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Interview with Jeff Wood (Part 1)

Jeff Wood, Director of Career and Enrollment Management at the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, was kind enough to share his thoughts and observations on three key subjects of interest to translators and interpreters, whether newcomers or seasoned veterans of the industry. In this first of the three-part article, we'll be talking about preparation for the profession and how to keep your skills sharp.

Jeff's first piece of advice is: "do not neglect your native language." This may seem obvious, even trivial, but too often applicants to schools like the Monterey Institute do not score high enough on the admissions tests for their native language skills. MIIS uses the standard Language Proficiency Scale, and expects its incoming students to score "5 out of 5" for the native language, and "4 out of 5" for their second language.

Too many would-be translators or interpreters are trying to cram language after language into their brains, Jeff noted. It takes decades to master your native language, from the time you first hear it until you complete college and any other professional training necessary to get your first job. It takes years, upwards of a decade really, to master the second language. So a 21-year-old who claims to be fluent in six languages will be viewed very skeptically, and almost always fails the Language Proficiency tests, scoring a 2 or 3 on four of the languages, and often only a 4 on the native language. In other words, such people are alingual, incapable of functioning as an adult professional in any language, and they have no hope of entering the translation and interpretation profession.

The best way to develop strong native-language skills is to work long and hard at it while in school, taking all the appropriate classes, including writing, literature, communications, journalism, and even linguistics. Debate society and public speaking classes, even acting classes, can be invaluable for the aspiring interpreter, who needs to develop the skills to speak confidently and clearly when under extreme pressure, all the while remaining poised and professional. Writing courses covering expository writing, essay writing, and especially technical writing are essential for would-be translators, who need not only to have an excellent command of mechanics, including grammar, syntax, punctuation, and orthography, but also appropriate style and register for their work.

The next piece of advice is for the B language. "Make sure you get in-country experience," says Jeff Wood. Translators or interpreters who have not lived extensively, for at least a year, preferably several years, in a country where their B language is spoken are at an extreme disadvantage and will likely never develop the competency necessary to succeed. The Monterey Institute, for instance, requires its incoming students to have at least six months of in-country experience, though prefers more, depending on the results of diagnostic testing. Similar expectations can be found in other programs.

Finally, subject knowledge. According to Jeff Wood, a translator or interpreter must know "a little about a lot, and a lot about a little" and be "curious about everything… a student for life" who wants to know everything about everything. Although translators and interpreters inevitably specialize in several related fields, a strong baseline of knowledge about the world in general, and extensive knowledge of the cultures, societies, governments, and histories of the countries where their languages are used is vital for professional success.

All this may seem like a lot to expect of a college graduate, but it is what is needed to succeed as a translator or interpreter. Many professionals started their language education in public school, continued it through college, including a year abroad, then worked in the country of their B language for a few years, and finally went on for professional-level training in a degree or certificate program. It is a lot of work, but it can and does pay off in the long run.