Presenters: audra lincoln, Lorelei Brand, Evan Laufman
Session Title: Panel Discussion: Formal T&I Training Programs–What’s So Great About Training Anyway?
Review Author: Tsukumo Niwa Sattler
As someone who is new to the profession, I highly appreciated seeing a panel of early career professionals speaking about the importance of choosing the right programs for translation and interpretation trainings which garnered the attention of dozens. The three speakers came from diverse professional and educational backgrounds – one thing that connected them all is that they have acquired Japanese as one of their working languages, and that they are wonderful enough to share their stories with our community.
Here are my personal highlights from the session:
- Instructors and classmates have a huge impact on the quality of education.
It is not always about the name value of the school or the degree level, but rather your connection with the instructors and classmates (who are soon to be colleagues). I could relate to this experience from my background in performing arts. When I was choosing which program to study at for my bachelor’s degree, the biggest impact on that decision was the professor that taught at the school. I have also learned greatly from my peers through performing together, being vulnerable, and analyzing our strengths and weaknesses.
- Imposter syndrome is a common experience.
The panelists shared the feeling common among students in T&I education programs: the “imposter syndrome,” or the assumption that their fluency in non-native language(s) is not up to par with what the program – and by extension, the profession – requires. Although I grew up bilingual in English and Japanese, the “imposter syndrome” is very relatable.
- Why formal training in T&I in the age of AI?
Each panelist’s background highlighted different reasons for T&I training in the age of AI. audra works in-house to provide a human touch and tailor translations to the real users’ needs. Lorelei leverages her Japanese skills to translate mission critical documents for the U.S. Air Force that need to remain offline from commercial internet. Evan specializes in connecting Japanese- and English-speaking audiences to literature and media. Many sessions at this year’s conference focused on AI, and this session was not necessarily one of them; however, the panelists’ experiences rightfully rationalized the need for humans sufficiently trained in T&I for future global communication needs.
- Determining the right fit for the training program.
Training programs involve investment of time and money. To some, dedicating a year or two to complete a master’s degree may be more accessible, whereas others working full-time could benefit from short-term intensive programs and/or part-time programs. The panel discussed many avenues for T&I training available in the U.S. but did not endorse one pathway or the other. I hope others in the audience appreciated as much as I did how candid they were about their programs.
audra’s expertise and leadership, combined with Evan and Lorelei’s fresh perspectives as first-time attendees of the ATA conference, helped us learn about unique experiences and brainstorm the future of T&I training programs together.
Edited by: audra lincoln
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