Resources–Training resources
Wisconsin two & four year colleges with interpreting and/or translation programs
Spoken languages
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
School of Continuing Education
Legal Interpreting Certificate
Website
The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, School of Continuing Education offers a certificate in Legal Interpreting. This new one-year program trains Spoken Language and Sign Language interpreters together to enhance the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities for this specialized profession. The live online/in-person training program is comprised of seven courses that run over a 12-month period for a total of 280 interactive hours. CEHs: 280, RID CEU's: 28.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lorena Terando, Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201
Ph: (414) 229-5968
Email: terando@uwm.edu
Website
The Graduate Certificate in Translation is designed for those who have earned an undergraduate degree, have either significant industry experience or post-graduate degrees, and are interested in careers in the language-services industry. The Graduate Certificate can be completed in English to Spanish, or Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish to English.
Viterbo University
Certificate in Community Interpreting
Community Interpreting Certificate
Coordinator: Michelle Marie Pinzl, Associate Professor
English and World Languages
900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601
Ph: (608) 738-8751
Email: mmpinzl@viterbo.edu
Website
The Viterbo University Community Interpreter Certificate strives to produce qualified interpreters so that non-English speakers can effectively communicate with the providers of public services, thereby facilitating full and equal access to legal, health, educational, government, and social services.
Waukesha County Technical College
Language Interpreter for Health Services Program
Jessica Rolon, Program Advisor
800 Main St., Waukesha, WI 53702
Ph: (262) 691-5400
Email: jrolon1@wctc.edu
Website
In the Language Interpreter for Health Services program, students gain the knowledge needed to provide consecutive or simultaneous medical language interpretation services for limited English proficient patients and families.
Interpreters are skilled in spoken and written translation and interpretation as well as the nonverbal communication and nuances of various dialects and subcultures. Students prepare for jobs such as medical interpreter, language services specialist, interpreter or lab scheduler/Spanish bilingual.
Milwaukee Area Technical College (Downtown)
Medical Interpreter Diploma – School of Health Sciences
700 W. State St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Ph: (414) 297-MATC
Email: info@matc.edu
Website
Interpreters form a vital link in providing better healthcare. This two-semester program prepares students for employment to facilitate communication between patients with limited English proficiency and medical personnel. Classes are taught at MATC’s Health Education Center (HEC), 1311 North Sixth Street.
Sign language
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Interpreter Training Program (ITP)
Department of Exceptional Education, Enderis Hall 610
2400 E. Harford Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211
Jen Hayes, ITP/ASL Studies Advisor
Ph: (414) 229-5251
Email: jrhayes@uwm.edu
Website
UWM's program goes beyond teaching students about language, culture and how to facilitate conversations, working to develop well-rounded interpreters who value and consider others' perspectives, who are culturally sensitive and empathetic practitioners who continually strive to better themselves and the interpreting profession.
Students who do not currently have a degree can complete the Interpreter Training Program Certificate as part of an undergraduate degree. If a student already has a bachelor's degree, he/she can complete interpreter training as a post-baccalaureate certificate. In either case, before being admitted to the professional cohort, one must successfully complete six semesters of American Sign Language (ASL) and other course prerequisites.
Organizations with interpreter training programs
Wisconsin
Bilingual Training Consultants
P.O. Box 354, Jefferson, WI 53549
Ph: (262) 617-0692
Email: info@bilingualtrainingconsultants.com
Website
Medical interpreting skills training
Equal Footing for Limited English Proficient Persons
Southern Wisconsin Interpreting and Translation Services, Ltd. (SWITS)
P.O. Box 196, Delavan, WI 53115
Ph: (262) 740-2590
Email: southern@swits.us
Website
Equal Footing lays the foundation necessary to sit for the national certification exam for medical interpreters.
Ragir Consulting
1812 North MLK Jr Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Ph: (414) 219-9003
Website
In partnership with the Springfield College, Ragir Consulting offers a variety of Medical Interpreter Training sessions at the Milwaukee Campus.
Other states
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
Cross-Cultural Interpreting Services
4753 N. Broadway, Suite 614, Chicago, IL 60640
Ph: (773) 751-4094
Website
Cross-Cultural Interpreting Services (CCIS) of Heartland Alliance has an outstanding reputation for interpreting training! Since its establishment in 1996, CCIS has trained over 1,000 professionals in the intricacies of interpreting—and a high proportion of these trainees have gone on to enjoy successful careers as medical interpreters.
Cross Cultural Communications, LLC
10015 Old Columbia Road, Suite B-215, Columbia, MD 21046
Ph: (410) 312-5599
Email: ccc@cultureandlanguage.net
Website
High-quality training for professional interpreting: for freelance interpreters, staff interpreters and bilingual staff, with a special focus on medical, legal, educational and community interpreting. Cultural competence training: how to overcome language and cultural barriers to improve services to linguistically and culturally diverse residents, with a special focus on bridging cultures, how to work with interpreters and language access.
Cross-Cultural Health Care Program
4700 42nd Ave SW, Suite #580, Seattle, WA 98116
Ph: (206) 860-0329
Email: bridgingthegap@xculture.org
Website
Bridging the Gap is a renowned pioneer in the field of medical interpreter training. For over 20 years, Bridging the Gap has been preparing bilingual individuals to work as effective, competent, and professional medical interpreters. The training covers essential topics, such as interpreter roles and ethics, interpreting skills, medical terminology, the impact of culture, and an overview of the health care system.
Online interpreter training programs
De la Mora Interpreter Training
Augustin de la Mora
Ph: (407) 677-4155
Email: de_la_Mora_Interpreter_training@mail.vresp.com
Website
Interpreter Education Online
Bromberg & Associates, LLC
Jinny Bromberg
Ph: (313) 871-0080
Email: jinny@InterpreterEducationOnline.com
Website
SCSI Media
10012 Norwalk Blvd. Suite 120, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Ph: (800) 625-6222
Website
New Mexico Center for Language Access (NMCLA)
Paula Couselo
Ph: (505) 270-0206 or (800) 894-5919, ext. 680
Email: paulacou@unm.edu
Website
Practice materials
ACEBO
P.O. Box 710113, San Diego, CA 92171
Ph: (831) 455-1507
Email: mailto:info@aceboproducts.com
Website
ACEBO was created to help foreign-language interpreters hone their skills and prepare themselves for the demanding work of interpreting in court, as well as other areas. Whether used as a text book for an interpretation course, individually to prepare for a certification exam, or as a handy reference for the seasoned professional, ACEBO products are designed to help you realize your maximum potential as an interpreter.
De la Mora Interpreter Training
P.O. Box 677922, Orlando, Florida 32867
Ph: (407) 677-4155
Email: answers@dlmit.com
Website
Derived from actual court proceedings, these CD sets come in two parts: An audio CD with seven professionally recorded tracks, and an interactive CD-ROM with instructions, scripts, and additional resources. There are two different "flavors" or sets of Spanish exercises, and also a language-neutral version for interpreters of all languages.
National Center for State Courts
Language Access Services Section
Justin Apperson
2425 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22201
Ph: (703) 841-5624
Email: j2apperson@ncsc.org
Website
Practice and self-study materials which include legal glossaries in other languages, practice oral exam and other self-assessment tools.
ChinaSona Foundation
Samuel Chong
401 N. Garfield Ave. Ste 1, Alhambra, CA 91801
Ph: (626) 282-9186
Email: chinasonaorg@gmail.com
Website
Sample CD for Chinese/English bilinguals to prepare for their court interpreter oral exam
Court TV
Website
IN SESSION (representing Court TV trial coverage) is the only television network to serve as a window into the American justice system.
Programming consists of live coverage of criminal and civil trials from around the country, as well as expert analysis from the network's award-winning legal journalists. The network has covered more than 950 trials since its inception and is considered the leading media outlet for trial coverage by many in and out of the courtroom.
With nearly 90,000 hours of raw courtroom footage, including many high-profile celebrity cases, IN SESSION (representing Court TV trial coverage) has covered both criminal and civil trials. The archive contains courtroom action from opening statements to verdict and sentencing. You can practice interpreting skills while watching actual court trials.
Speech Pool
Website
A dynamic, collaborative multilingual website for interpreters to exchange practice material in the form of video clips to practice.