Educational Conference Schedule: Saturday & Sunday

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Giovanna Carriero-Contreras

A code of ethics defines the core values and principles guiding professionals in making decisions in complex scenarios. For interpreters, these codes promote critical thinking, responsible judgment, and ethical navigation of professional dilemmas—moving beyond rigid adherence to rules. The AAITE National Codes of Ethics introduced a framework rooted in Communicative Autonomy and Cultural Awareness, highlighting the importance of ethical decision-making and critical thinking. But how do these principles hold up against the growing perception that AI tools can perform interpreting tasks better and cheaper? Does the ethical behavior expected of interpreters extend to the use and implementation of AI tools? Join this thought-provoking, interactive session to explore these questions and examine the intersection of human judgment, professional ethics, and emerging technologies. Discover where interpreting ethics stand in a rapidly shifting legal and technological landscape.

Objectives:  Attendees will understand the key ethical principles that guide interpreters in their role as providers of language access, highlighting their critical contribution to ensuring effective communication within the broader legal framework. They will learn to navigate ethical dilemmas ensuring that professional standards and human judgment remain central to the interpreter’s work. They will also develop an informed response to explain why artificial intelligence databases, despite their efficiency and vast data capabilities, cannot replicate the nuanced judgment, cultural sensitivity, and ethical decision-making inherent to the human mind in interpreting.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Nestor Wagner

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into interpreter training is transforming the educational process by blending human expertise with advanced technology. Online training platforms now feature AI-powered evaluation tools that provide real-time feedback, delivering performance assessments within three minutes of completing a practice session. During seminars, AI actively engages with students, asking them how much they have learned at specific intervals. Based on their responses, the AI immediately identifies areas that need further review, enabling students to address gaps in understanding while still engaged in the learning process. Additionally, trainees can create their own interpreting and translating exercises, receiving instant, tailored feedback to refine their skills. This innovative approach personalizes and accelerates interpreter training, fostering deeper learning and greater confidence in professional performance.

Objectives: In this session, we will showcase AI’s Role in interpreter training, explore how AI is enhancing the educational process by blending human expertise with advanced technology, and highlight real-time feedback mechanisms.

We will demonstrate AI-powered tools that provide instant performance assessments within minutes of practice sessions.  We’ll promote interactive learning, examine how AI engages students during seminars, assessing progress and identifying areas for improvement in real-time.  We’ll enable personalized training and discuss how trainees can create customized exercises and receive tailored feedback to refine their interpreting and translating skills. We’ll foster efficient skill development and showcase how AI accelerates the learning process, enabling students to address gaps and improve with greater confidence. Finally, we’ll encourage adoption of innovative tools and provide practical insights for trainers and institutions to integrate AI into their training programs for more effective learning outcomes.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: David Gilbert, Ph.D.

Commenting on the quality of translated intercept evidence a Supreme Court judge said: “The acceptance of translations by Courts and juries involves a leap of faith in every case; but here the perils involved in the leap have been exposed.” The courts heavily rely on interpreters and translators to convey evidence in English at an acceptable standard to realize due process. The complex nature of Forensic Transcription Translation (FTT) presents several significant challenges that differ from other forms of translation. This session explores who determines acceptable standards in the field of FTT, how acceptable standards are defined, how they are measured, and how they are applied. An overview of the complexities of court interpreting is provided where translated intercept evidence as a product of FTT is presented in court. Using selected case studies, the session demonstrates the extent to which the court relies on interpreters and translators to maintain the integrity of the chain of evidence. Ethical issues are addressed, and the impact of disruptive technologies on FTT is explored.

Objectives: Attendees will learn how to use terminology used in the field of forensic transcription translation (FTT). The quality required of FTT is explored enabling attendees to determine how acceptable standards are defined and applied. The session will explain how to negotiate difficulties when interpreting extracts of translated intercept evidence in court. Ethical issues associated with FTT are explored enabling attendees to identify ethical issues and apply professional obligations in different situations. The session explores the difference between FTT and other forms of expert evidence, enabling attendees to understand what the courts require of interpreters and translators who are called as expert witnesses. Future technologies are explored providing attendees with an appreciation of disruptive technologies likely to affect the field of FTT.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: English with some Spanish/Indigenous Language Examples
PRESENTER: Luis Lopez Resendiz

There are over 500 Indigenous languages spoken in Latin America. Why is it then, that the popular narrative continues to assume that mostly everyone from south of the US-Mexican border speaks Spanish and this remains the default language when rendering service? This is not by accident but by design. During this presentation, you will learn from Indigenous experts in the field about the diversity of Indigenous languages, best practices, and techniques for identifying Indigenous languages. You will learn about case studies that demonstrate how this dominant narrative has fatal consequences and the efforts of Indigenous peoples to fight for their language rights.

Objectives: Participants will learn about the diversity of Indigenous languages and techniques for identifying these languages. They will walk away with the knowledge to apply these techniques in their everyday work. Participants will learn about best practices for interpretation when working with Indigenous interpreters and the community. This will include unique situations that may arise when working with Indigenous populations and how to navigate them. The presentation will include historical context of migration and displacement of Indigenous populations and how this contributes to historical traumas that arise when working with Indigenous populations. Participants will learn how to recognize and work through these challenges.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Lili Selden

Interpreters in every sphere work under stressful circumstances and rely on their minds and bodies to help facilitate effective communication. The stresses we experience stem from the cognitive load of balancing the need for complete and accurate renditions, on the one hand, and the need to be as inobtrusive and efficient as possible, on the other hand, while also hearing accurately and speaking clearly for hours on end, often with only brief breaks to decompress. There is also a moderate to high risk of vicarious trauma for interpreters working on assignments involving natural disasters, conflict or injustice of all kinds, debilitating health issues, and so on. It is essential, therefore, for interpreters to continually monitor their mental, emotional, and physical health, and to take care of their “instrument.” This 90-minute, language-neutral, hands-on workshop is co-presented by an Armenian<>English conference interpreter and vocal coach, and an English<>Japanese legal and community interpreter. The presenters discuss the research documenting symptoms of vicarious trauma in interpreters. They also share best practices for routine self-care, ranging from vocal exercises to ensure healthy vocal cords, accounting for the risk of hearing loss and acoustic shock from unsuitable headsets when interpreting remotely or in the booth, and prioritizing one’s mental and emotional health both to ensure delivery of reliable services during potentially traumatic assignments and to be able to de-stress afterward. Attendees will learn about, and practice together, a range of vocal, breathing, visualization, and other exercises. Ultimately, this session will equip novice and experienced interpreters with an array of self-care tools to enhance their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Objectives:  Attendees will have their memories refreshed, both about the cognitive and emotional demands placed on their minds and bodies when working as conference, legal, and community interpreters, and the ways in which prioritizing self-care allows them to decompress after particularly taxing assignments. Attendees will leave the workshop with a range of tools for maintaining their mental, emotional, and physical health.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
MODERATOR: Ellen Wingo

Symbols play a crucial role in effective note-taking for consecutive interpretation, enabling interpreters to capture key concepts quickly and efficiently. However, many interpreters find it challenging to come up with symbols, incorporate them into their note-taking, and apply them consistently. This session is designed to demystify the use of symbols in note-taking, offering attendees a deeper understanding of how to develop their own collections of symbols and integrate them effectively into their practice. In this interactive workshop, the presenter will share her own symbols and the systems that she uses to create and connect them in her notes. She will introduce a classification method that ranks symbols by their efficiency and origin, creating families of related symbols and systematic ways to generate them that reduce the cognitive load of note-taking. This will help participants identify which symbols are most effective for their personal style. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will experiment with various symbols and strategies, gaining insight into how symbols can streamline note-taking, extend working memory, and reduce cognitive load. By the end of the session, participants will have practical strategies for refining their note-taking systems, improving both speed and accuracy in consecutive interpretation. This language-neutral workshop is open to all interpreters seeking to enhance their understanding and use of symbols in consecutive interpretation, offering valuable tools for boosting efficiency and effectiveness in their practice.

Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will learn how to streamline note-taking, extend working memory, and reduce cognitive load through the use of symbols. They will have a deeper understanding of how to effectively integrate symbols into their note-taking systems. Attendees will gain practical strategies for developing and refining their own symbols, tailored to their personal style, which will allow them to improve speed, accuracy, and overall efficiency in consecutive interpretation.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Mary Aponte

Even though team interpreting is widely considered best practices for longer judicial proceedings, its use is still questioned in certain courts. Participants attending this session will learn what the established practices are, how to implement them effectively and how to handle challenges encountered in putting team interpreting into practice. Participants will have an opportunity to learn and discuss best practices, share their experiences and gauge their ability to work as a team via three rounds of an interactive game. Participants will also have the option of taking part in a live debate on contentious topics that arise during the presentation. Now is the time for interpreters to reexamine their current approach to team interpreting and strategize for increased use of standard procedures in order to maximize accuracy and ensure due process!

Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to define team interpreting, recognize its indispensability in certain judicial proceedings, and apply established techniques for successful outcomes. They will also understand who benefits from team interpreting and why its use is essential.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Agustin de la Mora

Even though the consecutive mode allows interpreters to hear the entire utterance and take notes before speaking, interpreters may still find themselves forgetting details or confusing sequences of events. That is where the essential skill of memory comes in. Join Agustin de la Mora for this practical class on developing your memory skills with proven techniques that you can start using immediately. Learn how notetaking and memory compliment and support each other, as well as how to keep lists, sequences of events and more in order without writing a single word.

Objectives:  Participants will improve consecutive interpreting skills and simultaneous interpreting skills.  This session will improve their confidence in stored memories and the ease of encoding and decoding remembered information.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Javier Castillo, Jr.

In this entertaining and thought-provoking session, attendees will have a chance to do some introspection and find ways to stay ahead of life’s different curves. In the face of changing landscapes, with AI, and other threats and opportunities, it’s important to prepare and think about the different ways that one can future-proof one’s profession.

Objectives: Attendees will learn ways of thinking about their current and future situations and find ways to be prepared to provide the highest level services for their clients in a rapidly changing environment.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Judy Jenner

Traditional tablets have long been used for note-taking in interpreting, but they are heavier than many interpreters would like them to be. For quite some time, no good alternatives to old-school non-environmentally friendly paper notebooks were available, but the lightweight Remarkable tablet has changed all that. It’s a sleek, Norwegian-designed tablet that’s designed exclusively for note-taking and has revolutionized the way many interpreters take notes. Join the presenter, who is an early adapter of Remarkable, for a presentation of features of this device, which also allows you to upload your notes, convert them to text, annotate documents, and more. Attendees will be able to use the Remarkable during the session.

Objectives:  Attendees will learn the basic functions of a new piece of hardware that they may never have had before and will also be able to use the presenter’s device to test it. Attendees will be made aware of the advantages — as well as limitations — a digital device that is lightweight and versatile and eliminates the need for paper.

LEVEL: Beginner
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTERS: Jamilla de Mistro

This workshop is for current or aspiring self-employed professionals (i.e. freelance interpreters and translators). The topic? The behind-the-scenes grunt work that stops those freelancers from feeling satisfied. We are our own bosses, so how can we be the best boss possible? Through partner dialogues and class discussions, we’ll explore what our ultimate business goals are and how, practically, to reach them. Topics covered will include goal-setting and time management, stress reduction and budgeting.

Objectives: Participants will leave armed with the tools they need to make their self-employment as successful and fulfilling as possible. During this session, participants will understand best business practices, career planning, and mapping success for linguists and language professionals.  We’ll talk about how to grow your business, how to set your rates, how to calculate and negotiate, and how to get more clients.  The session will also cover marketing and promotion for your translation and interpretation business, which includes advertising yourself and setting yourself up to be the interpreter the client always calls while watching for ethics pitfalls.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PANELISTS: To be announced
MODERATOR: Bill Rivers

The revocation of Executive Order 13166 represents a pivotal shift in federal language access policy with potential far-reaching implications for millions of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals nationwide. This panel will examine the immediate and long-term consequences of this decision in light of the legal bases for language access as a civil right, while exploring adaptive strategies and potential pathways forward in this changing policy landscape.

LEVEL: Intermediate/Advanced
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Katty Kaufman

Interpreting assignments often take us far beyond the courtroom, from depositions to remote meetings and travel-based assignments in non-legal contexts. This session explores innovative, practical strategies for using portable interpreting equipment effectively in these diverse settings. Attendees will learn how to adapt equipment to meet the unique demands of each scenario, troubleshoot common technical challenges, and ensure high-quality sound and performance under varied conditions. The session will provide actionable tips on managing portable equipment in unconventional and noisy environments. Additionally, we’ll address ethical considerations, such as confidentiality when using remote systems with transcription, and balancing client expectations with professional integrity in an array of settings. Through real-world examples and a discussion on best practices, this session will empower interpreters to confidently handle any assignment, regardless of location. Whether you’re navigating a complex deposition, supporting communication at a business conference, or managing a multilingual meeting while traveling, “Equipment Tricks and Hacks: Beyond the Courtroom” will leave you with the skills and ethical awareness to elevate your interpreting practice.

Objectives: Attendees will gain practical strategies to effectively utilize portable interpreting equipment in diverse settings, ensuring optimal performance and adaptability across varied environments. They will develop the ability to troubleshoot common technical challenges, maintaining high-quality sound and performance even in unconventional or noisy conditions. Through an exploration of real-world scenarios, participants will learn to uphold professional ethical standards, including safeguarding confidentiality and balancing client demands with integrity. By mastering these techniques and best practices, interpreters will leave equipped to confidently manage assignments ranging from depositions to multilingual meetings, enhancing their professional versatility and effectiveness.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: Athena Matilsky

This workshop is for current or aspiring self-employed professionals (i.e. freelance interpreters and translators). The topic? The behind-the-scenes grunt work that stops those freelancers from feeling satisfied. We are our own bosses, so how can we be the best boss possible? Through partner dialogues and class discussions, we’ll explore what our ultimate business goals are and how, practically, to reach them. Topics covered will include goal-setting and time management, stress reduction and budgeting. Participants will leave armed with the tools they need to make their self-employment as successful and fulfilling as possible.

Objectives:Participants will explore the challenges of entrepreneurship, obtaining tools and strategies for running a successful and fulfilling business.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PANELISTS:  Giovanna Carriero-Contreras (AAITE) , Janis Palma (NAJIT), Christina Green (ATA)

Explore how ethical codes from various organizations (e.g., ATA, NAJIT, AAITE) guide interpreters and translators across diverse settings, fostering an understanding of the core values across specializations and specialization-specific nuances of ethical principles.

Objectives:

Promote Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration – Facilitate an exchange of perspectives among association leaders and language professionals, emphasizing the collaborative development of ethical guidelines that address the complexities of working across multiple specializations and settings.

Identify and Address Ethical Challenges- Develop strategies to navigate potential conflicts and challenges posed by differing ethical frameworks, ensuring interpreters and translators uphold ethical responsibilities while serving diverse communities effectively.

LEVEL: All Levels
LANGUAGE: Language Neutral
PRESENTER: David Proano Celi

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the landscape of language services. This 90-minute session aims to equip interpreters and translators with a comprehensive understanding of AI’s capabilities, challenges, and potential. We begin with a live demonstration of GPT-powered interpretation, highlighting how advanced voice technology facilitates seamless language conversion. Following this, we analyze findings from key reports, including sentiment and future expectations of AI adoption in the interpreting and translation sectors. Attendees will gain valuable insights from comparative studies on how AI tools are perceived, providing a snapshot of how the field is responding to technological advancements. The session also draws on examples from the legal and medical fields, how attorneys are learning how to leverage AI tools into their workflow, including reports on how AI could be used to automate a large part of legal work, and summaries of AI applications in medical workflows. These examples will encourage interpreters and translators to rethink how such tools could enhance their professional roles. Finally, we present findings from various research studies and our own original tests on AI’s performance in legal interpretation. We address practical questions about accuracy, bias, and reliability, while also exploring how AI’s interpreting performance has evolved over time and its effectiveness in complex fields, such as legal interpretation. This structured presentation will provide attendees with knowledge and tools for navigating AI’s evolving role in interpreting and translation.

Objectives: Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how GPT and other AI tools operate in the context of language interpretation and translation, enabling them to comprehend the technology’s functionality and potential applications. They will explore recent research findings on AI’s role in language services, gaining insights into its advancements and challenges. Through examples from the medical and legal fields, participants will learn practical strategies for effectively leveraging AI tools in professional settings. Additionally, attendees will evaluate AI’s strengths, limitations, and its evolution in interpreting performance, with a specific focus on its current capabilities and effectiveness in legal interpretation.