Successful consecutive interpreting hinges on more than just linguistic accuracy. Mastering the extralinguistic elements of communication is crucial for delivering an effective rendition. This interactive 3-hour workshop, “Rise to the Occasion: Enhancing Your Presence and Delivery in Consecutive Interpreting” explores the often-overlooked art of managing one’s physical presence, vocal delivery, and the psychological aspects of performance. Designed for interpreters of all language pairs and experience levels, the workshop offers a unique opportunity to refine your consecutive interpreting skills by focusing on the crucial non-verbal dimensions that shape audience perception.

Participants will first examine consecutive interpreting from the audience’s perspective, gaining valuable insights into how factors like timing, pace, body language, voice modulation and eye contact influence perceived competence and professionalism. Through engaging discussions, real-world examples and practical exercises, the workshop will demonstrate how these elements can either enhance or diminish the effective rendering of the message.

The workshop addresses common challenges in consecutive interpretation, including managing nerves, maintaining composure under pressure, and projecting confidence in high-stakes environments. Especially relevant for interpreters in demanding contexts like courtrooms, community events, religious services and town hall meetings, this workshop equips participants with actionable tips to enhance presence, boost confidence, and elevate the overall quality of their consecutive interpretations.

Rony Gao is a prize-winning Chinese>English conference interpreter, certified translator and trainer based in Toronto, Canada. As a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and Chinese/English conference interpreter accredited by the Canadian Federal Government, Rony Gao has provided simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for the Chinese Premier’s Delegation to Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, several UN specialized agencies, the Tokyo Olympic Games, Chinese ambassador to Canada, and many other leaders in government, business, technology and academia. He graduated from the prestigious Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey with a Master of Arts in Conference Interpretation, and currently shares his expertise as an instructor at the Glendon Master of Conference Interpreting program at York University in Canada.

Notetaking is the cornerstone of effective consecutive interpretation, yet its underlying principles are often under-explored. This hands-on workshop, designed for practicing interpreters across all language pairs and settings,  offers an opportunity to critically examine your current note-taking strategies and discover a time-tested system taught by leading interpreter training institutions worldwide. The workshop delves into the fundamental questions of why, when, what, and how to take notes, moving beyond rote techniques to a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes involved. Participants will explore practical techniques, including effective layout strategies, the use of symbols and short hands, and methods for maximizing short-term memory recall.  Through interactive exercises and live demonstrations, participants will actively practice and refine their note- taking skills. Personalized feedback will be provided, enabling each participant to pinpoint their strengths and  identify areas for improvement. The workshop will also cover advice on self-directed and peer practice methodologies, empowering participants to continue honing their note-taking skills beyond the workshop. Participants will walk away with a renewed perspective on notetaking and a clear roadmap for continued development to enhance their confidence and competence in consecutive interpretation.

Rony Gao is a prize-winning Chinese>English conference interpreter, certified translator and trainer based in Toronto, Canada. As a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and Chinese/English conference interpreter accredited by the Canadian Federal Government, Rony Gao has provided simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for the Chinese Premier’s Delegation to Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, several UN specialized agencies, the Tokyo Olympic Games, Chinese ambassador to Canada, and many other leaders in government, business, technology and academia. He graduated from the prestigious Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey with a Master of Arts in Conference Interpretation, and currently shares his expertise as an instructor at the Glendon Master of Conference Interpreting program at York University in Canada.

Tingting Qin is a state court certified Mandarin interpreter, a professionally qualified Mandarin interpreter for the federal courts, DOJ immigration court interpreter, CCHI Certified Healthcare Interpreter, and ATA Certified English to Chinese translator. She is the current president of MICATA and has been serving the association since 2016. She specializes in court proceedings, depositions, immigration interviews, conferences, business meetings, psychological evaluations, clinical trials, and more. With a BA in English education, an MA in English linguistics, and an MBA, Tingting is passionate about the language profession and committed to advancing it with other professionals.

The legal battle between The New York Times and OpenAI / Microsoft underscores the increasing tension between copyright law and artificial intelligence. Central to the case is whether OpenAI’s use of The New York Times’ copyrighted content to train its AI models qualifies as fair use. We will discuss copyright laws and the legal doctrine of fair use that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission. While there are other litigations on this issue, the NYT case will have significant implications for the future of AI and intellectual property law. Courts will need to clarify whether AI-generated outputs are sufficiently transformative or infringe on original works.

Andy Benzo is a highly experienced legal language expert with over 35 years of experience in English-Spanish translations. She holds degrees in Law and Translation from Argentina. She taught Legal and Business translation at UCSD Extension. She has been a member of the American Translators Association (ATA) since 1999 and became a Certified Translator. Over the years, she has held various positions and currently serves as Chair of the Divisions Committee, Chair of the Governance and Communications Committee, and is the President-Elect of ATA. Andy collaborates in language standards development in ASTM and is a US expert in ISO. She is a sought-after speaker on Civil Law, US Law, and Legal Translation.

This session will cover the basics of what an interpreter will need to know when working in a Pediatric Emergency Department. We will discuss the workflow of the Emergency department – Triage, evaluation, testing, procedures, discharge and follow up paying special attention to particular vocabulary and concepts that may be encountered. We will also discuss the role of culture, ethical considerations, different interpreting modalities, coping with stress and difficult situations and other potential challenges this setting provides.

Paul Spacek is the Education and Development Program Manager for Language and Accessibility Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he has worked for 11 years. In his role Paul serves as a coach, mentor and instructor for interpreting students and new hires, and is also involved in the development and presentation of continuing education classes. Additionally, he designs and presents educational materials for the hospital about how to work with interpreters and provide better care to Limited English Proficient families. Paul has been nationally certified as a Medical Interpreter through CCHI since 2015. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Kansas, a certificate in Healthcare Interpreting from Johnson County Community College, and a Master’s degree in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University. Paul has presented previously at the MICATA, NATI and CCHI conferences.

We cannot translate what we do not understand. Legal translation is a very complex task that requires precise terminology. Understanding the legal context of the procedures it will help with the selection of the terms. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental distinctions between civil and criminal law in the United States, focusing on their legal principles, litigation processes, and procedural differences. It will help participants understand the practical implications of civil and criminal litigation. Whether dealing with a contract dispute, a personal injury lawsuit, or a criminal charge, understanding the differences between these two legal systems is essential for understanding the American legal landscape.

Andy Benzo is a highly experienced legal language expert with over 35 years of experience in English-Spanish translations. She holds degrees in Law and Translation from Argentina. She taught Legal and Business translation at UCSD Extension. She has been a member of the American Translators Association (ATA) since 1999 and became a Certified Translator. Over the years, she has held various positions and currently serves as Chair of the Divisions Committee, Chair of the Governance and Communications Committee, and is the President-Elect of ATA. Andy collaborates in language standards development in ASTM and is a US expert in ISO. She is a sought-after speaker on Civil Law, US Law, and Legal Translation.

In 2017, CCHI began discussions with stakeholders and focus groups about the feasibility of exploring whether cognitive interpreting skills can be measured via a monolingual standardized oral performance test in English (English-to-English or EtoE). This innovative approach provides a viable assessment tool for interpreters of less common languages (i.e., languages of lower incidence), where creating a separate dual-language oral performance exam is often unfeasible. The English-to-English exam evaluates interpreting readiness in U.S. healthcare settings through indirect methods that assess cognitive interpreting skills rather than direct interpreting skills. The exam includes various components such as paraphrasing, listening comprehension, shadowing, memory capacity, and reading comprehension. Paraphrasing, for instance, demonstrates English comprehension of U.S. medical discourse, the accuracy of conversion without changing meaning, and depth of vocabulary in English.

What sets this exam apart is its performance component, which elevates national certification by providing interpreters of all languages the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for healthcare interpreting without the logistical challenges of creating bilingual performance tests. During this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to engage in mock exam exercises, gaining firsthand experience with the efficacy of this innovative method for assessing and predicting interpreting skills. Join us as we aim higher and establish new benchmarks in the field of healthcare interpreting!  

Shawn M. Norris, Ed K-12, NIC, CoreCHI-P, is an accomplished professional with over fifteen years of success in business operations, interpretation, and training. Currently, President of Hello Interpreters and COO of AI Deaf, Shawn has worked as the Coordinator of Interpreting Services, the Coordinator for the ADA, and Section 1557 at Flagler Health+ in St. Augustine, Florida. Being raised by Deaf parents, he developed fluency in Sign Language, and his certifications from RID and CCHI further validate his interpreting skills. Shawn has a rich history of leadership, training, and innovation, with experiences ranging from coordinating interpreting services to public speaking on language access in healthcare. His love for the Deaf community extends into his volunteer work, including serving as President of the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

We hear in the news all the time about the decisions of the United States Supreme Court. But what cases get to the United States Supreme Court, and which ones go to the Supreme Court of the various states? How are the Courts organized in the United States? When does a case go to a Federal or a State Court? When can you appeal? We will discuss the rules of appeal, jurisdiction, case precedence, and precisely when a case can set a precedent.

Andy Benzo is a highly experienced legal language expert with over 35 years of experience in English-Spanish translations. She holds degrees in Law and Translation from Argentina. She taught Legal and Business translation at UCSD Extension. She has been a member of the American Translators Association (ATA) since 1999 and became a Certified Translator. Over the years, she has held various positions and currently serves as Chair of the Divisions Committee, Chair of the Governance and Communications Committee, and is the President-Elect of ATA. Andy collaborates in language standards development in ASTM and is a US expert in ISO. She is a sought-after speaker on Civil Law, US Law, and Legal Translation.

When ChatGPT launched, interpreters moved swiftly to counter hype and fear in the profession by engaging with the design of technological innovation. Two groups organized separately and in partnership: the Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical use of AI in Interpreting Task Force (SAFE-AI) and the Coalition for Sign Language Equity in Technology (CoSET). Drawing upon the translation industry’ss experience with machine translation, a joint working group of spoken language interpreters, signed language interpreters, and deaf primary communications volunteered to develop principles of deployment for protecting the integrity of communication in all interpreting encounters (online, in-person, hybrid). This principled framework is based on a survey of professional ethical codes of conduct and draws, in part, on three early studies of AI’s utility, safety, and adoption trends across interpreting. This session will introduce the four tenets of the SAFE-AI Guidance and explore actionable strategies for accountable AI implementation for live communication within language differences. We will discuss industry-wide efforts to address current regulatory gaps by establishing guardrails for the future of interpreting work.

Dr. Bill Rivers is Principal at WP Rivers & Associates. A former Russian > English translator and interpreter, Russian teacher, academic researcher and administrator, and for-profit and non-profit executive, he has more than 35 years’ experience in language advocacy and capacity at the national level, with significant experience in culture and language for economic development and national security in the Intelligence Community, private and academic sectors, and publications in second and third language acquisition research, proficiency assessment, program evaluation, and language policy development and advocacy. His company is contracted by the ALC for advocacy support.

Stephanie Jo Kent, CI, PhD., enjoys a dual career as a community interpreter (American Sign Language/English) and an action researcher/ethnographer of language and social interaction. Her research spans more than 20 years unpacking and trying to understand the complex dynamics of interpreted interaction and their purposes, specifically as a communication strategy for egalitarian problem-solving and survival. Recently she’s focused on bridging differences between spoken language and sign language community interpreters, and between community and conference interpreters. Her one act play, Generation: Cold Open, premieres March 20, 2025.

Presenter Marybeth Timmermann will share tips for launching and growing your business as a professional translator and/or interpreter. She will discuss the importance of adopting a professional mindset and address specific issues such as cultivating a professional online presence, getting those first clients, implementing everyday marketing techniques, preparing professional quotes, and determining when a contract is necessary.

Participants will gain knowledge about starting out as a T&I professional, including what to consider when shifting from a side gig mentality to a professional business owner mindset. Participants will be shown steps to take to cultivate a professional online presence, get clients, market their services, prepare quotes and contracts, and methodically grow their small business. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions and get practical advice on the basics of running a translation business, based on the presenter’s experiences.

Marybeth Timmermann is an ATA-certified professional French to English translator specializing in academic writing for scholarly publication, literature, certified documents, and revision/proofreading. She is a longtime contributing translator and editor to The Beauvoir Series, a multi-volume collection of the writings of Simone de Beauvoir in English translation. She also works with direct clients translating philosophy, fiction, academic records, and official documents. You can connect with her by email, on LinkedIn, or on her website.

This session will delve into the crucial responsibilities and ethical challenges encountered by court interpreters. Participants will gain valuable insights and guidance from seasoned expert interpreters in a panel discussion after the first hour, equipping them with the knowledge and strategies necessary to navigate ethical issues effectively.

This session will empower court interpreters to identify ethical dilemmas, anticipate the consequences of various responses, and defend their strategic decisions by applying principles from the legal interpreters’ code of ethics.

Sara Gardner, an Adjunct Instructor of Interpreting at MCC-Maple Woods for the past 17 years, hails from El Salvador and is proficient in both Spanish and English. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literature, with an emphasis in Spanish. With over two decades of court certification in Missouri, Sara has served  as an interpreter in numerous criminal cases at both the state and federal levels. Her experience spans misdemeanors to first-degree murder and high-profile drug cases, often involving collaboration with the ATF and DEA on wiretaps. Sara is an active member of the Language Access Committee in Missouri as well as an active participant in several professional organizations, including NAJIT and its Advocacy Committee, ATA, MICATA, and AAITE. In 1999, she founded Interpreters, Inc., a respected agency that has continually provided on-demand and on-site interpreting services for a broad range of clients including hospitals, schools, courts, and law enforcement agencies, covering most major languages. 

Isaura Broste, aka Izzy, is originally from El Salvador, and is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is a state certified court interpreter in the state of Missouri with almost 2 decades worth of experience in the legal field. She is a freelance interpreter working in various settings such as: hospitals, courthouses and jails. She has spent years studying interpreting techniques and attending interpreting workshops. Throughout her career she has done translation work, interpreted in live wire taps for federal agencies, conference interpreting, and interpreted abroad in faith-based settings. She has assisted teaching in a college setting and has a constant desire to further teach techniques of the trade with colleagues. Isaura is an active member of NAJIT and MICATA.

The objective of this session is to familiarize beginning and intermediate Spanish interpreters with the new system of criminal prosecution in Mexico. We’ll review current Mexican legislation, and we will compare the federal criminal process in Mexico and the United States. We will extract from both examples the ample ( and on many occasions not so dissimilar) terminology that this new Mexican law has brought into existence.

Participants will receive an exhaustive glossary referring to the new oral criminal process from Mexico. The session will be in English and Spanish with English and Spanish examples.  Participants will gain insight into the language similarities between the two systems of justice, as many times the words being used in trials in Mexican courts resemble some of the most common words used during trials in courts in the United States.

Marcela Renna is an ATA certified English >Spanish translator, and a federally and state certified Spanish court interpreter. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English education and a master’s degree in education with emphasis in ELL. She worked as an English teacher in elementary and high school in Argentina and as a Spanish teacher in elementary school full-immersion programs for about 10 years in the United States before making the transition to the T&I field. She was a freelance interpreter/translator, and Interpreting educator in the Kansas City area for over 20 years before she moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she is employed as staff interpreter for the US District of New Mexico.

As professional interpreters and translators, you play a pivotal role in ensuring equitable communication for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals. This session delves into U.S. language access compliance and its implications for your work with government agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare institutions. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of key legal frameworks, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Executive Order 13166, and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, as well as the standards these laws set for language services. Explore how your expertise supports compliance while fostering accessibility, equity, and trust within diverse communities. The session will cover:

• The legal and ethical responsibilities of organizations under language access mandates.
• How interpreters and translators contribute to effective language access programs.
• Best practices for collaborating with institutions to meet compliance standards.
• Challenges and opportunities in navigating language services for LEP populations.

Through case studies and interactive discussions, participants will also explore how to position themselves as trusted partners, advocate for quality language access, and elevate the value of their services in meeting compliance requirements. Whether you are experienced or new to the field, this session will empower you to align your professional practice with the growing demand for language services in compliance-driven environments.

Amy’s lifelong fascination with languages and cultures began at thirteen when her family hosted their first of three AFS foreign exchange students. In 1997, she earned a BA in Linguistics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, contributing to the development of the Koyukon dictionary at the Alaska Native Language Center and working as a Russian interpreter in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Passionate about equity, inclusion, and belonging, Amy’s career spans advocacy, political organizing, and public service. She has mobilized union members, championed nonprofit initiatives, managed political campaigns, and served as Chief of Staff to the Alaska House Minority. In 2015, as a Special Assistant to Mayor Ethan Berkowitz,  she developed the first Language Access Program for the Municipality of Anchorage to ensure services were  accessible for all residents. Since this time, she has been committed to working with government agencies, non- profit organizations and businesses to comply with federal language access requirements.  Amy also assists organizations with immigrant integration and currently serves as a consultant with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce on the Welcoming KC initiative.

Gabriela (Gaby) Flores has over twenty-five years of experience working in the area of health and human services, specifically with refugee and immigrant populations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Her area of emphasis has been in language access, diversity and health equity. Ms. Flores founded Flores Advisors, LLC, which serves as a diversity, equity and inclusion strategy consulting organization. Previously she served as the Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. In addition, Ms. Flores served as the Director of Interpreter Services for Truman Medical Centers (TMC). Ms. Flores served as a Commissioner for the national Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters from 2012 to 2018. Ms. Flores holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, a Master’s in Business Management, and has completed the American Hospital Association’s Cultural Competency Leadership Fellowship (2006).

This session is a follow up to the first session related to Ethics Unspoken: Navigating the Unexpected in the Courtroom. This will be an interactive session where a panel of seasoned interpreters will lead a discussion on unforeseen real-life ethical dilemmas we may encounter in the courtroom. A moderator will facilitate the dialogue and Q&A, ensuring thorough exploration of all topics within the scheduled time. Participants will acquire practical insights and strategies for managing real-world ethical challenges, benefiting from the extensive experience of the panel of interpreters. 

Participants will gain practical strategies for addressing unforeseen ethical dilemmas in courtroom settings by learning from seasoned interpreters. The session sharpens problem-solving and critical thinking skills while providing valuable networking opportunities with peers and industry experts, facilitating access to sound advice and guidance for navigating unforeseen ethical dilemmas in the courtroom.

Sara Gardner, an Adjunct Instructor of Interpreting at MCC-Maple Woods for the past 17 years, hails from El Salvador and is proficient in both Spanish and English. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literature, with an emphasis in Spanish. With over two decades of court certification in Missouri, Sara has served  as an interpreter in numerous criminal cases at both the state and federal levels. Her experience spans misdemeanors to first-degree murder and high-profile drug cases, often involving collaboration with the ATF and DEA on wiretaps. Sara is an active member of the Language Access Committee in Missouri as well as an active participant in several professional organizations, including NAJIT and its Advocacy Committee, ATA, MICATA, and AAITE. In 1999, she founded Interpreters, Inc., a respected agency that has continually provided on-demand and on-site interpreting services for a broad range of clients including hospitals, schools, courts, and law enforcement agencies, covering most major languages. 

Isaura Broste, aka Izzy, is originally from El Salvador, and is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is a state certified court interpreter in the state of Missouri with almost 2 decades worth of experience in the legal field. She is a freelance interpreter working in various settings such as: hospitals, courthouses and jails. She has spent years studying interpreting techniques and attending interpreting workshops. Throughout her career she has done translation work, interpreted in live wire taps for federal agencies, conference interpreting, and interpreted abroad in faith-based settings. She has assisted teaching in a college setting and has a constant desire to further teach techniques of the trade with colleagues. Isaura is an active member of NAJIT and MICATA.

Aida Zamilova-Judah is from Russia and speaks Russian and English. She has been a certified Russian court interpreter in Missouri since 2011. She holds a B.A. in English Language & Literature and an M.A. in English, with an emphasis in Technical Writing & Rhetoric. She has nine years of experience as a proofreader and marketing writer-editor in an accounting firm. Aida has extensive experience interpreting and translating in the state and recently in the federal courts, in depositions, client-attorney conferences, forensic interviews, as well as medical appointments and business meetings. She also has worked as a translator in the automotive, oil and gas, and other industries.

Olimpia Tyner is a highly qualified Spanish State Certified Interpreter with 11 years of specialized experience in the legal sector. Originally from Mexico, she earned her Certificate in Legal Interpreting from Johnson County Community College in 2014. Ms. Tyner is an active member of the Language Access Committee for the Kansas Supreme Court and actively participates in both the Mid-America Chapter of the American Translators Association (MICATA) and the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.

Grace Englehart began her journey at Interpreters, Inc. in 2019 and is now proudly the Director of Operations. Grace has a BA in English – Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry and BA in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After spending time in Spain and being a Supplemental instructor for three Spanish courses at UMKC for two years, she is currently halfway through Lindenwood’s MFA program. Grace continues to love and learn more about languages from around the world while coordinating the language needs across the KC Metro area.

The objective of this session is to familiarize beginning and intermediate Spanish interpreters with the new system of criminal prosecution in Mexico. We’ll review current Mexican legislation, and we will compare the federal criminal process in Mexico and the United States. We will extract from both examples the ample ( and on many occasions not so dissimilar) terminology that this new Mexican law has brought into existence.

Participants will receive an exhaustive glossary referring to the new oral criminal process from Mexico. The session will be in English and Spanish with English and Spanish examples.  Participants will gain insight into the language similarities between the two systems of justice, as many times the words being used in trials in Mexican courts resemble some of the most common words used during trials in courts in the United States.

Marcela Renna is an ATA certified English >Spanish translator, and a federally and state certified Spanish court interpreter. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English education and a master’s degree in education with emphasis in ELL. She worked as an English teacher in elementary and high school in Argentina and as a Spanish teacher in elementary school full-immersion programs for about 10 years in the United States before making the transition to the T&I field. She was a freelance interpreter/translator, and Interpreting educator in the Kansas City area for over 20 years before she moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she is employed as staff interpreter for the US District of New Mexico.

Psychologists work with interpreters in various aspects of their work with clients. This session is focused not on counseling, but instead on determination of disability for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Psychologists conduct evaluations in which they try to help the SSA determine to whether a claimant is disabled on psychological grounds. When needed, the SSA hires an interpreter to assist the psychologist. This session will focus on what the psychologist is trying to do in these sessions and why it is often to some extent different than what the interpreter assumes is going on. While an interpreter may be well-intentioned and put great emphasis on trying to clarify questions for the claimant, this may actually be counterproductive and result in problems for the interpretation of the session by a psychologist. This session will try to clarify the interpreter’s role in working with the psychologist and best practices in those situations. These guidelines are especially important because psychologists rarely receive training in working with interpreters and interpreters often do not have specific training in working with mental health professionals, especially in disability settings.

Dr. David Lutz has been a licensed psychologist for over 40 years. He was a full-time faculty member at California State University, San Bernadino, and most recently at Missouri State University for 31 years. He also has been in private practice for all of that time. Since his retirement from Missouri State University six years ago, he has been in full-time private practice, most recently in Overland Park, Kansas. He has been considered a “key provider” of disability evaluations in Missouri, meaning that he has been one of the highest volume producers in Missouri for many years. He has conducted over 13,000 evaluations for the Social Security Administration and over 1,000 for the Veterans Administration. In addition to his psychology degrees, he has a major in Spanish obtained in 2018.

Language professionals play an increasingly critical role in forensic contexts, from decoding cryptic messages to identifying dialects and accents in legal investigations. This session delves into the emerging field of linguistic forensics, exploring how translators and interpreters contribute to solving crimes and facilitating justice. Participants will gain insights into real-life cases, discuss ethical challenges in law enforcement contexts, and explore how their linguistic skills intersect with forensic linguistics to make a tangible impact.

The session aims to provide participants with:

• A foundational understanding of linguistic forensics and its relevance.
• Insight into the ethical and professional challenges translators and interpreters face in forensic settings.
• Practical knowledge through real-life case studies, particularly involving Arabic and Kurdish, to demonstrate how linguistic analysis contributes to justice.

Dr. Hiba Gharib is an accomplished professional in the fields of interpretation, translation, editing, and instruction. She translates and interprets between Kurdish, Arabic, and English. She holds a Ph.D. in Language and Linguistics from the University of Kansas, along with two master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree in translation.

Her expertise spans multiple essential sectors, including healthcare facilities, judicial systems, immigration offices, and social work agencies. Recognized as a court-qualified interpreter, she is actively engaged in both teaching and freelance interpretation. She serves as an instructor at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) while also providing interpretation services to numerous clients.

In addition to her professional roles, Dr. Gharib is a director within the Mid-America Chapter of the American Translators Association (MICATA) and an active member of the American Translators Association (ATA). She has participated in international conferences as both a presenter and an interpreter. Her contributions to the field also include a distinguished record of publications in national and international journals.

Dr. Gharib collaborates with various companies and organizations, offering on-site and telephone interpretation services. Since 2016, she has been a resident of Kansas, where she remains deeply committed to her work and the advancement of language-related fields.

It is crucial to recognize the responsibility of educational community interpreting, as it directly impacts the lives and futures of children in education. With increasing immigration and migration of families worldwide, the education system becomes one of the most significant concerns for families seeking to integrate into a new country.

Educational interpreting generally falls under the broader category of community interpreting. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines community interpreting as “bidirectional interpreting that takes place in communicative settings among speakers of different languages for the purpose of accessing community services.” While no formal definition exists for educational interpreting, a proposed definition is: Educational interpreting is a specialization of community interpreting that facilitates access to educational services in schools and other educational settings.

As school districts across the nation struggle to meet language access requirements and address the needs of diverse multilingual families, the interpreting profession must step up, create space, and provide concrete resources for this growing group of colleagues. It is our sincere hope that educational interpreters and translators will soon receive the same recognition and support as their counterparts in legal and medical settings.

The purpose of this presentation is to examine the impact of AI technology on interpreting quality, address challenges in educational interpreting, outline guidelines for effective interpreting in educational settings, define the role of interpreters in educational contexts, and explore predictions for the future evolution of educational interpreting.

Afaf Steiert is President and founder of Afaf Translations, where she works as a conference Arabic interpreter, and oversees all Middle eastern languages translation and interpreting services at Afaf Translations. She studied 5 languages and has a good knowledge of all Arabic dialects. She obtained her M.SC in plant molecular biology from University of Basel, Switzerland. She was recently listed as one of the Top 30 Women in the Language Industry by Multilingual Magazine.

Matthias Steiert is co-founder of Afaf Translations specialized in language services to the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Basel, Switzerland. He quality assures all European languages translation and interpreting services at Afaf Translations and handles the company finances.