By Sijin Xian
Photo by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash
A few weeks ago, my inbox buzzed with excitement as an email from my Spanish language colleague, Ale Duran, popped up. She extended an invitation to join her for a live chat on subtitling later this month on her YouTube channel, which will make me her first non-Spanish-speaking guest! How do I know Ale? She attended my presentation “Enjoy the Show: Tips for Enhancing Viewer Experience in Audiovisual Translation” at the 63rd Annual Conference of the American Translators Association back in 2022.
Yes, a presentation I delivered 16 months ago is still bearing fruit. Looking back, I am in awe of how the echoes of my ATA63 session have continued to reverberate in my professional life. The presentation has led to an encore performance for my Chinese Language Division colleagues (thanks to Rony Gao and the CLD events team), an educational video for the Audiovisual Division (shoutout to Marie Winnick), a published paper and presentation at the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (thank you, Ming Qian), and a talk for the Chicago Area Translators and Interpreters Association (thanks to Mingshu Zhang).
The ripple effect didn’t stop there. The session opened doors to projects that more than offset my conference expenses, paved the way for new career opportunities, and deepened my involvement within the ATA community—I am currently serving on the leadership councils of both CLD and AVD, as well as ATA’s Honors and Awards Committee.
If someone were to ask me what is the one thing that has significantly impacted my career and that I wish I had done sooner, I would emphatically say presenting at a professional conference. If you find yourself hesitating to step into the limelight and submit a proposal, consider this article a nudge of encouragement. I’ve outlined four scenarios where hesitation might take hold—each resonating with a part of my former self—and here’s what I wish I had known sooner.
IF YOU THINK: I HAVE NOTHING INSIGHTFUL TO SAY
What’s obvious to you may not be obvious to others. Think of something you’re good at, whether it’s baking, crocheting, or memorizing trivia. There is a high probability that you take the skill for granted because it comes so naturally to you. I, however, am terrible at all the above and would find your talent mind-boggling. The same goes for the topic or subject matter you are thinking of presenting on. It’s easy to assume what you know is common knowledge because it’s the water you swim in every day, but it could be groundbreaking for someone in the audience who doesn’t have the same experience and perspective.
IF YOU THINK: WHAT IF MY PRESENTATION IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH?
Do not let perfectionism hold you back. From our presentation materials to public speaking skills, we will always have room for improvement, but that shouldn’t be a reason not to put ourselves out there. Can you imagine if Apple had waited until now to release the first iPhone because the 2007 iteration was not good enough? The goal is not to give the most perfect talk since the beginning of the universe. Speaking at a professional conference is about sharing your professional insight and encouraging thoughtful discussion. Share what you know, get your message out, and improve over time. And trust me, you’re more capable than you think.
IF YOU THINK: THIS IS SO MUCH WORK
Preparing a presentation does require tremendous effort, but it’s a transformative process that forces you to structure your thoughts and delve deep into your subject matter. You do get a few months between getting notified of the acceptance of your proposal to the day of presentation. Instead of being overwhelmed by the Herculean undertaking, I found it helpful to break down my preparation into small tasks so I could work on my presentation half an hour to an hour at a time over a long period. Once you get started, your path will become clearer as you go.
IF YOU THINK: I CAN’T PLAN THAT FAR
This is a fresh lesson I have just learned: unless you’re 100% sure that you would not be able to go to the conference, uncertainty about your schedule shouldn’t hinder you. I didn’t know if I could make it to the conference last year and did not submit a proposal for ATA64. Imagine my regret when I did end up going to Miami but without a presentation. While it would be unfortunate to have to cancel your accepted session due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be other concurrent sessions for attendees to go to. Life happens, but don’t self-reject prematurely.
ATA65 BECKONS
Are you feeling more enticed and encouraged to give your first professional presentation? ATA65 is calling for proposal submissions until March 1, 2024, and you do NOT need to be an ATA member to become a speaker. You have the options of presenting 15-, 30-, and 60-minute sessions. The linked page includes topic categories to help you identify your areas of interest as well as a video tutorial on how to submit a successful ATA Annual Conference proposal.
I hope you decide that this is the year for you to share with your colleagues the tips, tricks, and insights that you’ve always wanted to talk about. I look forward to seeing you in Portland, Oregon and hearing your stories about the numerous opportunities you’ve found by presenting!
Sijin Xian is an ATA-certified English-to-Chinese and Chinese-to-English translator, audiovisual subtitler, and Mandarin interpreter based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Edited by Ben Murphy.
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