On Sept. 30, language professionals will gather internationally to recognize the work of those who translate text and interpret speech across the roughly 7,000 languages spoken in the world.
This year, the Orange County Department of Education will join in the festivities to host its first International Translation Day celebration for those who work in education. Organized by the Language Services unit at OCDE, the free event will welcome bilingual staff, community liaisons, interpreters and translators to be honored for their work in breaking down language barriers for students, families and school communities as a whole.
Hosted at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, the gathering will give attendees the opportunity to hear from leading communication experts while gaining best practices for ensuring clear communication within their work.
Translators, interpreters and school staff can sign up to attend by visiting the registration webpage.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow professionals, engage with diverse communities and enrich your skills while broadening your perspective,” said Natalia Abarca, program specialist in OCDE’s Language Services unit. “By participating in this vibrant celebration, translators and interpreters will stay up to date with evolving cultural contexts and expectations, keeping their services as relevant and impactful as ever.”
In addition, the OCDE team will facilitate dialogue between peers about how they might utilize artificial intelligence to fit the industry’s changing landscape.
During the celebration, translators and interpreters will take in a presentation from Daniel Tamayo, the chief interpreter and translator at GlobalTradu Language Services. Tamayo has supported international conferences with freelance language and editing services for over 20 years. A former translation and interpretation instructor at UC Riverside, Tamayo also leads trainings for professionals at educational institutions and public organizations.
In addition to coordinating meetup opportunities, the Language Services unit supports a countywide network of local education and language professionals by organizing trainings and an awards program to recognize those who go above and beyond.
OCDE’s International Translation Day celebration will be held on Sept. 30 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa. Those interested in attending the recognition event can learn more and register online.
For questions regarding event content, contact Natalia Abarca at nabarca@ocde.us. For information about registration, contact Angela Del Rosario at adelrosario@ocde.us.
The reception will be followed by OCDE’s eighth annual Interpreters and Translators Conference from Oct. 3 through Oct. 5.