ATA Savvy Linguist

The Savvy Linguist serves a worldwide community of translators and interpreters who are looking for practical solutions to everyday problems, ideas for growing their business, and support as they achieve their career goals. With high-quality, peer-reviewed content, you will find the answers to the questions you face as an innovative language professional.

From Classroom to First ATA Conference: A New Path

By The Savvy Linguist | September 22, 2026

A New Chapter Begins After completing the Spanish-English Translation Certificate Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, I felt proud of my progress but uncertain about my next step. I worked as an in-house medical interpreter and translator at a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital in Boston for nine years. My work taught me to listen closely, think quickly, and communicate with compassion. However, I wanted to build on that experience through medical translation. Soon after graduation, I was selected as one of five recipients of the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation’s (AFTI) First-Time ATA Conference Attendee Scholarship. The award allowed…

From ATA’s Divisions: The Spanish Division

By The Savvy Linguist | August 22, 2013

By Francesca Samuel ATA Spanish Division Administrator When I was asked to write an article for the newest ATA blog, I felt excited and honored to be asked to contribute to its maiden voyage. What would I write about? What would new members want to know? How could I engage them, if only for a few minutes? I thought about…

The story behind the blog

By The Savvy Linguist | July 23, 2013

This blog was born on a brainstormy day, drawing on suggestions from the ATA Newcomers listserv and the recently created Student Involvement Committee. But to understand the true nature of The Savvy Newcomer, we need to take a look at the role played by both groups and the people who have made this blog possible. When Helen Eby became Assistant…

Recent Posts

From Classroom to First ATA Conference: A New Path

Getting Ready for #ATA67: Nine Things to Do Before You Land in San Francisco

Writing Your Public Profile

Announcing The ATA Savvy Linguist

Grief: Staying alive and kicking when people are dying around you

Unlock Your Potential: Join the ATA Mentoring Program

Embracing the Future: Why New Translators and Interpreters Should See AI as an Ally, Not a Threat

A (Former) Boston Local’s List of Things to Check Out Around ATA66

ATA66 Conference Preview: Business Practices Education at ATA66

Independent Contracting from A to Z: Everything Translators & Interpreters Need to Know

Subscribe to The Savvy Linguist


Connect with The Savvy Linguist