Careers in Translation and Interpreting

ATA School Outreach Program

Presentations Earn CE Points

Q: What's the ATA School Outreach Program and what's it got to do with my Continuing Education points?

Starting on July 1, 2005, if you make a presentation on translation and/or interpreting careers in your local school, college or university you can earn ATA Continuing Education points for the time you spend in the classroom.  

Q: How do the points work?

Each hour of school outreach presentation time earns two CE points for the presenter, subject to a maximum of six points in each three-year reporting period. Points cannot be awarded for fractions of hours, but two or more school outreach presentations of less than 60 minutes may be combined to reach the one-hour mark.

No advance approval is required. To document your school outreach presentation time, simply complete this form for each presentation you make, and keep it on file with your Continuing Education Record and other CE documentation.

Q: Why is ATA offering CE points for this?

Like many other teaching activities, school outreach presentations require you to update, research, and organize your professional knowledge. Most people who prepare and deliver presentations to students find that the experience prompts them to ask new questions and think about translation and interpreting in energizing new ways, changing their day-to-day perspective and contributing to their professional development at a very concrete level.

Speaking in schools also allows ATA members to earn CE points with very little travel or expense. And finally, school outreach promotes the translation and interpreting professions, fosters higher professional standards, and educates the public about translation and interpreting — all of which are among ATA's stated purposes as an association.

Q: I'd like to be able to earn points this way, but I'm not sure how to go about making a presentation. Where do I start?

Visit ATA's online School Outreach Presentation Resource materials. Scroll down to find age-appropriate suggestions on what to say and how to say it, sample presentations that you can customize for your own use, tips on managing nerves, and ideas on getting an invitation to speak at your local school.

2008 School Outreach Contest

Learn how you could win a free registration to the next ATA Annual Conference. For details, click on ATA's 2008 School Outreach Contest now!