\u201cIt was important to me to show that translation is a real career and that you need to be professional if you want to succeed.\u201c<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The winning shot shows a relaxed Birgit seated on a flight of stairs with a crowd of smiling 17-year-olds. Two of the students hold copies of The ATA Chronicle, clearly linking the photo to the translation and interpreting professions. \u201cThe teacher suggested taking the picture on the stairs,\u201d Birgit recalled. \u201cThe Chronicle seemed the simplest, most effective way of showing that the presentation was about translation, and I was pretty sure that I could get the students to pose with it in their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Closing a Gap<\/h5>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/ata-divisions.org\/GLD\/wp-content\/uploads\/BirgitVosselerBrehmer_with_KSG_Students_20121-300x224.jpg\" "\\"BirgitVosselerBrehmer_with_KSG_Students_2012(1)\\"")
<\/a>The winning photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThough the prospect of winning a free conference registration was attractive, Birgit was also strongly motivated by what she saw as a lack of information on careers in translation. \u201cI remembered myself when I was young and didn\u2019t have enough personal input on choosing a career,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThough there is an internship program at my girls\u2019 school, there isn\u2019t any career information. I suggested a series of parent presentations to the middle school director, and she invited me to speak to her advanced English class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now What?<\/h5>\n
Once she had the invitation, Birgit had to develop content for her presentation\u2014and it was her first experience with school outreach. \u201cAt first I was at a loss and didn\u2019t know where to start,\u201d she said. \u201cI looked at a couple of the model presentations on ATA\u2019s School Outreach page (www.atanet.org\/careers \/school_outreach.php). I also read the suggestions on speaking to high school students and followed the general advice on content. I described the daily life of a translator, covered the tools and skills you need, and compared modern working conditions to translation in olden days. It was important to me to show them how freelancers work\u2014and that in addition to having language skills, you need to know how to run a business.\u201d<\/p>\n
ATA to the Rescue<\/h5>\n
The materials on the School Outreach webpage also helped Birgit overcome speaker\u2019s nerves. \u201cI was scared: I thought, \u2018I hope I survive this.\u2019 And because it was an English class, I had to present in English, which made it even more challenging,\u201d said Birgit, a native German speaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking to young people was also a little scary\u2014they can be rather critical\u2014but that fear turned out to be unfounded. I went to the School Outreach webpage and read the section on managing nerves. I also reread my notes from an ATA Client Outreach session on public speaking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Practice, Practice, Practice<\/h5>\n
Birgit also worked hard to make the presentation a success, practicing her remarks several times to polish her speaking style and calm her nerves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe First time it was awful,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThe next time it was a little better but not great, and by the third or fourth time, the words really started to flow.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Day in the Life<\/h5>\n
During her presentation, Birgit gave the 17-year-olds a glimpse into the life of a translator, describing a typical workday, providing an introduction to translation tools, and discussing the pros and cons of working from home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe teacher told me that she had recently talked to the class about working in a home office, so I was a living example of what they\u2019d just discussed,\u201d she said. \u201cI also wanted to encourage young people to think about a freelance career, especially women. It\u2019s not easy for women to combine truly professional careers and family in Germany. It was important to me to show that translation is a real career and that you need to be professional if you want to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the teacher\u2019s request, Birgit also discussed curricula vitae (CVs) and how the students could adapt them when they apply to schools in other countries. \u201cIt\u2019s not effective just to translate a CV,\u201d she told them. \u201cYou have to tailor it to the target audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
A New Footing with Teachers<\/h5>\n
In addition to making the students more aware of translation, Birgit also hoped to achieve a second goal\u2014establishing a peer-to-peer relationship with their teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes teachers view us just as parents, not as professionals with careers, and I find there\u2019s still some prejudice against working moms,\u201d she said. \u201cI wanted to put the relationship on a different footing and be helpful to the teacher, and I think I succeeded. The teacher was quite impressed with the information I provided and wanted to give it to the school\u2019s career counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n
A freelance translator since 1999, Birgit translates from English into German and has practiced translation in both the U.S. and Germany, where she is also a member of the Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und \u00dcbersetzer. Since the beginning, she says, she has focused on professionalizing her practice, becoming more specialized, and building her subject area knowledge. \u201cCurrently my main areas of expertise are automation, linear motion technology, and environmental analysis. I\u2019m also working hard on finance,\u201d she said. \u201cAdding more direct clients to my portfolio is another important goal.\u201d She lives in Andernach with her husband Thomas Brehmer and their daughters, Sarah, 16, and Nathalie, 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo for it\u201d<\/h5>\n
Asked what she would say to fellow translators and interpreters about her School Outreach experience, Birgit replied, \u201cGo for it. Do it\u2014it\u2019s really a worthwhile experience. And it\u2019s important to stay in touch with young people.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Lillian Clementi<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong>(Origianlly published in February issue of The ATA Chronicle<\/em>. Reprinted with permission from the ATA.)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a02012-13 contest is now open. For more information: https:\/\/www.atanet.org\/ata_school\/<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFor a PDF copy of the latest issue of The ATA Chronicle<\/em>: https:\/\/www.atanet.org\/publications\/chronicle.php<\/a> (ATA members only)<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/ata-divisions.org\/GLD\/wp-content\/uploads\/BirgitVosselerBrehmer_with_KSG_Students_20121.jpg\" "\\"BirgitVosselerBrehmer_with_KSG_Students_2012(1)\\"")
<\/a>Though the prospect of winning a free conference registration was attractive, Birgit was also strongly motivated by what she saw as a lack of information on careers in translation. \u201cI remembered myself when I was young and didn\u2019t have enough personal input on choosing a career,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThough there is an internship program at my girls\u2019 school, there isn\u2019t any career information. I suggested a series of parent presentations to the middle school director, and she invited me to speak to her advanced English class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now What?<\/h5>\n
Once she had the invitation, Birgit had to develop content for her presentation\u2014and it was her first experience with school outreach. \u201cAt first I was at a loss and didn\u2019t know where to start,\u201d she said. \u201cI looked at a couple of the model presentations on ATA\u2019s School Outreach page (www.atanet.org\/careers \/school_outreach.php). I also read the suggestions on speaking to high school students and followed the general advice on content. I described the daily life of a translator, covered the tools and skills you need, and compared modern working conditions to translation in olden days. It was important to me to show them how freelancers work\u2014and that in addition to having language skills, you need to know how to run a business.\u201d<\/p>\n
ATA to the Rescue<\/h5>\n
The materials on the School Outreach webpage also helped Birgit overcome speaker\u2019s nerves. \u201cI was scared: I thought, \u2018I hope I survive this.\u2019 And because it was an English class, I had to present in English, which made it even more challenging,\u201d said Birgit, a native German speaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking to young people was also a little scary\u2014they can be rather critical\u2014but that fear turned out to be unfounded. I went to the School Outreach webpage and read the section on managing nerves. I also reread my notes from an ATA Client Outreach session on public speaking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Practice, Practice, Practice<\/h5>\n
Birgit also worked hard to make the presentation a success, practicing her remarks several times to polish her speaking style and calm her nerves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe First time it was awful,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThe next time it was a little better but not great, and by the third or fourth time, the words really started to flow.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Day in the Life<\/h5>\n
During her presentation, Birgit gave the 17-year-olds a glimpse into the life of a translator, describing a typical workday, providing an introduction to translation tools, and discussing the pros and cons of working from home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe teacher told me that she had recently talked to the class about working in a home office, so I was a living example of what they\u2019d just discussed,\u201d she said. \u201cI also wanted to encourage young people to think about a freelance career, especially women. It\u2019s not easy for women to combine truly professional careers and family in Germany. It was important to me to show that translation is a real career and that you need to be professional if you want to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the teacher\u2019s request, Birgit also discussed curricula vitae (CVs) and how the students could adapt them when they apply to schools in other countries. \u201cIt\u2019s not effective just to translate a CV,\u201d she told them. \u201cYou have to tailor it to the target audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
A New Footing with Teachers<\/h5>\n
In addition to making the students more aware of translation, Birgit also hoped to achieve a second goal\u2014establishing a peer-to-peer relationship with their teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes teachers view us just as parents, not as professionals with careers, and I find there\u2019s still some prejudice against working moms,\u201d she said. \u201cI wanted to put the relationship on a different footing and be helpful to the teacher, and I think I succeeded. The teacher was quite impressed with the information I provided and wanted to give it to the school\u2019s career counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n
A freelance translator since 1999, Birgit translates from English into German and has practiced translation in both the U.S. and Germany, where she is also a member of the Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und \u00dcbersetzer. Since the beginning, she says, she has focused on professionalizing her practice, becoming more specialized, and building her subject area knowledge. \u201cCurrently my main areas of expertise are automation, linear motion technology, and environmental analysis. I\u2019m also working hard on finance,\u201d she said. \u201cAdding more direct clients to my portfolio is another important goal.\u201d She lives in Andernach with her husband Thomas Brehmer and their daughters, Sarah, 16, and Nathalie, 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo for it\u201d<\/h5>\n
Asked what she would say to fellow translators and interpreters about her School Outreach experience, Birgit replied, \u201cGo for it. Do it\u2014it\u2019s really a worthwhile experience. And it\u2019s important to stay in touch with young people.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Lillian Clementi<\/em> \u00a02012-13 contest is now open. For more information: https:\/\/www.atanet.org\/ata_school\/<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For a PDF copy of the latest issue of The ATA Chronicle<\/em>: https:\/\/www.atanet.org\/publications\/chronicle.php<\/a> (ATA members only)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>(Origianlly published in February issue of The ATA Chronicle<\/em>. Reprinted with permission from the ATA.)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n