Reflections from the Portuguese Language Division Administration and Leadership Council
Before ATA67, we shared a preview of the sessions being presented by members of the Portuguese Language Division. Now that the conference has come and gone, we wanted to revisit some of those presentations, but this time through the eyes of colleagues who were in the audience.
Members of the PLD Administration and Leadership Council attended several of these sessions and shared their impressions. Their observations offer a glimpse into the variety of topics covered by our members, from negotiation and professional ethics to geopolitics, immigration, Italian bread making, and even what interpreters should wear to work.
Of course, we didn’t limit ourselves to PLD presentations. With so many interesting sessions on the program, we also found ourselves exploring other topics and coming away with plenty to think about.
Here are some of our conference highlights.
Negotiation Strategies for Language Professionals
Presenter: Everton Morais
Reviewed by Eduardo Krauser
We negotiate every day, often without even realizing it. What time should we get up? Should we exercise or sleep a little longer? As Everton Morais reminded us at the beginning of his presentation, some of our first negotiations of the day are actually with ourselves. And then there are the professional negotiations: rates, deadlines, working conditions, and the value of our services. These are conversations many language professionals still find uncomfortable. Everton tackled the topic head-on, challenging participants to rethink how they approach negotiations and advocate for fair compensation. What made the session particularly effective was its interactive format. Rather than simply presenting negotiation techniques, Everton invited audience participation and encouraged us to put some of those ideas into practice. The session was engaging, practical, and directly relevant to the challenges we face as independent professionals. I especially appreciated the emphasis on communicating our value with confidence instead of treating negotiations as something to avoid. It’s a conversation our profession needs to have more often.
Maps, Mountains, and Microphones: Geopolitics in the Booth
Presenter: Cris Silva, MA, MAS, PMP
Reviewed by Carmen Reis
Cris Silva once again delivered an engaging, insightful, and highly practical presentation, this time exploring the importance of geographical and geopolitical knowledge in professional interpreting. Although Cris is a familiar face at professional events and seems to be constantly sharing her expertise, one thing is certain: no one ever gets tired of listening to her! She always manages to bring something new, useful, and interesting to the table, making every presentation well worth attending. She demonstrated how a solid understanding of borders, regional identities, territorial disputes, international organizations, and geographical terminology can help interpreters anticipate content, ensure accuracy, and avoid cultural or diplomatic misunderstandings. She also shared practical preparation strategies, including mapping relevant regions, studying physical geography, consulting official terminology resources such as UNTERM, and keeping up with international developments while maintaining healthy news-consumption habits.
The Professional Shield: Good Business Practices and Ethics
Presenters: Giovanna Lester and Helen Eby
Reviewed by Eduardo Krauser
One of the things I appreciated most about this presentation was the way Giovanna Lester and Helen Eby connected professional ethics with everyday business decisions. We often think about ethics in terms of confidentiality, accuracy, and professional conduct. But ethical considerations also influence how we negotiate, establish boundaries, and decide whether to accept or decline an assignment. Their discussion offered a valuable perspective on the responsibilities we have both to our clients and to ourselves as language professionals. I also particularly enjoyed their presentation style. While one presenter remained at the podium, the other moved around the room with a microphone, inviting questions and encouraging participation. It made the session feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation among colleagues. The audience was engaged, and the format worked remarkably well. Beyond the useful information, it was a good example of how thoughtful presentation techniques can make a professional development session more dynamic and memorable.
Navigating U.S. Immigration Proceedings: A Guide for Language Professionals
Presenter: Nattalia Paterson, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Carmen Reis
Nattalia Paterson delivered an eloquent, insightful, and information-packed presentation offering a comprehensive overview of the U.S. immigration system. She explored the roles of its four main agencies (CBP, ICE, USCIS, and EOIR), the various stages of immigration proceedings, and key legal concepts such as expedited removal, credible fear interviews, asylum, and other forms of immigration relief. Through practical case studies, she brought complex legal procedures to life, illustrating how different circumstances can shape immigration outcomes. Her presentation was both dense and thought-provoking, offering a wealth of information and valuable insights for language professionals working in this challenging field. She also underscored the critical importance of accurate interpreting, thorough preparation, and staying up to date with constantly evolving immigration policies and terminology.
Also on the ATA67 Program
Nattalia Paterson also presented When One Is Not Enough: NAJIT’s Updated Standards for Team Interpreting in Legal Settings, which focused on updated standards for team interpreting in legal settings. Although none of our contributors was able to attend this session due to overlap, we wanted to acknowledge her second presentation at ATA67.
Dress Codes Deciphered: Special Considerations for Legal, Medical, and Community Interpreters
Presenter: Kelsey Trotta
Reviewed by Elenice Araújo
How much thought should interpreters give on how to present themselves professionally? Kelsey used her background working in the fashion industry to discuss different aspects of wardrobe choice and its impact on the work environment. She offered many tips on how to comply with safety rules and work regulations, while projecting an adequate professional image, but still preserve your personality. After all, feeling comfortable and confident may give the peace of mind that interpreters need to please contractors, connect with their audience, and provide a good delivery. As experienced as interpreters may be, a wardrobe malfunction could definitely undermine their performance so carrying a sewing kit or a spare piece of clothing may save the day. Kelsey’s closing piece of advice: “The world is your runway. Dress accordingly.”
Linguaggio del Lievitto: An Introduction to the Language of Italian Bread Making
Presenter: Kelsey Trotta
Reviewed by Elenice Araújo
Kelsey really engaged her attentive audience while giving a comprehensive technical explanation about fermentation based on her vast experience translating Italian recipes and menus. She brilliantly addressed the subtleties of Italian food and culture while detailing the different kinds of flour and types of ferments, not only providing their description, but also explaining the chemical process behind pasta and bread making. As an expert in the field, she offered practical and valuable tips on building a technical food glossary, finding reliable sources, and dealing with substitutions.
Beyond PLD Sessions: More Insights from ATA67
While supporting our fellow PLD members was a highlight of ATA67, we also attended sessions on other topics, including artificial intelligence and its impact on our profession. Ana Araújo shares her reflections on two AI-related presentations, along with Nattalia Paterson’s PLD session on U.S. immigration proceedings, also reviewed above by Carmen Reis. Together, these sessions prompted her to reflect on the future of translation and interpreting.
A Profession in Transition, but Not Without a Future
Reflections by Ana Araújo — translated from Portuguese
Of the many interesting sessions I attended at ATA67, three stood out to me in particular:
- The Human Factor: Why Federal Courts Do Not Use Artificial Intelligence in Their Daily Interpreting Practice and Why It Matters.
- Is Artificial Intelligence Harming Our Ability to Think? Cognitive Risks and Strategies for Language Professionals.
- Navigating U.S. Immigration Proceedings: A Guide for Language Professionals.
Although these presentations addressed different topics, they all led me to the same reflection: the future of translation and interpreting may not be as bleak as we sometimes imagine. Artificial intelligence is transforming our profession, but the human factor, critical thinking, ethics, and specialized knowledge remain essential. I left these sessions with a renewed sense of hope and the conviction that there is still work, opportunity, and room for qualified professionals who are willing to evolve. The future will require adaptation, continuous learning, and perhaps some reinvention. But a profession undergoing transformation is not a profession without a future. Technology will continue to evolve. And so must we.
A Conference Worth Sharing
Looking back at these sessions, it’s striking how many different subjects came up over the course of just a few days. From negotiating our rates and making ethical business decisions to understanding geopolitics, immigration law, and the science behind Italian bread making, there was certainly no shortage of things to learn.
We thank Everton Morais, Cris Silva, Giovanna Lester, Nattalia Paterson, and Kelsey Trotta, as well as Helen Eby, for sharing their expertise at ATA67.
A special thank-you also goes to Elenice Araújo, Carmen Reis, Eduardo Krauser, and Ana Araújo for contributing their impressions and helping us put this retrospective together.
For those who joined us in San Francisco, we hope these reflections bring back some good memories. And for those who couldn’t attend, we hope they offer a little taste of what made ATA67 such a worthwhile experience.
We look forward to seeing everyone at ATA68 in Las Vegas!
The PLD Administration and Leadership Council
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