The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2021 - 10

The model of
the humanitiesfocused literary
program
needs heavy
modifications
to prepare
students for
the realities of
working with
translation
tools, not to
mention the
software used
to run their
businesses.

prepared for careers in the

universities and colleges

companies and their clients

language services industry.

structure their language

are becoming progressively

programs in response to,

dependent on industry-

overview of initiatives that

and in collaboration with,

specific technology but

the ALC Bridge has undertaken

companies' demonstrable

struggle to find language

with its partners. It's our

need for human talent. The

professionals adept at using

hope that the information

result will be appropriately

these tools or formats. The

here will entice you to explore

educated and trained

model of the humanities-

the website (www.alcbridge.

language students who are

focused literary program

org) and inspire you to think

critical to the success of the

needs heavy modifications

about other ways we can

21st-century world economy.

to prepare students for the

The following provides an

bridge the gap-and what
role you might play.

Education as
the Foundation

Working the Connections
But the work of the ALC
Bridge is not just about
creating a revolution in

Our efforts start with

the way higher education

education. Globalization has

institutions prepare students.

led to a steady increase in the

It's also about working with

demand for language services

key players in the language

in recent years. The biggest

services industry to provide

buyers of these services

opportunities specific to

domestically are the U.S.

graduates-or those nearing

government and the health

graduation-to gain and

care industry. (For example,

hone skills and transition to

the U.S. Department of

working life.

Defense has a significant

Unlike mass job posting

translation tools, not to
mention the software used
to run their businesses.
Trends toward machine
translation, machine
learning, multimedia
content, and automation
are driving the evolution of
the language industry, and
companies need tech-savvy
language workers to help
them adapt. The ALC Bridge
is in a unique position to
inform a curriculum that's
not only solid in terms of
the theory and practice

budget for language

boards, the ALC Bridge hosts

services.) There is also

a job board that offers a

high demand for language

plethora of jobs specific to

professionals in the courts,

the language industry, not

retail, customer service,

just generic job listings for

software, and financial

translators and interpreters.

sectors, to name a few.

The site includes internships

First Steps

Paradoxically, at the same

as well as postings for other

The first foray into

time, language programs

positions, such as project

connecting educators

at colleges and universities

managers and localizers.

and professionals came

are experiencing decreased

The ALC Bridge is also

of language transfer, but
also what cutting-edge
technologies students need
to master to be competitive.

in the form of a webinar

enrollment. Students (and

creating opportunities to

series. The ALC Bridge has

their parents) see little

bring the business world

committed to producing

opportunity for employment

into the classroom, giving

at least four quarterly

beyond traditional teaching

students a peek at what

webinars, all free, and

and tenured positions in

awaits them. Judging from

forming a library of on-

academia. In fact, companies

webinar attendance and

demand webinars. The

have jobs going unfilled in

enrollments in our pilot

first webinar in October

fields requiring language

programs and the number

2019 was " Careers in

proficiency and functional

of questions students have,

Language: An Introduction

skills, such as language

we're filling a need.

for Students. " Since then,

engineering, localization,

When talking about

we've produced webinars on

demand in the language

careers in localization and

services industry, the

translation and interpreting

to the realities of potential

discussion inevitably turns

for students. There has even

careers, the ALC Bridge

to the role of technology and

been one tailored to school

hopes for nothing short

machine translation. It's

districts that discussed

of a revolution in the way

true that language services

three models for successful

and subtitling.
By connecting academia

10

realities of working with

The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2021

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The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2021

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