Skip to content
FacebookTwitterLinkedinYoutubeInstagram
  • Join ATA
  • Renew
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
American Translators Association (ATA)
Find a Language Professional
  • Certification
    • Certification
      • Guide to ATA Certification
      • What is a Certified Translation?
      • How the Exam is Graded
      • Review and Appeal Process
      • Looking for More Information?
    • Taking the Exam
      • About the Exam
      • How to Prepare
      • Practice Test
      • Exam Schedule
    • Already Certified?
      • Put Your Credentials To Work
      • CT Designation and Seal
      • Continuing Education Requirement
    • Register Buttons
      • Exam Schedule
         
      • Order Practice Test
  • Career and Education
    • For Newcomers
      • Student Resources
      • Starting Your Career
      • The Savvy Newcomer Blog
    • For Professionals
      • Growing Your Career
      • Business Strategies
      • Next Level Blog
      • Client Outreach Kit
      • Mentoring
    • Resources
      • For Educators and Trainers
      • Tools and Technology
      • Publications
      • School Outreach
    • Event Buttons
      • Upcoming Webinars
  • Client Assistance
    • Client Resources
      • Why Should I Hire a Professional?
      • Translator vs. Interpreter
      • Getting It Right
    • More Client Resources
      • Need a Certified Translation?
      • What is Machine Translation?
      • The ATA Compass Blog
    • Find a Translator Button
      • Find a Language Professional
  • Events
    • Events
      • Annual Conference
      • Seminars and Workshops
      • Certification Exam Schedule
    • More Events
      • Virtual Events
      • Webinar Series
      • Calendar of Events
    • Event Buttons
      • Visit ATA64
      • Upcoming Webinars
         
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Advocacy and Outreach
    • Press Room
    • The ATA Chronicle
    • The ATA Podcast
    • ATA Newsbriefs
  • Member Center
    • Member Resources
      • Join ATA
      • Renew Your Membership
      • Benefits of Membership
      • Divisions
      • Chapters, Affiliates, and Other Groups
      • Get Involved
      • Shop the ATA Store
    • Already a Member?
      • Log Into Your Member Center
      • Connect with Members
      • Create Your Directory Listing
      • Become a Voting Member
      • Member Discounts
    • Member Buttons
      • Join ATA
         
      • Member Login
  • About Us
    • About ATA
      • Who We Are
      • Press Room
      • Honors and Awards Program
      • Advertise with Us
      • American Foundation for
        Translation and Interpretation
      • ATA Team
      • Contact Us
    • How ATA Works
      • Board of Directors
      • Committees
      • Policies & Procedures
      • Code of Ethics
    • Contact Button
      • Contact ATA
  • Join ATA
  • Renew Your Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
  • Find a Language Professional
The ATA Compass: Your guide to translation and interpreting in the global market

What do Translation Buyers and Fourth Graders Have in Common?

February 20, 2016 | ATA Compass | No Comments | Client Assistance

Most translators and interpreters care deeply about the future of their professions and welcome the opportunity to talk to students of any age about their jobs. This was why I recently leapt at the chance to visit my daughter’s 4th grade class to talk about translation and interpretation. I hope the class came away from my talk with some valuable ideas. I know my visit certainly gave me some interesting and unexpected insights into the relationship between translation buyers and the younger generation.

Our local school has students from all over the world who together speak over 40 different languages and dialects. True, we live in a diverse neighborhood of Queens, which is in turn the most diverse borough in New York City, but this statistic is indicative of changes in school populations throughout the United States. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “The percentage of public school students in the United States who were English language learners (ELLs) was higher in 2009–10 (10 percent, or an estimated 4.7 million students) than in 2000–01 (8 percent, or an estimated 3.7 million students).” This figure will only continue to grow over the coming decade, and it doesn’t even include children who speak a second language at home, but are not in ESL classes. Indeed, the percentage of public school students who identify as non-Caucasian or non-African American has grown over the past two decades as well, with 23% of students listed as Hispanic and 8% listed as Other.

With this information in mind, I knew that to make my talk relevant, I had to build it around the students and their experiences so that they could see what important roles translation and interpretation play in their lives. I started my talk by introducing myself and asking the class what the word translator means. Then I asked the students to tell me what languages they speak besides English, which led to a discussion about the meaning of the word “bilingual.” From there, we did a translation exercise, where I wrote a word on the board and had volunteers come up and write the same word in their languages. Next, we did an interpreting exercise, where I spoke a sentence and had volunteers interpret the sentence into their languages. We went on to talk about where translators and interpreters work, what kinds of tools they use, and what kind of training they need.

Finally, we looked through some supporting materials I brought in, including several of my dictionaries (even the dictionary I used in 4th grade!), translations of middle-grade books into English (the Ghosthunters series by Cornelia Funke, the Geronimo Stilton series), a translation into Russian of the second book in the Harry Potter series, and a Judy Moody book that gives examples of how the name Judy Moody has been translated into other languages.  I explained how I use my dictionaries, and then we talked about the fiction books. I was quite impressed by how quickly the students were able to identify the various translation challenges that might arise with each book.

The most important insight I gained from my talk was that, even at a young age, these students are savvy citizens of the world. In addition to speaking their second languages at home, they help their families navigate their lives in their new communities by interpreting for their parents and grandparents in stores, on doctor’s visits, and even at their school. They also communicate with non-English speaking friends and family members in their native countries, and they may even travel to these countries during vacations. Without being aware of it, they serve as ambassadors in many different ways.

The lesson for translation buyers is that these students are your future customers. They will be buying your products and services to support and communicate with their communities here and abroad. They are one of your avenues into new markets. Translation providers and buyers must work together to get it right for them. Put simply, if they are not impressed by the way we work together to represent your company in their languages and cultures, they will not use your products and services or mine. Investment in high-quality translation services will guarantee a competitive edge that has the potential to last for years and will pay for itself many times over. Although I have known this all along, it is hardly an idea that I expected to have reinforced by a group of nine-year olds!


About the Author

Lucy Gunderson, CT is a Russian to English translator and Administrator of ATA’s Slavic Languages Division.

Share this

Posts navigation

← What is the Difference Between Translation and Interpreting?
Ten steps to make your technical translation projects a success →

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply





I accept the Privacy Policy

ATA's Language Services Directory

Language Services Directory

Find the translator or interpreter that meets your needs. Customize your search by language, specialties, location, credentials, and more.
Start Your Search

Subscribe to The ATA Compass



Recent Posts

Breaking Intercultural Communication Barriers in Business
7 Tips for Crushing an International Meeting Remotely, According to an Interpreter
What’s the Difference Between a Translator and an Interpreter?
5 Steps for Translating Official Documents
How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Free Online Translation Tools
Top Six Reasons You Should Caption Your Social Media Video Content
How to Avoid Misinformation: Cross-Border Strategies PR Pros Should be Thinking About
25 Million Americans Don’t Speak English: Translators and Interpreters Essential in Pandemic
Content Marketers: Time to Call in the Language Professionals?
Hiring an Interpreter? 9 Dos and Don’ts to Get the Most Out of Your Partnership
The ATA Compass

The ATA Compass

Want to reach more customers, grow your business, and improve your bottom line? Learn how language professionals can help.
Learn More
What is Machine Translation?

Machine Translation

Can't a computer do all this? Learn when to use Google Translate and when to hire a professional.
Learn More

Client Assistance

No matter what language services you need, ATA is here to help!
Learn More
Translator vs. Interpreter: What's the difference?

Translator vs. Interpreter

Translators do the writing. Interpreters do the talking. Find the right language professional for your job!
Learn More
Why Should I Hire a Professional?

Why Should I Hire a Professional?

Professional translators and interpreters can help you reach more customers, grow your business, and improve your bottom line.
Learn More
What is a certified translation?

What is a Certified Translation?

Understand the common uses and requirements of a certified translation and download sample statements.
Learn More
  • 1
  • 2
  • Next »
Language Services Directory
ata_logo_footer

American Translators Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone +1-703-683-6100
Fax +1-703-683-6122

  • Certification
  • Career and Education
  • Client Assistance
  • Events
  • News
  • Member Center
  • About Us
  • Member Login
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Submit Feedback

© 2023 - American Translators Association

Website by Yoko Co

Find a Language Professional
Scroll To Top