Becoming a Spanish Interpreter
Becoming a Spanish interpreter is no easy feat. It can be difficult to break into the industry, but it is not impossible. Here are some tips for making your dreams of becoming a Spanish interpreter come true.
- Get an Education:
If you want to become a Spanish interpreter, you will need to get a degree in translation or interpretation. This can be done through either an online program or an on-campus program at a university. Some universities even offer programs specifically for those who want to become interpreters for their majors!
- Find a Mentor:
Once you have completed your degree program and passed your certification test, find someone who has already been working as an interpreter for at least two years and ask them if they would mentor you in this field. They will be able to help guide you through any issues that may arise during your first few months on the job as well as give you advice on how to grow within this industry so that one day you might be able to mentor others too!
How To Become Spanish Interpreter
Spanish interpreters can provide an essential service to Spanish-speaking individuals navigating unsure situations. Whether you’re hoping to help hospitals translate medical information, or assist law firms and courtrooms with legal communication, the Spanish interpreter career can offer you many opportunities in different fields. In this article, we discuss what a certified Spanish interpreter is, the opportunities available for the career and give you a list of steps you can use to find open interpreter positions and roles.
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What is a certified Spanish interpreter?
A certified Spanish interpreter is an individual who uses their skills of communication to translate Spanish into English or vice versa. Most often, Spanish interpreters work primarily with verbal speech, however, they can sometimes share responsibilities with translators, who work in deciphering written communication. Spanish interpreters can often find roles or positions in several fields, including hospitals, law firms and more, bridging conversations between two or more individuals.
What does a Spanish interpreter do?
A Spanish interpreter has several important job responsibilities depending on their chosen career path:
Medical
Medical interpreters often work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities assisting Spanish-speaking patients who are being served by English-speaking doctors and nurses. Having a professionally trained medical interpreter on staff can help ensure that patients receive the right information and know how best to treat themselves or their ailments.
Legal
Legal interpreters can help Spanish-speaking individuals who need help in legal situations. Most often, legal interpreters work with courts or law firms to help translate important legal definitions and assist in trials. This ensures that the communication is clear and Spanish speakers can represent themselves fairly.
Government
Government interpreters often work for government agencies to help translate important information between its citizens and government officials or to help in communicating with other countries. It can be beneficial for interpreters in this profession to have a strong vocabulary in both languages to effectively relay information to each party.
Travel and tourism
Spanish interpreters for travel and tourism can often find roles or positions in airlines or popular tourist sites that might attract individuals from Spanish-speaking countries. This job can allow them to discuss important topics and assist Spanish speakers with questions or inquiries they have regarding travel or the specific tourist location.
How to become a certified Spanish interpreter
Here is a list of steps you can follow to help you become a certified Spanish interpreter:
1. Become fluent in Spanish
Becoming fluent in Spanish is important because it can allow for efficient and effective communication between all parties involved. This can include the vocabulary as well as the grammar and syntax of the language. When learning the language, it can be beneficial to read Spanish literature, practice speaking with someone who is already fluent and visit Spanish-speaking countries to help you develop and improve.
Related: How To Include Language Skills on Your Resume (With Examples)
2. Earn an undergraduate degree
Though there are certificate programs to help you develop key interpreter skills, it can be beneficial to pursue an undergraduate degree to help you gain influential credentials for your interpreting career. Many institutions offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, which can help you learn more about the language and culture. However, some colleges and universities might also offer a degree in Spanish-English translation and interpretation, which can help you learn important information about the career, or a specific field of interpreting, such as medical or legal.
3. Gain relevant experience
It can be beneficial for aspiring Spanish interpreters to gain relevant experience in the field because it can help their resume become more noticeable to employers. While earning their undergraduate degree, individuals can pursue several opportunities to help them develop impressive language capabilities, including internships and studying abroad. Internships at certain companies or facilities that require Spanish interpreters can help individuals understand more about the career and gain valuable experience before graduating. Studying abroad in Spanish-speaking countries can help individuals continue to improve their knowledge of the language and culture which they can use in future job positions.
Related: How To Include Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume (With Examples)
4. Get certification
The most common certification Spanish interpreters receive is the American Translators Association (ATA) certification, which allows interpreters to test their knowledge and understanding of Spanish translation through an examination. However, depending on their desired career path, Spanish interpreters can pursue other types of certifications for different fields or specializations, including a Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) certification provided by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.
Related: What Are Certifications? Definition, Benefits, Types of Certifications and Examples
5. Consider higher education
Seeking higher education or additional training for a Spanish interpreter career can help individuals continue to develop and improve their language skills. It can also allow them to specialize in multiple areas of translation to help them find more job opportunities. For example, attending a graduate program might teach them more about translation theory or financial terminology translation to help boost their occupational credentials. It’s also possible that certain credentials, such as the ATA, might require individuals to earn a graduate degree in order to renew their certification.
Skills
Here are a few skills that Spanish interpreters use throughout their career:
Communication
It’s important for Spanish interpreters to have strong communication capabilities in order to perform their job duties most effectively. This can include understanding different medical or legal terminology, using clear and concise words and demonstrating a friendly tone and demeanor.
Active listening
Having the ability to actively listen to Spanish or English-speaking individuals is important because it can allow interpreters to fully understand the information being presented and the best way to translate it. It also can help to foster trust and respect with the people interpreters are communicating with, allowing them to learn and share sensitive medical or legal information.
Read more: Active Listening Skills: Definition and Examples
Problem solving
Sometimes, when translating, interpreters might not know the exact word or phrase to use. Developing powerful problem-solving skills can help in these situations, as interpreters find new ways to communicate certain ideas and sentences to other parties involved.
Related: 10 Ways To Improve Your Creative Problem-Solving Skills
Cultural understanding
Cultural understanding can help individuals notice and understand certain non-verbal cues that might be a natural part of communication for certain cultures. These cues can help them translate and communicate information more efficiently for both conversing parties.
