Good turnout at Nov. 14th meeting

Marco Hanson speaking at AATIA meeting on Nov. 14, 2015

More than 40 members and friends came out on a drizzly Saturday afternoon to hear presenters Esther Diaz and Marco Hanson at our last bimonthly general meeting on November 14th. Esther updated us on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on  Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters and efforts to ensure that patients in Texas receive the services of professional interpreters and translators and are not forced to rely on their children or other family members in order to communicate with medical professionals. The Advisory Committee’s recommendations and other useful information are available at www.interpreterhelp.com.

Marco provided many helpful tips on how to market yourself and find work as a translator or interpreter. Those who missed the meeting may contact Marco to request his slide presentation. Marco also informed us that he has started a petition to the Texas Judicial Council to submit legislation in 2017 that would require Texas courts to employ teams of interpreters for trials and extended hearings in order to avoid interpreter fatigue, which has been shown to reduce accuracy. Team interpreting is already required for sign language interpreters in Texas.

Our next meeting, on January 9th, 2016, will feature a step-by-step look at the literary translation process. Our presenters will be Marian Schwartz, Tony Beckwith, and Marc Adler. Plan on joining us to ring in the new year!