Translation Certification Programs

[jpaula 20]

For those of you who are either bilingual (trilingual?) or have bilingual SOs. Do you have any info on translation certification programs? I am helping my husband look specifically for certification programs i.e. not Masters degree programs. Google led me to the American Translators Association, but I do not know if there are other, more known or respected organizations for these things. And, I did find a continuing ed crtification program at NYU that looks pretty good. Basic translator or interpreter courses in English to Arabic and/or French and then some choices for specialization--medical, courtroom, business and legal. We are in the info gathering stage here so if anyone has any experience with any of this, I would love your input.

Thanks so much.

Edited April 6, 2008 by jpaula

[amal 4]

I've thought about it before but hubster thinks that if he does govt translating that he will end up doing work that will make him do translating that will get him in trouble with his country. What kind of jobs are there for translators that doesn't involve the govt?

amal

[Carolyn 1]

I've got friends who do translating for hospitals and courts--mind you, they are almost all English-Spanish translators. None of them got certification (that I know of), but passed some fluency tests through the agencies they work for.

Edited April 6, 2008 by Carolyn

[jpaula 20]

Well, there are a variety of jobs. Government, of course, especially with Arabic, but others as well. Courts and hospitals are two biggies. But, you can also do freelance work; help businesses translate marketing materials and reports, help people applying for visas translate docs I do academic work and have paid to have texts translated. Do a quick google search for translation or interpreter jobs and you will get a wide array. Because it can be flexible work, it just seems like a good thing to have experience/certification in.

So, I throw it out there as an idea and ask that if anyone finds good info, do share it. Thanks!

OT, but another idea for bilingual SOs is work as a flight attendant. Delta has announcements all over job boards that they are looking to hire people who speak more than one language and the more the better.

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

Well, there are a variety of jobs. Government, of course, especially with Arabic, but others as well. Courts and hospitals are two biggies. But, you can also do freelance work; help businesses translate marketing materials and reports, help people applying for visas translate docs I do academic work and have paid to have texts translated. Do a quick google search for translation or interpreter jobs and you will get a wide array. Because it can be flexible work, it just seems like a good thing to have experience/certification in.

So, I throw it out there as an idea and ask that if anyone finds good info, do share it. Thanks!

OT, but another idea for bilingual SOs is work as a flight attendant. Delta has announcements all over job boards that they are looking to hire people who speak more than one language and the more the better.

most of the english arabic translators I know are Moroccan and they work for the US government and in Iraq...They actively recruit for the cia and other departments on Moroccan websites with banner ads advertising salaries of 170,000 and up. I know several morocccans that went there..As far as stateside,I havent seen much demand for it...I dont think a special certificiation matters one way or another...Just list him on a website and people can google him..It will only matter if docs need to be translated and most embassies want it in country

Well, there are a variety of jobs. Government, of course, especially with Arabic, but others as well. Courts and hospitals are two biggies. But, you can also do freelance work; help businesses translate marketing materials and reports, help people applying for visas translate docs I do academic work and have paid to have texts translated. Do a quick google search for translation or interpreter jobs and you will get a wide array. Because it can be flexible work, it just seems like a good thing to have experience/certification in.

So, I throw it out there as an idea and ask that if anyone finds good info, do share it. Thanks!

OT, but another idea for bilingual SOs is work as a flight attendant. Delta has announcements all over job boards that they are looking to hire people who speak more than one language and the more the better.

Jp not to be funny but have you flown air algerie?flight attendant...my male so...oh yeah..that would happen LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[doodlebugg 10]

I was looking at job opportunities with airlines but doesn't the pay suck in that industry? The perk though is that they get to fly free everywhere right, so going home for visits would be awesome.

I crossed by a few jobs in Boston that want someone who can speak Arabic but most were in fields that he would need a specific degree in like engineering or computer science.

Our hospitals hire interpreters all the time, though the majority are Spanish/Vietnamese and Russian.

I'd LOVE to work for the CIA!!! Always been a pipe dream of mine.

[sereia 0]

i've looked into this as well.

most of the jobs for arabic translators these days are for US CITIZENS ONLY. i spoke to a recruiter and they said the jobs are winding down (before they took green card holders too) and so now they only accept citizens.

most also require special security clearance.

if you find non-governmental jobs that don't require any of that? i haven't been able to!

and as far as delta airlines... they pay #######. a friend of mine recently was sent to the in person interview and they also hire people who are not bilingual.

I crossed by a few jobs in Boston that want someone who can speak Arabic but most were in fields that he would need a specific degree in like engineering or computer science.

where did you find those? abdou has an engineer degree and we would move there for the right job!!!

Edited April 6, 2008 by sereia

[jpaula 20]

Looking into French/English translation jobs also. I do some business in France and have often had to pay translators--usually freelancers--and you can run up quite a tab. Paying by the page to get a legal doc translated is a pain in the butt, I tell ya. I think it may be frustrating to try to make freelance work your real full time job, but for the bilinual or even trilingual among us, a translators certificate and a few referneces seem like good things to have in your pocket. I started looking at it mainly because both my husband and I are interested in languages (and he, unlike I, is skilled in them) and I was snooping around some of the linguistic theory literature. Led me to think about the more practical side of things and what jobs were available. It strikes me as interesting supplemental work and a really good way to keep language skills current.

So, any other jobs that take advantage of foreign language fluency?

[MHandMB 0]

I work for a law firm that does mostly plaintiff's litigation. We have French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Arabic translators on staff, and there are also several ppl. who are bilingual who help out with translations from time to time.

If you can get certified to handle legal translations, I think you'd have a lot of options, actually.

[jpaula 20]

I work for a law firm that does mostly plaintiff's litigation. We have French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Arabic translators on staff, and there are also several ppl. who are bilingual who help out with translations from time to time.

If you can get certified to handle legal translations, I think you'd have a lot of options, actually.

There's the answer I was looking for! Any idea how people are certified?

[doodlebugg 10]

i've looked into this as well.

most of the jobs for arabic translators these days are for US CITIZENS ONLY. i spoke to a recruiter and they said the jobs are winding down (before they took green card holders too) and so now they only accept citizens.

most also require special security clearance.

if you find non-governmental jobs that don't require any of that? i haven't been able to!

and as far as delta airlines... they pay #######. a friend of mine recently was sent to the in person interview and they also hire people who are not bilingual.

I crossed by a few jobs in Boston that want someone who can speak Arabic but most were in fields that he would need a specific degree in like engineering or computer science.

where did you find those? abdou has an engineer degree and we would move there for the right job!!!

Here's one: http://jobview.boston.monster.com/getjob.a...;pg=1&seq=1

Here's the other one but I just noticed it's based in Dublin http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-J6B6G02QKW3;_...bic-m-1-n-Cisco

[sereia 0]

ugh first one is US citizens only. poop. wow lots of money though!

thanks anyway, girl!

[Ban Hammer 13,109]

I'd LOVE to work for the CIA!!! Always been a pipe dream of mine.

no, you really don't want to work for them.

[sarahaziz 0]

yes my dad translates papers to french arabic english , but he didn't go thru degrees to do that he just took a 2 week training. He's going to get my spouse listed in that field to get started with a cash flow. I'll ask my dad more info and pm it to you.

[sereia 0]

please don't PM it. post it here for others who are interested. thanks!!!