Translator and Interpreter Training

Founded in 1971, Alumni’s Department of Translation and Interpretation is one of the longest-running and most respected training centers for T&I professionals in Brazil. Many of our former students have built successful careers in the areas of technical, legal, financial and literary translation, and are also active in the highly competitive segment of simultaneous interpretation, which has its epicenter in São Paulo.

The demand for specialists in translation and interpretation is growing around the world, but there are few institutions that offer high-quality training for the opportunities available today in a globalized job market. Alumni’s Training Course for Translators and Interpreters follows in the footsteps of similar institutions in the U.S. and Europe, where T&I courses are usually offered as graduate programs. The course lasts 4 semesters, during which the students have a chance to learn advanced techniques of translation and interpretation, and to benefit from the guidance provided by a faculty of experienced translators and interpreters who also act as career counselors.

The admission exam for Alumni’s Training Course for Translators and Interpreters has two sittings a year, at the beginning of each semester, and is made up of oral and written tests.  Portuguese and English have equal weight in the entrance process, which looks to identify the candidates with the best domain of both languages in terms of structure, oral skills and familiarity with the written word. Besides translating two pieces of non-technical text, the students answer vocabulary and grammar questions in English and Portuguese. Pre-requisites include being at least 21 years of age and having an intermediate level of computer knowledge, especially with Microsoft Office.

Once accepted into the program, students have the following schedule ahead of them – in the first three levels, classes meet 3 times a week; in the fourth level (specialization), twice a week:

• 1st semester – Level 1
  
  
  • Translation (Eng→Port): Two weekly translation classes focused on idiomatic expressions, false cognates, special difficulties and translation of general texts. One weekly Portuguese class emphasizing special difficulties, spelling, style, language structure, etc.
    
    
  • Translation (Port→Eng): Two weekly classes of translation involving deeper studies of the structure of the English language, style and spelling, in general texts. One weekly class of introduction to intermittent interpretation and memory exercises.
    
    
• 2nd semester – Stage 2
  
  
  • Translation (Eng→Port): One weekly class of translation of semi-technical texts in the fields of economics, medicine, humanities and engineering.  One weekly Portuguese class geared towards the study of special difficulties, reading comprehension and interpretation.  One introductory class in consecutive interpretation per week, including memory exercises and conference terminology.
    
    
  • Translation (Port→Eng): One weekly class of translation of semi-technical texts, in which spelling, structure, and style are perfected. Fields covered may include mechanics, medicine and the environment. One weekly class of intermittent and consecutive interpretation practice. One weekly class of Translation Memory – computer programs that help the translation process – in which various programs available on the market are presented.
    
    
• 3rd semester – Stage 3
  
  
  • Introduction to simultaneous interpretation, with weekly practice in the booth. Translation of texts in the fields of humanities, including literature, philosophy, history and sociology, and an introduction to translation of technical texts. Weekly classes of consecutive interpretation of lectures delivered in class by invited speakers and by the students themselves, looking at specific vocabulary (in these classes, an attempt is made to offer a balanced amount of lectures in both directions: Portuguese-English and English-Portuguese).
    
    
    
• 4th semester: Specialization
  
  
  • Students are directed, depending on their inclinations and abilities, to the courses of translation or interpretation – or, in some cases, to both courses simultaneously (classes 4 times per week).
  • Translation: written translation of technical texts in the fields of economics, law, and science (2 times per week)

Interpretation: simultaneous interpretation practice in the booth (for English and Portuguese) covering technical, scientific, and legal areas, as well as conference interpretation. (2 times per week).