The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2021 - 9

working to form the next

in hopes of creating clear

the career center, which

generation of translators and

pathways for language

consisted of about six feet

interpreters, making it easier

students to potential jobs.

of shelves full of printed

for students to find programs

A task force was formed

graduate school catalogues.

and making sure programs

and, under the leadership

I spent an hour checking the

actually provide students

of ALC's board of directors,

index of every catalogue.

with information they can

an outreach initiative

Not one had an entry for

use to build careers. The

(subsequently called the ALC

translation (except for one for

committee is also authorized

Bridge) was created.

the translation of computer

to reach out and work with

code). If I wanted to be a

other organizations, with the

program, Kathleen reached

translator, I was going to

understanding that this is an

out to colleagues from both

have to look elsewhere.

enormous task.

the employer and educator

After class, I ran to

As luck would have it, I
was to spend a year in France
after graduating, giving me
a vastly different perspective
on learning languages and
their role in society. One year
stretched to three, and I met
professional interpreters
who traveled first class and
talked to several people who
were studying language and
hoping to get into a grande
école (competitive graduate
schools that produced highly
regarded professionals).
Fortunately, many things
have changed since then.
There are now graduate
programs in translation
studies at more than one
institution in the U.S. And
there are a handful of
undergraduate and certificate
programs that go beyond the
literary tradition associated

The Challenge
Language companies provide
services and products
to clients in a range of
sectors in government and
private industry. At a 2017
conference of ATA's sister
organization, the Association
of Language Companies
(ALC), members stated that
the number one challenge
facing their businesses
is insufficient linguistic
resources in their pipelines
to meet the growing demand
for professional translators,
interpreters, localizers, and
project managers.
As an industry veteran and
member of ALC's board of
directors, Kathleen Diamond
knew that employers need
qualified talent to fill
positions in translation,

As the chair of this new

sides of the issue to come
together to form a volunteer
committee to further the
goals of the ALC Bridge.
Representatives from
many organizations-both
nonprofit and for-profit-
also jumped on board. As
a partner association of
ALC, ATA's Education and
Pedagogy Committee was
given the green light to join
the effort.
ATA has also been working
to encourage institutions
to include professional skill
building and illuminate
career pathways. But the
jump from the safe haven
of higher education to the
real world of working is a
daunting one. While ATA
provides resources like
the Savvy Newcomer blog
to help those entering the

with universities. Increased

interpreting, localization,

profession, assisting the

globalization has led to

language instruction,

ALC Bridge to increase

explosive growth in demand

testing, and more. From her

connections, relationships,

for skilled people who can

perspective, though, too

and shared learning

broker information in other

few language majors enter

between the professional

languages. Translation and

the marketplace with real-

and academic sides of the

interpreting have become

world skills-the result of a

language services supply

" hot " careers, and the

persistent scarcity of higher

chain seemed like a perfect

demand doesn't look to be

education institutions in the

way to extend our reach.

dropping off soon.

U.S. that offer career-oriented

As my term as ATA
president wound down, I
wanted a chance to address

The work is twofold:

programs in the field of

leveraging the needs of

translation and interpreting.

academic institutions

Kathleen and her fellow

looking for job opportunities

an area that clearly needed

ALC board members

for their language students,

attention: education. ATA's

determined that it would

and those of the business

Education and Pedagogy

be beneficial to connect

world, which is seeking

Committee is charged with

with academic institutions

students who are well

www.ata-chronicle.online

The ALC
Bridge hosts
a job board
that offers a
plethora of
jobs specific to
the language
industry.

American Translators Association

9
http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2021

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