As one of the 50 Best Careers of 2011, this should have strong growth over the next decade

By Alexis Grant

Posted: December 6, 2010

The rundown:

Pharmaceutical inserts, instruction manuals, and textbooks—these are just a few of the documents that translators rework in English or other languages. At courthouses around the country and conferences throughout the world, interpreters help people of different tongues communicate. While both interpreters and translators convert one language into another, interpreters work with the spoken word, and translators the written word. But choosing this occupation means learning more than a foreign language; you also must thoroughly understand the subject you’re communicating about. You’ll relay not only words, but complicated concepts and ideas, as well as the cultural subtleties that accompany them.
Click here to find out more!

Interpreters and translators specialize in a variety of fields, including medical, judiciary, literary, or sign-language. About a quarter are self-employed, and many translators work from home.

[See a list of The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]

The outlook:

Excellent, although prospects vary by language and topical specialty. Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Labor Department. Demand is driven by an increasingly global economy, as well as an increasingly large population of non-English speakers in the United States.

Interpreters and translators held more than 50,900 jobs in 2008—although the actual number is likely much higher because many people in this field work sporadically. Urban areas, especially Washington, D.C., New York, and cities in California, provide the most employment possibilities, especially for interpreters. Interpreters and translators of Spanish should have solid opportunities because of expected increases in the Hispanic population in the United States, and demand is also expected to be strong for interpreters and translators specializing in healthcare and law. Interpreters for the deaf should continue to have favorable employment prospects because of low supply, while conference interpreters and literary translators can expect competition because of the small number of jobs in these specialties.

Other languages in demand include Asian languages—Chinese, Korean, and Japanese—as well as Arabic, Farsi, and indigenous African languages. So, too, are European languages like French, Italian, and German.

Money:

Salary varies greatly depending on language and subject matter. Interpreters and translators who speak languages that are in high demand or underrepresented in the field often have higher earnings, as do those who communicate about complicated topics. In 2009, the median annual salary was $40,860, and the median hourly wage, $19.65. Interpreters and translators in the bottom 10 percent earned less than $22,810, while those in the top 10 percent earned more than $74,150.

Upward mobility:

Once you’ve gained enough experience, you can transition to a more difficult or prestigious assignment—like conference interpreter—or start a translation agency.

Activity level:

Low. Most translation work is done on a computer, so many translators work from home or at an office. Interpreters work in a wider variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, courtrooms, and conference centers, and may travel for the job.

[See a list of the best creative and service careers.]

Stress level:

Moderate. Expect to work under pressure of deadlines and tight schedules. Since many interpreters and translators work on a freelance basis, your schedule may vary, with weeks of limited work interspersed with weeks of long hours.

Education and preparation:

You’ll need to be fluent in at least two languages (including your native tongue). Though some interpreters and translators grow up in a bilingual home, it’s not necessary. Some interpreters and translators need a bachelor’s degree to find work, while others complete job-specific training programs. Formal programs are available at colleges nationwide and through non-university training programs and conferences. Federal courts require certification for interpreters of certain languages, as do state and municipals courts.

Interpreters and translators benefit from strong research and analytical skills, as well as a reliable memory.

Real advice from real people about landing a job as an interpreter or translator:

Interpreters and translators should master three skills: communicating in a foreign language, writing in their native language, and developing expertise in a field like law, engineering or physics—whatever topic you want to translate. You’ll likely need a degree in that field to understand it well enough to talk or write about it, which means you should expect to have a dual major in college or at least a major and minor: one in the foreign language, the other in your specialty.

Spending time abroad is valuable for aspiring translators. “Master your own language. You have to be a brilliant writer in English … You translate difficult things, like pharmaceutical inserts and physics textbooks and emergency medical procedures. So that requires you develop expertise in a technical field … Consider [in-demand] languages like Chinese and Arabic and Russian, and Urdu or Pashto if [you’re] courageous. Or Korean … [But] it’s really more important to find a language you’re passionate about.” —Kevin Hendzel, spokesman for the American Translators Association

November 22, 2010|By the CNN Wire Staff

Defendants with limited English-language skills have a constitutional right to court interpreters in criminal trials, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled Monday.

The ruling came in a case involving a Mandarin Chinese speaker who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on two counts of cruelty to a child. Annie Ling, who had limited English language skills, did not understand that she had the option to plead guilty instead of going to trial and possibly facing a longer sentence, said the American Civil Liberties Union, one of two groups that filed a friend-of-the-court brief stating that denying a defendant an interpreter violates the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws.

“The court acknowledged that we don’t have two systems of justice in this country — one for English speakers and another for everyone else,” said Azadeh Shahshahani, director of the National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project at the ACLU of Georgia. “The constitutional guarantee of due process applies to everyone in this country, not just fluent English speakers.”

Ling was arrested and charged with two counts of cruelty to a child. Her children were removed from the home and placed in foster care, according to court documents. After a 2008 trial, Ling was convicted of one count of cruelty to a child, and sentenced to 15 years, with 10 to serve in prison. The conviction was appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court.

The court agreed with the brief, in which the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center joined with the ACLU, that the Sixth Amendment and the due process clause of the 14th Amendment guarantee the defendant the right to an interpreter.

The Georgia Supreme Court also instructed all Georgia state courts to practice “vigilance in protecting the rights of non-English-speakers.”

“아무리 불황이라해도 별안간 외국어를 잘할 수는 없죠,”  엘에이 동시통역대학원 주준희 원장 (사진)의 말이다. 세계화가 가속화되고 국가간의 교류가 늘면서, 한류가 전세계로 퍼져 나가고 또 FTA가 비준될 전망임에 따라 언어의 장벽을 넘는 통역 번역사에 대한 수요는 증가하고 있다.

“로스앤젤레스에서 법정통역사만한 직업도 없어요.”  투자금이 필요없고, 그동안 인생을 살아오면서 배운 이중언어가 있으면 된다.  프리랜서로 보스도 없고 나인 투 파이브의 삶도 아니다.  하루 3시간에 250불, 6시간에 500불을 받는 통역사도 많아 있고, 큰 민사소송을 많이 맡는 경우 연봉 10만불을 훌쩍 넘는 통역사도 많다.  “변호사들처럼 패소할까봐 받는 스트레스도 없고…”

“가장 보람있는 것은, 말하지 못하는 사람들의 입이 되고, 듣지 못하는 사람들의 귀가 된다는 소통의 역할이지요.”  부업이나 은퇴 후 취업으로도 가능하다.

한편 손이 둘이라도 훈련이 없이는 피아노를 칠수 없는 것처럼 전문통역사는 엄격한 훈련을 필요로 한다. 어휘도 늘리고 필요한 기술도 익혀야 한다.  특히 동시통역은 꾸준한 훈련이 필요하다.

“엘에이 동시통역대학원은 전문통역번역사를 훈련하기 위해 8년전 설립되었죠.”  그 동안 법정통역사 시험에 패스한 사람은 한두명 빼고는 모두 이 학교에서 훈련을 받았다.  주정부인가를 받았으며 유학생에게 I-20도 발행한다.  스페인어와 중국어 과정, 회화반도 있다.  금년에는 한국에 분교 프로그램을 개설해서 서울 강남역에서 개강한다.

프로그램은 40시간 의료통역사 과정, 1년 법정통역사 과정, 2년 석사과정이 있고, ESL 기초 영어회화 과정도 있다.  의료통역사 과정을 13주간 이수하고 나면 의료통역사협회 (IMIA)에서 실시하는 전국 인증시험을 칠 자격이 주어진다.  이 시험에 패스하면 “공인 의료통역사”로 미국 전역의 병원에서 통역할 수 있다.  법정통역사는 법원과 정부기관, 병원등에서 모두 통역할 수 있다. 학교부설 통역번역회사에서 우수졸업생에 통역번역을 알선하기도 한다. 원하는 학생들은 무료통역센터에서 자원봉사하면서 인턴십을 할 기회도 주어진다.

엘에이 동시통역대학원은 8월 20일 토요일 10시에 무료 공개강의를 갖는다.  연락처 213-368-0700.

LA Translation and Interpretation
2975 Wilshire Blvd,  #205
Los Angeles, CA 90010.

En la lenta economía de hoy ha sido difícil encontrar empleo.  El mercado global laboral está cambiando constantemente y los campos técnicos siempre se están desarrollando.  Una cosa que es cierta en la dinámica economía de hoy es que el idioma, es un campo seguro.  Sin la interpretación de idiomas muchos negocios, comercios, y personas se perderían en la traducción.  La traducción se describe como el proceso de traducir palabras o texto de un idioma a otro.  Este proceso es esencial en la economía global de hoy y tiene una demanda muy alta.

Un intérprete certificado en los tribunales de California puede tener un salario anual de entre $70,000 y $100,000, dependiendo de la experiencia.  Aunque un empleo con un tribunal sería una carrera estable y segura, un intérprete certificado en los tribunales de California que trabaja de manera autónoma o freelance tiene la oportunidad de ganar mucho más del salario anual que se paga a los intérpretes que trabajan como empleados en el tribunal.  Viajar mientras se trabaja puede ser lo ideal para la persona correcta.  Un intérprete autónomo o freelance puede tener la oportunidad de programar su propio horario y responder a clientes alrededor de todo el mundo.   “Es un trabajo autónomo o independiente, no tiene un jefe o competencia, no requiere inversión, todo lo que se necesita son antecedentes bilingües y algo de capacitación”, dice la interprete certificada del tribunal Anabella, quien estará enseñando interpretación en LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation a partir del 1º de septiembre. Todos nuestros dedicados instructores cuentan con muchos años de experiencia en interpretación y traducción.  Igualmente todos nuestros instructores también son intérpretes certificados del tribunal en California.

Una manera de convertirse en un intérprete certificado de los tribunales de California es ingresar al programa de LA Institute of Translation and Intepretation, recibir un certificado de interpretación en un año y luego tomar el examen estatal de certificación de California para certificarse.   El programa de LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation le proporcionará las herramientas y la instrucción necesaria para triunfar en los campos de interpretación y traducción.  También la escuela cuenta con una empresa filial que remite trabajos para intérpretes del tribunal e intérpretes médicos.

LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation está convenientemente ubicado en el centro de la ciudad y cuenta con estacionamiento gratuito.  Llame por favor para enterarse de las fechas de nuestras sesiones informativas y reserve su lugar.  Nuestra sesión informativa en chino es el 20 de agosto a la 1:30 pm.  Nuestra sesión informativa en coreano es el 20 de agosto a la 10:00 am.  Nuestra sesión informativa en español es el 30 de agosto a las 7:00 pm.  Para mayor información llame al 866-327-1004 y pregunte por Jeremy.

In today’s slow economy, it has been difficult to find employment. The global job market is constantly changing and technical fields are always evolving. One thing is for certain in today’s fast paced economy, language is a secure field. Without language interpretation many businesses, governments, and people would be lost in translation. Translation is described as the process of translating words or text from one language into another. This process is essential in today’s global economy and is in very high demand.

A California Court Certified Interpreter can make an annual salary of about $70,000 to $100,000 depending on experience. Although employment with a court would be a secure and stable career, a freelance California Court Certified Interpreter has the opportunity to earn even more than an annual salary received by court employed interpreters. Traveling while you work could be ideal for the right person. A freelance Interpreter would have the opportunity to make his/her own schedule and answer to clients all around the world.  “It is a freelancer job, you don’t have a boss or a competitor, no investment is required, all you need is your bilingual background and some training.” says court certified interpreter Anabella, who will be teaching interpreting at LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation from September 1. Our dedicated instructors all have many years of experience in the translation and interpreting. Our instructors are all California Court Certified interpreters as well.

One way to become a California certified Court Interpreter, is to be admitted to LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation program, receive a one year certificate in Interpretation, and then take the California State certification exam to become certified. The program at LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation will give you the necessary tools and instruction to succeed in the interpreting and translation fields. The school also has a subsidiary company that refers jobs to court and medical interpreters.

LA Institute of Translation and Interpretation is conveniently located in downtown, and parking is free. Please call for out Open session dates and reserve a seat. Our Chinese Open session is on August 20, 2011 at 1:30pm. Our Korean Open session is on August 20, 2011 at 10:00am. Our Spanish Open session is on August 30, 2011 at 7:00pm. For more information, call 866-327-1004 and ask for Jeremy.