Here is a book of teaching ideas for different learning environments (academic and training programs, for example). As the publisher points out:

"The pedagogical approach and the activities, tasks and projects are based on Communicative, Humanistic and Socioconstructivist principles: the students are actively involved in their learning process by making decisions and interacting with each other in a classroom setting that is a discussion forum and hands-on workshop. Clear aims are specified for the activities, which move from the most rudimentary level of the word, to the more complicated issues of syntax and, finally, to those of cultural difference. Moreover, they attempt to synthesize various translation theories, not only those based on linguistics, but those derived from cultural studies as well.

"This volume will be of interest to translation teachers, to foreign language teachers who wish to include translation in their classes, to graduates and professional translators interested in becoming teachers, and also to administrators exploring the possibility of starting a new translation programme.

TAPIT Conference Coming Soon: September 11-13

The Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators always offers a serious annual conference. This year the keynote speakers are Holly Mikkelson and Esther Navarro-Hall.

The conference theme: Enhancing the Professional Skills of Interpreters and Translators in the 21st Century

Not to be missed!

Researcher Seeks Asian Signed Language Interpreters for Survey

Christine Nakahara is conducting research on the experiences of Asian and Asian American/Pacific Islander (Asian and AAPI) interpreters who work with signed language.

The survey takes 15-20 minutes.

It's hard to believe you're reading this story in 2015: a Lawrence, Massachusetts police dispatcher (someone who takes emergency calls) routinely didn't answer if the caller spoke only Spanish.

Today in the United States, the drill is simple: if there is a language barrier, emergency calls are connected to telephone interpreters in seconds. For Spanish, the most widely interpreted language, the connection can be almost instantaneous.

To make matters worse, 75% of residents of this town speak... Spanish.

And the dispatcher? She's on leave. The police chief says language should never be a barrier and he'd be inclined to "terminate" her, but he's working with the union.

Excitement is in the Air!

In July we launched the first session of The Community Interpreter®: International Edition. (Or, for short, The Community Interpreter® International--AKA "TCII.") A joyful adventure.

Later that month came the first Training of Trainers for TCII--with 21 participants from across the country, and two from Guam! (See the fabulous pictures here!) We're excited to add them to the roster.

Now, starting Sunday, comes the next Training of Trainers for TCII, this time in Oregon--with 19 participants, many of them shakers and movers in the field, from up and down the west coast. It will be an amazing experience.

All this helps us to celebrate our July publication of the most amazing textbook in the field. Check it out!

And Now--The TCII Workbook

For CCC, any session of The Community Interpreter® needs a workbook of activities and role plays--and so does the new international edition.

Next week, that workbook is coming to our offices. Logging in at 235 pages, it is beautifully designed and chock-full of realistic role plays in English/English and English/Spanish. Take a look inside here.  

Stay tuned: the official release date is Wednesday, August 12!