After more than 6,000 program hours of video, film, and TV, Deborah Wexler has plenty of insight and advice to offer translators interested in audiovisual translation. From the value of networking to the fatal mistake of not seeing the career ladder to the secrets of macros, shortcuts, and typing speed, Deborah's interview with the Professional Development Committee's Deputy Chair Charo Welle is not to be missed.

Even if you're not a gamer, video game localization sounds like fun, right? But is it really? Find out in this interview with top video game localizer Marina Ilari, who talked with ATA member Charo Welle about how she found her niche, the challenges of living in "other worlds," and the best ways to gain enough experience to break into the specialty.

Everyone loves a backstory. And the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation—or AFTI for short—has one that few people know. So stop and listen to Episode 70 of The ATA Podcast as AFTI Board President Geoff Koby sits down with Host Matt Baird to talk about the foundation's beginnings, its current day focus on student scholarships and T&I awards, and how your donation can make a difference.

So often medical interpreters make the job look easy, and yet it's anything but. There's the constant challenge of new terminology, the administrative procedures of different healthcare settings, and the stress of life and death situations—not to mention actually interpreting the patient-provider encounter itself. Join guest host Anne Connor in Episode 68 of The ATA Podcast to learn more about the skills, training, ethical standards, and commitment to lifelong learning needed to work in this very personally rewarding field. During the interview, Medical Interpreting Supervisor Yuliya Speroff also explains the specialty's ongoing quest for professional recognition within the healthcare community and what individual medical interpreters can do to support the effort. This episode includes two great resources you won't want to miss.

Can a specialization that is broad in subject matter still be a niche market? If you're talking about diplomatic translation, then the answer is absolutely yes! In this episode of Inside Specialization, Joseph Mazza, chief of the Office of Language Services’ Translating Division at the U.S. Department of State, explains the tremendous variety of content, text types, and tasks this work involves, including the necessity to understand past history and cultural allusions. You'll also learn why critical research skills and a thorough knowledge of language and culture are important assets for the job. And then there's the pressure that comes with the responsibility of translating content representing the United States! Don't miss this podcast for an insider's view of a truly unique specialty.

The slate is set, the candidates are ready, and the opportunity to learn more about who’s running for the Board is right here in front of you!

In Episode 66 of The ATA Podcast, Host Matt Baird asks the candidates running for Director positions about the T&I work they do, why they joined ATA, and what skills and vision they will bring to their position on the Board. Be sure to catch the first part of this episode to learn more about the candidates running for President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Click ATA 2021 Elections for candidate statements and photos. And don't forget to subscribe to The ATA Podcast!

The slate is set, the candidates are ready, and the opportunity to learn more about who’s running for the Board is right here in front of you!

In Episode 66 of The ATA Podcast, Host Matt Baird asks the candidates running for officer positions about the T&I work they do, why they joined ATA, and what skills and vision they will bring to their position on the Board. Be sure to catch the second part of this episode to learn more about the candidates for Board Director positions.

Click ATA 2021 Elections for candidate statements and photos. And don't forget to subscribe to The ATA Podcast!

Sustainability and waste management are currently hot topics, but back in 2001, when Abigail Dahlberg began her translation career, they were a bit off the beaten path. Now 20 years into this translation specialty, Abigail joins Inside Specialization Host Andie Ho for a look at careers in this "still very much a niche" market. From the kinds of jobs available and the impact of machine translation to tips for psyching out growth areas in the specialty and becoming the go-to translator in the field, this interview covers everything you could want to know about this highly specialized career path--and then some.

No matter what your language or specialty, whether you are a veteran conference-goer or a first-timer, you'll walk away from ATA's 62nd Annual Conference with practical and realistic ways to build, manage, and grow your business. In Episode 64, you’ll find out more about this opportunity to learn how to get better at what you do. Host Matt Baird speaks with ATA President-Elect and ATA62 Conference Organizer Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo.  Find out about the educational sessions, networking opportunities, precautions being taken to keep attendees safe, and more. Don’t miss this sneak peek at ATA’s flagship event!

From the outside looking in, a career as a conference interpreter can often seem glamorous. Perhaps it's the travel and nights in hotels around the world. Or maybe it's the sense of being part of an exclusive community of interpreters working at high-stakes meetings. It might also be the fact that conference interpreters tend to be paid more. Episode 63 of The ATA Podcast is your chance to find out what it's really all about. You'll learn about the necessary skills and training to the ins and outs of a typical day to the types of clients you'll encounter as Host Veronika Demichelis interviews conference interpreter Andrew Gillies for this installment of Inside Specialization.

As many in the U.S. gear up to head back to school, Episode 62 of The ATA Podcast steps away from association activities to examine translation and interpreting education. Guest Host Michael Schubert interviews ATA members Alaina Brandt and Jamie Hartz to discover how well their T&I courses prepared them for the transition to careers, what they wish they had known before they graduated, and what other alternative career paths current students with a T&I degree might consider. There's a lot to learn from Alaina and Jamie's personal stories, even for those of us who've been out of school for many, many years!

ATA62 Annual Conference • ATA62 Registration • ATA Language Services Directory • Become an ATA Voting Member • ATA Halftime Show: Podcast Episode 60 • Guide to Starting Out as a Translator • Certification Exam • ATA Back to Business Basics Series • Treasurer's Report FY 2019-2020 • The Savvy Newcomer • ATA Mentoring Program • ATA Website • Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) • Kent State University • University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee • ATA Chapters

What's it like to work as a highly specialized technical translator in a hard science? In our fourth Inside Specialization podcast, Host Veronika Demichelis talks with Karen Tkaczyk about how her career literally took off in a matter of months, what kinds of jobs she takes on, and what keeps her going. You'll also learn about some of the basic traits technical translators share, the need to invest your time in the subject matter, and the lucrative sideline of editing non-native English scientific writing. Wondering about the impact of machine translation in this specialty? Karen's insider perspective is just what you need to hear. And finally--we saved the best for last--she reveals what it's like to turn away work because you have too much!

Comments? Email podcasts@atanet.org

Did you hear about ATA's new e-book Guide to Starting Out as a Translator? Will the ATA62 conference be virtual this year? Is it true that ATA's certification exam can now be taken online? How does the new ATA website help members make more of their membership? Why is it never too late to attend an ATA membership orientation session? Why did the number of ATA webinars double this year? And what is the Back to Business Basics series? How is ATA doing financially?

It's the annual Halftime Show where President Ted Wozniak and President-Elect Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo tell ATA Podcast Host Matt Baird what the association has been doing in the first six months of 2021 and where it's going in the last six months of the year. Don't miss this episode!

Don't forget to send comments and questions to podcast@atanet.org!

Show Notes: ATA Compensation Survey • Certification Online Exam • ATA62 Annual Conference • ATA Webinars • ATA Back to Business Basics Series • ATA Professional Development: Podcast Episode 54 • Guide to Starting Out as a Translator • 5 Reasons to Join ATA in 2021 • Inside Specialization Series • Next Member Orientation Session • ATA Website • ATA Advocacy: Podcast Episode 58 • Treasurer's Report FY 2019-2020 • Ted's Membership Column

In this third edition of ATA's Inside Specialization series, we’re talking about the often-overlooked field of educational interpreting and translation. Katharine Allen and Natalia Abarca describe the broad range and diversity of the specialization, the skills interpreters and translators need to work in the field, and the satisfaction that comes from doing work that makes such a difference in people's lives. Katharine and Natalia also have plenty of advice for professionals who are interested in getting started in educational interpreting and translation. Plus, you'll get to share in their excitement about the newly established American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education. So, listen in to learn about careers in the world of educational interpreting and translation.

Show Notes: American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education • Katharine Allen • Natalia Abarca • ATA Career and Education Resources

Educating government officials and the public about the role of translators, interpreters, and language access in our society is a central part of ATA’s mission to be “The Voice of Interpreters and Translators.” These efforts are led in part by ATA’s Advocacy Committee. In Episode 58, Host Matt Baird speaks with ATA Board Director and Advocacy Committee Chair Lorena Ortiz Schneider about the committee’s campaigns to ensure the availability of independent contractor classification for translator and interpreters as well as early access to vaccinations and safe working conditions for in-person interpreters during the pandemic. Listen now and learn how you, too, can participate and help make a difference!

ATA Advocacy Committee • Stepping Out on Capitol Hill: ATA’s First Advocacy Day in Washington, DC • Advocacy Call to Action in Pennsylvania • ATA Asks Senate to Amend PRO Act • Contact ATA's Advocacy Committee • Joint National Committee for Languages • ATA Advocacy and Outreach • ATA Podcast Episode 19: 2017 Advocacy Day Wrap-Up • Join ATA Today! Special Mid-Year Membership Offer • 5 Reasons to Join ATA • ATA Members Only Free Webinar for June • ATA's Virtual Brainstorm Networking Event

We look forward to your comments! Send to podcast@atanet.org.

In the second Inside Specialization podcast, Host Veronika Demichelis interviews ATA Past President Corinne McKay and current ATA Director Meghan Konkol about translating in the international development market. You'll learn that it's not all the pro bono work you might have thought it was—in fact, just the opposite. You'll also hear about the types of translation work you can expect, the interesting cultural challenges, the somewhat lower barriers to entering the sector, and the many subspecialties within the field that let you find your passion.  Bonus! Both Meghan and Corinne have tips for beginners and experienced translators who want to get into international development translation.

ATA has been in the business of acknowledging outstanding service and professional distinction in the translation and interpreting fields since 1964 when it awarded its first Alexander Gode Medal. By recognizing colleagues who, through their daily work, volunteer activities, and careers exemplify the qualities that define excellence in our industry, the association not only salutes their achievements but also recognizes their substantial impact on our community.

In episode 56 of The ATA Podcast, Honors and Awards Committee Chair Karen Tkaczyk talks with Host Matt Baird about what's on tap for this year's awards season and announces the opening of nominations for the ATA Dynamo, Mentoring, and Rising Star Awards!

Back to Business Basics Webinar: Specialization • ATA Member Center • 2021 AFTI First-Time ATA Conference Attendee Scholarships • Honors and Awards Program • Alexander Gode Medal • Lewis Galantière Award • Biography: Galantière-The Lost Generation's Forgotten Man • Ungar German Translation Award • Student Translation Award • Dynamo Award • Mentoring Award • Rising Star Award • Advocacy Award • Impact Award • Innovation Award • S. Edmund Berger Prize for Excellence in Scientific and Technical Translation • Alicia Gordon Award for Word Artistry in Translation • Marian S. Greenfield Financial Translation Presentation Award • ATA Honors and Awards Committee

Audio Production: Derek Platts. Music tracks: www.bensound.com

Please send comments, questions, or requests about this podcast to podcast@atanet.org

Welcome to "Inside Specialization, an all-new series on specialization and diversification developed in collaboration with ATA’s Professional Development Committee! 

In this first episode, Professional Development Committee Chair Veronika Demichelis sat down with Judy Jenner, an ATA spokesperson and federally certified Spanish interpreter, to find out what it’s like to be a court interpreter—from her typical day to why she made this career choice.

We hope you'll come back for more in the series as members of the committee explore various specializations in one-on-one interviews with those working in translation and interpreting careers. You'll hear from terminology specialists, healthcare interpreters, patent translators, localization experts, and more. They’ll talk about what their work entails, the pros and cons of their specialty, the skills that are needed, and their personal stories and recommendations for getting started. This will be an adventure you won't want to miss!

If you have read ATA Newsbriefs or The ATA Chronicle, followed ATA on social media, or opened one of ATA's email broadcasts, then you’re probably aware of ATA's Professional Development Committee (PDC). Charged with developing continuing education for translators and interpreters—members and non-members alike—this group of hard-working volunteers has picked up the pace to offer more than 50 webinars and virtual workshops in 2021.

To find out more about ATA's continuing education program and where it's headed, listen to Host Matt Baird interview PDC Chair Veronika Demichelis in Epsiode 54 of The ATA Podcast.

Show Notes:

ATA Professional Development Committee • ATA62 Annual Conference • PRO Act • ATA Honors and Awards • Free Monthly Webinar for Members • ATA Board of Directors • ATA Mission Statement • ATA Bylaws • ATA Divisions • Back to Business Basics • Virtual Workshops • ATA Webinars

Schools may be closed, but ATA's School Outreach Program is going strong—in fact, even better!

Listen in to Episode 53 of The ATA Podcast as host Matt Bair interviews Meghan Konkol, coordinator of ATA's School Outreach Program, and Molly Yurick, deputy chair of ATA's Public Relations Committee, to find out how the program has adapted to social distancing. Along the way, Meghan and Molly discuss the program's mission and the goal of supporting both members and schools. They also share their own personal experiences and offer tips for both in-person and virtual presentations. Matt talks about his own school outreach experience, and why the approach he took doesn't require a lot of preparation.

So, don't miss this podcast to discover how you can share your passion for language with students—and possibly win a free registration to ATA's 62nd Annual Conference in the process.

How did ATA do in 2020? In Episode 52, ATA President Ted Wozniak and President-Elect Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo tell Matt Baird, host of The ATA Podcast, how 2020 became the "year of the ATA volunteer." From membership to advocacy, from professional development to honors and awards, ATA members pulled together to make things happen for their colleagues. And both Ted and Madalena say there's a lot more to come in 2021!

ATA Letter to CDC: Interpreters Need the Vaccine • ATA Members Report How Their Work Changed in 2020 • 5 Reasons to Join ATA • Check Out the New ATA Website • ATA62 Call for Proposals • ATA Webinars • ATA Virtual School Outreach • COVID-19 Best Practices for Interpreters • The ATA Podcast • Free Monthly Webinars • ATA Honors and Awards • ITD 2020 • Changes in ATA Continuing Education Requirements • ATA and California Assembly Bill 5 • Treasurer's Annual Report for FY2019-2020

Most translators and interpreters go into business understanding that finding and retaining clients will be hard work. What many fail to see, however, is the difficulty in running a business alone and not always knowing what to do next. Enter ATA's new Mastermind Program!

What Are ATA's Mastermind Groups? • Introducing ATA's Mastermind Program • ATA Mastermind Program Registration • ATA Mentoring Program • ATA New Member Orientation • The Savvy Newcomer • ATA Urges CDC to Vaccinate Interpreters • Call for ATA62 Conference Proposals • Renew Your ATA Membership • Join ATA!