Navigating New Horizons: Reflections on ATA64 as a First-Time Attendee

By Luyi Yang

Photo: ATA Chinese Language Division Dinner at ATA64

October spells excitement for language professionals based in North America, as the American Translators Association Annual Conference usually takes place around this time. In late October 2023, I flew to sunny Florida, where I attended the Annual Conference for the first time while enjoying the extra perk of escaping the cold Canadian weather for a few days.

They say that Annual Conference attendees should be prepared and have clear goals in mind for what they want to achieve during their visit. While there is a lot of truth to that, I personally did not have a pre-determined checklist and approached the visit with an open mind. I had never been to a professional gathering of this size, and, as an introvert and newcomer to the profession and to ATA, I felt a little anxious about the social aspect. I figured I’d at least learn some new tricks at conference sessions, and, maybe, hopefully, make a couple of friends.

The four days at ATA64 were action-packed. The conference ran on a full schedule, featuring multiple interesting and educational sessions happening concurrently throughout the day, along with various casual gatherings in the evenings and morning group activities such as yoga. I began each day deciding which lectures to sit in and looking for colleagues to exchange notes for the sessions we would have to miss. Some of the sessions I went to were thoughtfully crafted for new freelancers who needed a bit of additional support; some were forward-looking and explored the future of the translation and interpretation professions, while others were in-depth and technical discussions. I walked out of these informative sessions with pages of notes and lots to think about and implement in my young career.

While the conference sessions alone justified the cost and the trip, my fondest memories came from the “extracurricular” activities. I saw a nail-biting basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons, got to know my fellow Chinese Language Division members as I stuffed my face at the division dinner, navigated Little Havana, and capped the whole experience off with a Ferris Wheel ride and a fabulous dinner at a Peruvian restaurant, all with colleagues whom I now call my new friends. I found opportunities to have longer conversations with a few colleagues, conversations through which I got to know them better and vice versa. It was these moments of connection that made me think, “I’m really glad I came to ATA64.” My most memorable moments all came from activities that I somehow wound up participating in, and I think this illustrates a key point to having a good time at the Annual Conference: know what you want, but also keep an open mind and be spontaneous.

I also wrote the certification exam in-person at the conference. Having previously taken the online, on-demand exam, I found the welcoming and cordial atmosphere of the in-person version more comfortable and relaxing. I would recommend the in-person exam at the Annual Conference to colleagues interested in obtaining certification and who don’t mind arriving one day early.

Aside from building connections, perhaps my biggest take-away from ATA64 is that the T&I industry is a community of many diligent and supportive professionals who are there to facilitate and celebrate each other’s growth—and I’m not saying this because they are the ones who will be reading this post. As a new freelancer, I felt uncertain about where I was headed in my career and oftentimes thought I was alone. But that sentiment does not accurately reflect the truth. Through meeting and talking to people who have been where I am, who found their own paths to success, and who weren’t hesitant to share advice, I am beginning to realize I am not alone. I felt supported.

More importantly, from what the colleagues and mentors at ATA64 told me, I saw the bigger picture. A hardworking and caring community of professionals who are constantly improving their work and looking out for one another means that the T&I industry will continue to grow and thrive. The work done by the trailblazers in the industry is so much more than just translating and interpreting; it is also educating clients, negotiating better conditions and better pay, communicating interests, as well as improving efficiency and accuracy. The industry is continuously evolving with the times, which means the pie is growing bigger with more opportunities for everyone. Knowing that I am in this ever-advancing industry, with wonderful role models to look up to, gave me the assurance that this is the right profession for me. I gained new aspirations from my ATA64 experience.

Standing under the blazing sun in Miami in the cacophony of urban opulence, I felt a little lost. But beyond the initial dizziness of being in a hustling and bustling new environment, I felt grounded, invigorated, and alive. That, incidentally, is the same way I feel about the journey I am embarking on as a language professional after my first Annual Conference.

Luyi Yang is a freelance Chinese-English interpreter and translator based in Toronto, Ontario. She holds a master’s degree in conference interpreting (MCI) from York University and is an ATA-certified translator from Chinese into English. Aside from being a language nerd, Luyi is an avid home cook and rock climber. She is also a two-time Canadian national champion in recurve archery.

Luyi’s LinkedIn profile | Luyi’s Website

 

Edited by Sijin Xian.