Join AATIA’s Interpreters Special Interest Group for an update on healthcare interpreting this Saturday, June 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the International Center of Austin (201 East 2nd St). Find out about the recent NCIHC General Meeting and national certification efforts.

Street parking is available and parking meters are free.

Evidently "translations" has become a sexy marketing term. Or does The Container Store mean that translations belong in the trash?

As seen on their website, this $25 wastebasket is "a très chic, environmentally friendly addition to your home. It’s made with authentic Japanese newspapers and magazines that have been beautifully ‘re-purposed.’ Each is a unique work of art."

The store’s marketing department may be a little confused in using the term, since the text on the trashcan is almost entirely Japanese (you can see a few English words if you look closely). Perhaps someone will provide a few translations for us.

At least they don’t call it an interpreting wastebasket.

Thanks to Marian Schwartz for spotting this.

Stupid Interpreter Tricks VIII

“How many here,” bawled out my medical terminology professor, “have any background in health or medicine?” This was one of those huge University of Texas classrooms, and when I looked back and saw that over 200 of the 300-odd students enrolled had their hands upraised, I realized I was done for. At least two dozen of them were actually wearing scrubs or nurse’s uniforms! Luckily for me, technology came galloping to the rescue.

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The Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT) will hold its annual symposium in Dallas on April 25-26.

CyraCom is partnering with Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth to present an Interpreter Skills Development training course on April 8–10, 2008, open to all practicing medical interpreters in the area.

This comprehensive, three-day course teaches how to apply interpretation techniques of clear, effective communication between Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients and healthcare professionals. The cost is $325 per person, which includes lunch each day and all educational materials.

The Translation and Interpreting program at Austin Community College is a collaborative effort with the Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association. It consists of seven courses. Upon completion of the introduction course, students choose to follow the translation track or the interpreting track, with three courses in each track. Each course consists of 10 class periods, three hours each. Classes are usually presented once a week.

The program is available for all languages as long as there are two or more students who share the same language, as students are required to work in language pairs. For interpreting courses, students provide feedback to each other. For translation courses, students receive feedback from certified translators in their own language, whenever possible. All courses are conducted in English.

Upon successful completion of each course, students receive a certificate of completion from ACC. This is not a translation certificate and is not equivalent to the American Translators Association (ATA) certification or interpreter licensing. However, the ACC certificate does serve as proof of training in translation and interpreting and will give students an edge when seeking employment to apply their skills.

For further information, see attached brochure or contact Esther Diaz.

Much of the day-to-day work of interpreters is performed in courtrooms, at meetings, and in medical examining rooms. But occasionally they work in the public spotlight. At the next AATIA member meeting, Tony Beckwith will talk about interpreting the Democratic Presidential Candidate Debates for Univision Television Network.

In addition, Michele Aynesworth and Liliana Valenzuela will report highlights from the recent ALTA conference. According to Director for Membership Maurine McLean, the meeting will include updates on the AATIA website and previews of upcoming workshops, as well as door prizes, refreshments, and networking. Newcomers welcome!

Next AATIA member meeting: 1:00 p.m., January 5, 2008, Austin History Center (9th and Guadalupe) Note: due to scheduling conflicts the meeting will be held the first Saturday in January instead of the regular date.