By: Blaine Correen, Judicial Council

The California court system has 1,883 certified and registered court interpreters on its master list—by far the largest court interpreter workforce in the nation. But it’s not enough.

A recent study conducted by the council reported that 37 of the state’s 58 trial courts said they need more court interpreters to meet demand. The Judicial Council’s Court Interpreters Program estimates that statewide the courts need on average at least 50% more interpreters in most languages.

Finding the Next Generation of Court Interpreters
Career fairs are one tool for recruiting more court interpreters. Court representatives attend local colleges and chamber of commerce events that attract people searching for opportunities.

“I hear over and over how they didn’t know there was such a profession,” said Sat Franco, interpreting manager for the Superior Court of Fresno County.

Courts even talk to kids in elementary school. In the Los Angeles area, students speak more than one language in 90% of inner-city elementary schools.

“Some kids say they’re embarrassed they speak multiple languages because they want to fit in with the rest of the students,” said Aliyah Hassan, operations manager for the Los Angeles court’s Language Access Services office. “But we tell them their second language is something to be proud of and a skill that could lead them into a lucrative career.”

Many Visitors to Cultural Festivals and Religious Institutions Are Bilingual 
Staff from the courts and the Judicial Council also meet attendees at cultural events and festivals to increase awareness about the interpreting profession. In May, representatives from the Superior Court of Los Angeles County participated in an Armenian festival that drew 1,000 attendees in Montebello.

“It was an opportunity to educate the community about the benefits of learning and maintaining both languages for a potential career in interpreting,” added Hassan. “Many people didn’t know there was demand for interpreters. Hopefully the news will spread by word of mouth.”

The Fresno court has been talking to religious congregations about court interpreting. Religious services often have time at the end of prayers for community announcements.

“I had 20-40 interested people at each location, depending on the size of the congregation,” added Franco. “I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to recruit interpreters at religious events, doctors’ offices, shopping malls, restaurants, or other places where people gather. Wherever I am, if I hear a foreign language, I’ll try to start a conversation about where they’re from and what language they’re speaking.” 

Conferences and Trainings Help Judicial Branch Connect to Potential Court Interpreters
Judicial Council staff sponsor and support training events as a way to help maintain court interpreters’ skills and to reach out to interpreter candidates in other fields.

Earlier this year, more than 200 bilingual people attended three workshops in Los Angeles to become more familiar with careers in court interpreting. The council also partnered with a community services organization in San Diego on mock trial trainings for nearly 100 intrerpreters, and participated in an American Sign Language regional conference in Vancouver, Washington. Other events council staff attended this year included the California Healthcare Interpreters Association Conference in Irvine and the National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators Conference in San Francisco.

Looking to Medical Profession for Interpreters
Like criminal defendants in court proceedings, medical patients are entitled to an interpreter to ensure they understand a doctor’s diagnosis and medical instructions. The judicial branch often recruits those interpreters already working in the medical industry who may want additional work.

“It’s easier and faster to cross-train someone from another industry with interpreting skills than to train a bilingual person how to interpret in real-time,” said Anne Marx, a senior analyst and recruiter in the Judicial Council’s Court Interpreters Program. “Interpreting is much more than just knowing a second language.”

This summer, the council for the first time conducted a crossover training for 40 medical interpreters to learn about the legal field. In addition to trainings, the legal and medical professions have teamed up on many other crossover events and recruiting efforts to help identify qualified interpreters that could serve both industries. (Who said doctors and lawyers can’t get along?)

More Ways to Get the Word Out
The judicial branch has invested in other promotion tools to reach potential interpreters, such as online information, Youtube videos, and ads for print, television, radio, and the Web.

But even if the branch creates interest in becoming a court interpreter, there aren’t enough education programs to prepare hopefuls for the exams and their career, particularly in languages other than Spanish. They are often limited to self-study. This presents a major challenge when recruiting.

“With the exception of American Sign Language, only a few colleges have courses or degrees in interpreting,” added Marx. “The council is trying to offer more training and partner with other organizations on conferences and educational events. We’re also collaborating with the National Center for State Courts to produce more online training.”

For more information or to find out how to become a court interpreter, visit the California Courts website.

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Medical interpreters make $50-$100 an hour with a minimum of 2 hours, and help facilitate communication between the patient and the medical provider. You need to take 40-hour Certificate in Medical Interpreting to take the written test, and then an oral test to become certified. L.A. Translation and Interpretation, Inc. provides the training starting from January 15. Don’t miss this opportunity! www.latranslation.com/the-school, info@latranslation.com.
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Become an Armenian medical certified interpreter! Use your bilingual capacity to help people communicate!
Medical interpreters make $50-$100 an hour with a minimum of 2 hours, and help facilitate communication between the patient and the medical provider. You need to take 40-hour Certificate in Medical Interpreting to take the written test, and then an oral test to become certified. L.A. Translation and Interpretation, Inc. provides the training starting from January 15. Don’t miss this opportunity! www.latranslation.com/the-school, info@latranslation.com.
Armenian court interpreting Wednesdays 7-10pm (Starting 1/17-3/21) $590
Armenian medical interpreting Mondays 7-10pm (Starting 1/15-3/19) $890

Become a Spanish medical certified interpreter! Use your bilingual capacity to help people communicate!
Medical interpreters make $50-$100 an hour with a minimum of 2 hours, and help facilitate communication between the patient and the medical provider. You need to take 40-hour Certificate in Medical Interpreting to take the written test, and then an oral test to become certified. L.A. Translation and Interpretation, Inc. provides the training starting from January 15. We will guide you how to become a certified medical interpreter.  Don’t miss this opportunity! www.latranslation.com/the-school, info@latranslation.com.
Spanish court interpreting Tuesdays 7-10pm (Starting 1/16-3/20) $590 for a 30-hour class
Spanish medical interpreting Thursdays 7-10pm(Starting 1/18-3/22) $890 for a 30-hour class

유망한 직업: 의료통역사  (엘에이동시통역대학원장 박준희 박사)

“현재 미국전국에 의료통역사공인협회의 공인을 받은 43명의 의료통역사가 있고 그 중 27명이 캘리포니아에 있으며 24명이 저희 학교에서 훈련 받은 통역사입니다”라고 엘에이동시통역대학원장 박준희 박사가 말한다.  “법정통역사는 현재 캘리포니아에 61명이고, 그 중 24명이 엘에이동시통역대학원에서 공부했죠.  합격자는 3명 더 있는 데 한국과 캐나다에서 활동 중입니다.   테네시, 버지니아, 뉴욕에서 온라인 강의를 듣고 합격한 사람도 있습니다.  저희 학교가 생긴 후 시험에 합격한 법정통역사는 한두명 빼고는 다 우리학교 출신입니다.  중국어 통역사도 우리 학생들이 많습니다.”

박준희 원장은 이렇게 타의 추종을 불허하는 성공적인 결과는 자격증 시험의 성격을 정확히 이해하고 학생들의 수준에 맞추어 강훈련하는 것이라고 한다.  특히 법정통역은 동시통역이 당락을 결정하는 데 합격수준에 이르도록 효과적으로 훈련하는 것이 좋은 결과를 낳았다고 하였다.

“현재 통역사의 숫자는 수요에 반도 못미치는 매우 부족한 숫자입니다.”  특히 2015년 가주정부의 “언어 접근 계획 (Language Access Plan)”은 형사 뿐 아니라 민사의 모든 사건에서 법정통역사를 무료로 제공하도록 권장하였고 2년 째 집행되고 있지만,  현재 통역사가 부족하여 접근금지명령, 아동 양육권, 강제퇴거, 보호자 및 관리자 결정과 노인 학대등 우선 순위에만 통역사가 배정되고 있다.

의료통역의 경우도 마찬가지이다.   의료시설을 방문하는 모든 영어 미숙자에게 통역사가 제공되어야 하지만, 공인의료통역사는 턱없이 부족하다.  “의료통역시험은 구두시험에 한영 즉독즉해가 없고 동시통역이 없어 합격하기가 훨씬 쉽습니다.”  준비기간도 법정통역은 1년 과정, 의료통역은 40시간이라고 한다.

“이중언어라면 반드시 통역사 자격증에 도전해 볼 것을 권장드립니다” 라고 박준희 원장은 말한다. “한 번 자격증을 따면 죽을 때까지 가고, 프리랜서로 자유롭게 일할 수 있고, 다른 사람의 입과 귀가 되어 주고, 은퇴해서도 즐겁게 할 수 있고, 늘 새로운 것을 배우고 발전할 수 있는 좋은 일이니까요.”  안정된 고수입의 자기 사업을 하는 데 드는 투자는 “내 평생 습득한 이중언어와” “소액의 교육비”라고 한다.

다수의 법정 및 의료 통역사를 배출해온 엘에이동시통역대학원에서 1월부터 자격증 준비반을 시작하며 이중언어인 젊은 학생들의 참여를 기다리고 있다. 213-385-7781.

이 곳에 16 명만 살고있다. 이 사진은 Gareth Codd가 2009년에 찍은 사진입니다. 페로 제도는 영국과 아이슬랜드 사이에있는 섬나라입니다. 그 이후로 2017 에 마을 인구는 275 명으로 증가했습니다.

It is likely your document will require a certification with notary, especially for government purposes, such as immigration, record inquiries, etc.

You will need an Apostille if you are submitting your document to another country’s government agency. Please see here for more info about apostilles in California.

LA Translation provides certifications for our translations that are accepted by all government agencies, and most private entities like hospitals and banks.

Court certification is available, please always let us know if your document will be used in court.

English subtitles provided by L.A. Translation and Interpretation, Inc.