MiTiN's 2009 seminar program starts with an opportunity for new members to learn from their seasoned counterparts. Prospective members, new members, and veteran members alike will benefit from the  discussion. Panelists will touch on the benefits of MiTiN and tips relating to starting and moving ahead in the translation and interpretation field. The activity will be held at the Suzuki-Myers Barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi.

ATA Certification Exam -- Grand Rapids, May 16, 2009

This year MiTiN will again proctor two sittings of the American Translators Association certification exams, the first in Grand Rapids, and the second in Novi.

The Grand Rapids exam will take place on Saturday May 16, 2009, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the following location:

Meijer Heart Center, Spectrum Health
100 Michigan Street, NE, Room 8811
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Click here for a map to the location.

For information on registering for the exam, including the eligibility requirements, please visit the ATA Certification Program page.

Joseph P. Carrier, a former patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, will speak on issues of intellectual property — both translation of intellectual property, and translation as intellectual property.

Mr. Carrier has extensive experience in patent, trademark, and copyright application preparation and prosecution, both domestic and international, including appeals; extensive intellectual property licensing and litigation.
 
It will be an excellent chance for members to hear from an expert in the field.

The workshop will take place at the Suzuki-Myers Barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 18, 2009.

This year, again, MiTiN is hosting its Court and Simultaneous Interpreting Workshop.  This is one of the most popular workshops of the year, and it will teach you a lot:

For simultaneous interpreting, you will be treated to some of the mental training that professional simultaneous interpreters go through. You will learn how people in the profession "split their brains" into at least three separately functioning parts, so as to accurately receive the input, translate it into output, and take notes, all at the same time. If you dare, you will also have a chance to test your mettle in a realistic simultaneous interpreting situation using actual professional equipment.

Where court interpreting is concerned, you'll learn about the skills necessary to function professionally in the field. You will also learn about state certification and testing requirements and about training programs to get you ready for them.

This year, the workshop will take place at:

Wayne State University, Oakland Center
33737 W 12 Mile Rd
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Click here for a map.

GROUP STUDY CIRCLES: MiTiN is now facilitating practice time for those preparing for the certification
exam. In preparation for the Spanish Oral Proficiency (May 21 & 22), several sessions have been scheduled.

Group size is limited to 4-6 students.

The three-hour block of time will be used to practice with an experienced interpreter sight translation, simultaneous, and consecutive.
There will be a minimal cost of $5 for MiTiN members ($45 for non MiTiN members which will cover membership fees).

To register call 313-461-3669.

May 16th
Royal Oak/Southfield Area 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Facilitator: Franco Gamero
Coffee Beanery, 28557 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI 48072
 

MiTiN's annual Barbecue Party will be held this year on July 19, on the grounds of Suzuki-Myers Associates, as always.

As every year, there will be fun for adults and kids:

MUSIC • GAMES • FOOD • WORKSHOPS • TAROT READINGS • AND MORE!
Main course provided. Bring a dish to share if you’d like. Bring your own beer, wine, etc.
Water and soft drinks provided.

You'll need to RSVP, so please download the event flyer for full details: http://www.mitinweb.org/Files.cfm

MiTiN will proctor the American Translators Association (ATA) certification exam again in Novi this year.

It will be held at the Suzuki-Myers Barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi from 1-4 p.m. on August 8, 2009.

Those wishing to take the test must be ATA members, and there are other eligibility requirements.  You can read the eligibility requirements and the FAQ, find out about all fees, and download an exam application form from the ATA website.

For a couple of years MiTiN has held an annual Trados workshop, which was scheduled for this year again.  Due to a speaker cancellation, this workshop has died and been reborn.

This year it will be a workshop covering both Trados 2009 and MemoQ, a competing, very smart CAT tool.

Trados 2009 now has a much different interface than previous versions of Trados have had, and it functions a bit more like MemoQ, DéjàVu or the new standalone version of Wordfast. Some love it, some hate it.  It has a two-column translation interface, and a document view, so that the translator can get an idea how the final document will look when it is exported.

MemoQ has had -- for a long time -- many of the features that are new to Trados, including the two-column interface, the document view, and others.  Unlike Trados, however, it allows the translator to create and manage glossaries without a separate program.  It also automatically maintains a concordance, and sometimes intelligently creates translations on its own, using glossary entries and parts of previous translations.

So if you're interested in seeing the new Trados, and in seeing one of its very good, but cheaper competitors, stop by the workshop this weekend:

Carl Sandburg Library
30100 7 Mile Road (East of Middlebelt, North of 7 Mile, between Middlebelt and Merriman)
Livonia, MI 48152

MiTiN will hold a workshop on deposition rules for interpreters and others who are interested. The speaker will be attorney Robert Dice.

Deposition Rules by Attorney Robert Dice.
Saturday, Sep. 19, 2009, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Location:

Royal Oak Public Library
222 E. 11 Mile Rd.
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Phone: (248) 246-3700
http://www.ropl.org/
(It is at Main Street and 11 Mile. Main Street becomes Livernois at 14 mile.

This workshop is kindly sponsored by one of MiTiN's corporate members TechWorld Language Solutions.  Check them out.  You may be able to work for them!

Robert E. Dice, Jr. has practiced law in the State of Michigan since 1986. He has handled a variety of civil cases as a representative of both plaintiffs and defendants.  He has attended numerous depositions that have required the skills of interpreters.  He will provide tips that should simplify this often-difficult situation and attempt to answer any questions you may have about interpreting deposition testimony.

Creating seamless communication in a global economy.
Accent acquisition and its versatile aspects.
Saturday, October 17, 2009, 1-3 pm

Address:
Accent Reduction Institute
The Godfrey Building, 3rd Floor
410 N. 4th Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI. 48104
Phone: (734) 665-2915
www.lessaccent.com
(It is blocks from the intersection Huron and S Main Street. Mind that Huron becomes
Washtenaw at east and Jackson Avenue at west)
The speakers will be Judy Raven, the Institute President, and Barb Niemann the Curriculum Director. The Institute is a prestigious establishment, its learning systems are in use at universities and Fortune 100 companies around the world. Among their clients are: Albion College; American Red Cross; City of Detroit; Comerica Bank; Compuware Corp.; Cornell University; Daimler Chrysler; DTE Energy; Ducker Worldwide; Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University; Federal Mogul Corporation; General Motors Corporation; JPMorgan Chase; Lockheed Martin; The National Education Association; Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital Residency Programs; United States Marine Corps; University of Toledo; and alike, over 70 of them. In their endeavor to partner with our organization they will host the event in their premises. Topics covered will be:

• ‘Accent Reduction’ as a misnomer: What it is and What it Isn’t
• The language acquisition process: speech pathology, applied linguistics, cognitive neurology
• Techniques for understanding American dialects and speech patterns
• Methods for easy comprehension of foreign language dialects and speech patterns
• Accent=Pronunciation=Speech Pattern: Everyone has an accent!
• Strategies for eliminating language barriers while maintaining our unique cultural identities
• The presentation is so tailored as to engage participants’ attention and participation in a fun, interactive, and interesting way.

The American Translators Association's 50th annual conference, held in New York City, October 28-31, was a once-in-a-life-time celebration. It was an opportunity to choose from 150 educational sessions, connect with almost 2,000 interpreters and translators from the US and around the world, and meet numerous vendors of translation services and technologies, as well as a number of potential employers.

At this event, MiTiN members who attended the conference report on the experience and information gleaned at the conference to those who did not attend.  Then there is an Indian lunch buffet and a bit of networking.  (All you pay is the reasonable price of your lunch.)

Location:

Priya Restaurant (map)
36600 Grand River Ave

Farmington Hills, MI 48335
Phone: (248) 615-7700

MiTiN will hold its Annual General Meeting to recap the year and discuss plans for the new year.

Time:  January 16, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Novi Public Library, 45245 W. 10 Mile Road, Novi, Michigan 48375

All members and friends are welcome!

As tradition has it, MiTiN members get together to celebrate the year-end holidays by informally talking shop and tasting food. Call it a Christmas party, a Hanukka party, a Bonenkai party, a Kwanzaa party, whatever you want. It's for the holidays, whatever your holidays are.

Bring a dish, or whatever you know how to bring, and celebrate with the rest of the group.  It should be fun.

Location:  Suzuki-Myers barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375

Staff members Jasmin Cooper, Jessica Chudy, Judyth Stayton and Christine Cutino of MiTiN corporate member Global LT will present best practices for working with translation and interpreting agencies. Topics covered will be:

• The “Ideal” Linguist
• Making Yourself Marketable
• Resumes -- the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Responding to Job Postings
• Communicating with Agencies
• Translation Technology
• Global LT’s Criteria for New Hires

At the same time the event is being held at Global LT Headquarters in Troy, it will be webcast, so even if you can't make it to the location, you can still attend.

Global LT Headquarters is at 1871 Woodslee Dr., Troy, MI 48083.

The presenters ask that you RSVP to translation_events@global-lt.com. Let them know whether you will be joining us at their Troy office or would like an invitation to attend the webinar instead.
 

MiTiN's 2010 seminar program starts with an opportunity for new members to learn from their seasoned counterparts. Prospective members, new members, and veteran members alike will benefit from the discussion. Panelists will touch on the benefits of MiTiN and tips relating to starting and moving ahead in the translation and interpretation field. The activity will be held at the Suzuki-Myers Barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi.

Calling all West Michigan MiTiN members (and anyone else who would like to join us)...
 
It's time for an event in West Michigan!  You are invited to join us for a dinner on Tuesday, February 23 at
El Arriero Restaurant in Grand Rapids at 6:30 p.m. We will enjoy what some members "in the know" report is
the "best Mexican food in Grand Rapids".  Our evening will include:
 
a) a short "meet and greet" time before dinner
 
b) an opportunity over dinner to get the scoop on the two events from the previous weekend in
    the Detroit area-
    ---Feb. 19   Global LT presents The Do's and Don'ts of working with translation agencies (Troy, MI)
    ---Feb. 20   MiTiN new member orientation and business seminar (Novi, MI)
 
    Members who attended these events will start discussion at each table on the topics that were presented there.
 
c) following dinner, a preview of upcoming West Michigan MiTiN events planned by the new steering committee,
    as well as the announcement of the first ever regional Interpreter Certification conference being planned by the
    MiTiN Board for this fall.
 
El Arriero is located at 2948 28th Street SE. in a strip mall approx. across from Woodland Mall.  We will
have our own room there and you may order from the menu.
 
Please feel free to invite others interested in the translation and interpretation professions.  We ask you to
RSVP to Leslie Mathews at lmathews50@gmail.com by Feb. 20.

Interpreting and translating at the scene of an accident, or in the subsequent court proceedings requires special knowledge and skill.

MiTiN president Franco Gamero is a biomechanical engineer, accident reconstruction expert and very experienced interpreter who will guide attendees through the "whats" in cases involving accidents.

An accident triggers a series of judicial documentation and procedures with many participants. This presentation will show the path that a traffic accident takes through the judicial process and the places where the participation of an interpreter is required. The presentation will explain the procedures, the role of the police, attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses, and interpreters, and the basic terminology that interpreters should be familiar with.

The presentation will include real examples and comments from judges, prosecutors and police officers as to what their expectations from an interpreter are.

Location: Royal Oak Public Library (map) (website), 222 East 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067-2633, (248) 246-3700
Date: March 13, 2010
Time: 1-3 p.m.

Location:  Voices for Health, Inc., 2851 Michigan Street NE Suite 104, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 (map)

Cost: Free for MiTiN Members, $5.00 for non-members

Admission will be limited, so please RSVP by March 19th to: mitinseminar@gmail.com  RE: ATA Certification Seminar.

On April 10th, in Novi, MiTiN's former president Izumi Suzuki-Myers will reprise her Grand Rapids presentation on taking the ATA translator certification exams.  The presentation will contain administrative details, the procedure for taking the exams, tips on what the exam's graders are looking for in a good translation, and more.

If you are considering taking the certification exams for any language, this seminar will help you understand what to expect and what to do.  Izumi has decades of translation experience, and is a grader for ATA certification exams, so she has special insight that is rare and very valuable to exam candidates.  We are lucky to have her nearby.

Location:  Suzuki-Myers barn, 46320 Ten Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375

Cost:  Free for MiTiN members, $5.00 for nonmembers.

 As has become a tradition every year, MiTiN is holding a basic workshop on computer-assisted translation tools, more commonly called "CAT tools".

We have been told over the years, that one reason translation agencies don't hire more locally is a lack of computer skills on the part of translators.  Use of CAT tools is now fundamental to anyone really serious about working in the translation profession, and for a skilled, dedicated translator, such tools open the way to more and better work.

This year the CAT tool we are featuring is MemoQ, but other widely used tools, such as DéjàVu, Star Transit and the newest version of Trados work on much the same principles.

So if you have never used a CAT tool before, this will be a useful introduction.  If you are already adept at using a different tool, you're welcome to come and compare.

The workshop will be taught by MiTiN vice president James Kirchner.

Place:  Plymouth District Library, 223 South Main Street, Plymouth, MI 48170-1637 (map)

Intellectual Property Translation
Non-Patent Related IP Translations

Presenter: Bruce Morita

Location: Ann Arbor Downtown Library, 343 South Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (map)

As every year, MiTiN is hosting its annual barbecue party in association with Suzuki, Myers & Associates, Ltd.

Open house from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Please come to the MiTiN Reception Table.

Bring a dish in a disposable container and/or some meat to grill. We have soft drinks, but if you want to drink beer or wine, please bring your own.

We have various performances, tarot card reading, sing-along, and much, much more. Bring your children — we have fun games for them. Rain or shine.

Please let us know if you are coming:  Download the RSVP form, and fax or mail it, or e-mail your RSVP to info@mitinweb.org.

MiTiN is again hosting a sitting of the ATA translator certification exams, proctored by Izumi Suzuki.

Place:  Novi Public Library, 45245 W 10 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375 (map)

The exam involves registration and a fee. You should be an ATA member for at least one month, and there is eligibility requirement. Read the registration requirements and other information at the ATA's examination information page.

On the day of the exam, if you have registered, please arrive at least 15 minutes beforehand.

• seasoned professional interpreters
• those looking into an interpreting career
• those who use interpreting services in courts, medicine, education and community service

• court interpreting
• medical interpreting
• community/educational interpreting

 IT’S SUMMER IN WEST MICHIGAN: TIME for A MiTiN PICNIC

                   When: SATURDAY, JUNE 26,  12:00-3:00 P.M.

                    Where:  Home of SANDRA STANLEY

                        1921 Riley St., Hudsonville MI 49426

                   What: Grilled meat + potluck buffet/ Lawn games (bocci, etc.)

                   Bring $5.00 for meat: We will grill the hamburgs, brats, etc.

Last names A-L: Bring potato salad or beans or appetizer

Last names M-Z: Bring green or fruit salad or dessert

(Think “deli-prepared” as an option)

          Soft drinks/ice tea /lemonade provided

                    Spouses and guests welcome

Please RSVP to Sandra at sandrastanley64@msn.com by June23.

Directions:

From Grand Rapids:  Take M-6 to 8th St exit. Turn left onto 8^th St. , go about a mile then turn right onto Riley. House is on the right, down the road. Or,

W  I-196 to M-6. Take the 8th St exit, which is the first exit, then turn right onto 8th, right on Riley, house on the right down the road.

From Holland: E I-196 to the Hudsonville Exit, right onto 32nd, left on Riley, house on the left, about a mile after passing the stop sign in Jamestown.

        Upcoming events to be announced, including first

MiTiN Conference on Court and Community Interpreting         

                on Saturday, October 2, 2010

As has become a tradition every year, MiTiN is holding a basic workshop on computer-assisted translation tools, more commonly called "CAT tools".  This time we're bringing the show to western Michigan.