KEYNOTE
Ewandro Magalhães
Bump It Up: From Cockpit to First Class
Description:
True empowerment isn’t about steering harder. It’s about elevating your position so you can choose freely, with dignity and purpose. This keynote reimagines the familiar “driver’s seat” metaphor, shifting the focus from control to choice, and offers translators and interpreters a fresh perspective on navigating their careers in ways that truly serve them.
Attendees will leave with a mindset that prioritizes strategic adaptation over trying to dictate every outcome.
SESSIONS
Concurrent Sessions: T = Translation, I = Interpretation, B = Business
NCSC and State Court Interpreter Credentialing, I
Brooke Bogue
State courts across the nation are experiencing a shortage of credentialed court interpreters to better ensure equal access to justice for LEP court users. The court interpreting profession is of vital importance for the full and fair administration of justice. This session will provide an overview of the profession, introduce interpreters to the steps for pursuing state court interpreter certification/credentialing, provide guidance on successful NCSC oral exam preparation, and engage in a question-and-answer session.
Interpretation equipment workshop, I
Carlos Solís
Interpreters are frequently expected to work in environments where hearing clearly is as critical as linguistic accuracy—yet many professionals receive little formal training on interpretation equipment designed for legal, court, and meeting settings. This hands-on workshop is designed to bridge that gap by giving interpreters direct, practical experience with a range of interpretation equipment systems commonly used in depositions, court proceedings, meetings, and other real-world scenarios.
The Line We Don’t Cross: AI, Compliance, and Trust in Translation, B/AI/T
Cristian Modesto
AI is reshaping decades-old translation workflows. While its potential to increase efficiency and scale is undeniable, the risks of careless or uninformed adoption are just as real, especially when confidentiality, compliance, and client trust are at stake.
This session explores where AI truly belongs in translation workflows, and where it does not. Drawing on real-world experience implementing AI across language service operations, we will examine common mistakes organizations make when introducing AI, from data exposure and compliance gaps to the false belief that accountability can be automated away.
Attendees will learn how to evaluate AI use cases through a risk and compliance lens, understand when human oversight is non-negotiable, and identify the safeguards required to deploy AI responsibly. The presentation will also address emerging expectations around transparency, auditability, and governance, and how these factors are already influencing client trust and buying decisions.
From Text to Screen: A Practical Introduction to Subtitling, T
Julia Velasco-Espejo
Subtitles are a simple and effective way to make audiovisual content accessible across languages as well as to Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. It is one of the most visible and in-demand forms of audiovisual translation. This presentation offers a practical introduction to subtitling for professional translators who are interested in expanding their skill set into audiovisual translation. The presentation will combine academic perspectives with practical advice based on personal experience and other professional sources.
Beyond Words: Human Cognitive Skills at the Heart of Interpreting Performance, I
Marisa Rueda
What if we told you the secret to better interpreting isn’t about knowing more words?
Think of it this way: your language skills are what people hear, but your cognitive skills are the high-performance engine that makes it all happen. While you’re listening, remembering, processing, deciding, and self-correcting (all at lightning speed), your brain is doing the real heavy lifting.
These mental superpowers are what separate good interpreting from great interpreting. They include memory, listening comprehension, oral production, information processing, decision-making, and self-monitoring. Here’s the kicker: they work the same way no matter what language you speak or what setting you work in. They’re universal, trainable, and often overlooked in interpreter training.
At a time when AI tools increasingly replicate surface-level language tasks, these human cognitive competencies remain the cornerstone of accurate, ethical interpreting. This session shines a spotlight on those often-overlooked mental muscles and why strengthening them can transform the way you work.
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) has spent more than a decade studying interpreter performance through ongoing Job Task Analyses—research that defines what interpreters do on the job. In 2023, CCHI took this work to another level by asking a different question: how do interpreters think while they do it? This led to the groundbreaking EtoE Project, which identified ways to measure the mental skills that support competent interpreting across all languages.
This isn’t your typical sit-and-listen session. Join us for interactive exercises that give your linguistic skills a rest while strengthening your interpreting mind.
Transforming IEP Interpreting: The Super Power of Pre & Post-Session Strategies, I
Milly Golia
In the evolving field of interpreting for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), incorporating pre- and post-session discussions has become a transformative practice that enhances communication between families and improves outcomes for students with diverse needs. This presentation explores the vital role of pre-session preparation and post-session reflection in the interpreting process, emphasizing their impact on interpreters and educational stakeholders.
Using best practices, we will examine how pre-sessions create a stronger foundation for all involved and why this is essential from a cultural perspective. This collaborative method not only provides interpreters with crucial information but also promotes teamwork focused on effective communication. The presentation will also emphasize the value of post-session reflections, during which interpreters can evaluate their performance, gather feedback, and identify areas for growth.
Case studies will illustrate the benefits of this structured approach, demonstrating how it can lead to more accurate interpretation, fewer misunderstandings, and better advocacy for students. Attendees will participate in discussions and exercises designed to reinforce the importance of preparation and reflection in interpreting.
Ultimately, this presentation aims to empower interpreters and educators by demonstrating that pre- and post-session preparation can enhance the quality of IEP interpreting and foster an inclusive educational environment where every family has the opportunity to succeed.
Enhancing Professionalism and Client Relationships in a Globalized World, I
Sarah Wheeler
In an increasingly interconnected world, linguistic precision alone is not enough. This interactive workshop introduces the ECCI Model™ (Emotional and Cultural Competency for Interpreters), a research-backed framework designed to help interpreters navigate the complex emotional and cultural dynamics of their work. Participants will explore five core domains of excellence: Emotional Awareness, Cultural Humility, Professional Boundaries, Stress Management, and Ethical Decision-Making. Through real-world scenarios and guided self-assessment using the ECCI Rubric™, attendees will learn practical strategies to reduce burnout, enhance professional relationships, and elevate the quality of their interpreting services. Join us to discover how “soft skills” are actually the hard core of professional practice.
Varieties of U.S. English: Enhancing Interpreter Comprehension, I
Sarah Stockler-Rex
A large part of an interpreter’s workload is processing and rendering English messages into the target language. Whether working onsite or remotely, interpreters are likely to encounter different Englishes on the job, including those who speak English as a second language. This presentation will examine the main dialects of English spoken in the United States and how interpreters can train their ear to better comprehend them. This training will benefit native and non-native speakers of English (and everyone in between!) as we delve into the differences in U.S. English varieties including phonological, lexical, regional, and ethnic and/or cultural differences.