The Chinese Language Division Podcast

In this episode of the ATA Chinese Language Division Podcast, Jessie Liu speaks with Jem Walker, Interpreter Manager for FIFA World Cup 2026, about the massive multilingual operation behind one of the world’s largest sporting events. From press conferences and media operations to interpreter recruitment and football specialization, Jem shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at language access in int...

本期节目在波士顿 ATA 第66届年会现场录制。主持人 Rony Gao 对谈嘉宾 先思瑾，聆听她从笔译、字幕翻译到会议口译的励志旅程。思瑾分享了 ATA 集体如何帮助她走出舒适圈、重拾自信、让人生“彩虹重现”的故事，包括她毅然前往蒙特雷进修，并在国际口译大赛中荣获第一名的经历。节目最后，两人还探讨了人工智能时代口译行业的未来，以及“人之所以为人”的不可替代价值。 节目里提到sijin的个人网站，网址为：www.xiansijin.com

在本期《译声》节目中，Jessie 与 ATA 理事会成员、口译员分会负责人 Christina Green 展开深入对谈，聚焦威斯康星州最新提出的议会法案 AB 292 与参议院法案 SB 295。   这两项法案拟允许威州法院在民事、刑事、行政等案件中使用人工智能或机器翻译工具来取代人工口译员。Christina 结合亲身经历，剖析法案的起源、推动者的动机，以及其对语言平权与司法公正可能带来的严重影响。   节目还探讨了口译员在立法倡导中的角色、不同政...

In this insightful episode, Jessie talks with nationally recognized language policy expert Dr. Bill Rivers to unpack the implications of Executive Order 14224, which declared English the official language of the United States. Dr. Rivers offers historical, legal, and policy context for the order, explains what it does—and doesn’t—do, and addresses concerns about its impact on language access right...

Jessie hosts Tianlu Redmon in the third installment of the ATA Chinese Language Division (CLD) conference series from the ATA65 conference in Portland, Oregon. Tianlu shares her volunteer journey, starting in local ATA chapters and leading the CLD with a “family-like” spirit through initiatives like monthly online socials during the pandemic. She reflects on the professional rewards of her involve...

In this finale episode of the special conference series, Jessie sits down with Liming Pals, the current Administrator of the Chinese Language Division (CLD) at ATA, live from ATA65 in Portland, Oregon. Liming shares her journey from assistant administrator to division leader, reflecting on how volunteering shaped her professional growth and leadership skills. She also discusses the evolving trends...

Long-time CLD member and ATA certification exam grader Aaron Hebenstreit joins Rony Gao in discussing his career journey and the challenges and advantages of being a non-native Chinese speaker working as a Chinese-English translator and interpreter. He shares memorable projects such as translating UN documents and emceeing bilingual events in the local Chinese community. Aaron emphasizes the value...

Rony Gao interviews Hongyan Xu (Jack), a seasoned language professional with over 12 years of experience both in managerial roles at a mid-sized LSP and as a freelance translator and interpreter. Jack discusses the evolution of the language services industry in Canada, recounts memorable experiences in his multi-pronged career, emphasizes the value of freelancers' insights for LSPs and shares his...

Artificial intelligence, it matters less whether it is a friend or a foe than the fact that it is already here. In this 15-minute chat, Jessie and Tony explore the more important questions concerning the T&I realm, i.e. What changes is AI effectuating in the T&I market? What do we tell our existing and potential clients about AI so that they can make an informed decision? And most importan...

Practice makes perfect. Although it’s rare to achieve absolute perfection when interpreting, practice does make it better. If you don’t yet have dedicated simultaneous interpreting practice time scheduled on your daily, weekly or even monthly routine, let this episode be the push that gets you practicing. 

A special episode dedicated to the upcoming ATA64 annual conference. This 10-minute short episode highlights the conference presentations by CLD members as well as the division dinner details. The show notes link in other essential resources and information for the annual conference held in Miami FL. Registration link to 2-Part webinar facilitated by Ben Karl on conference preparation and virtual...

Whether you are transitioning into the T&I profession or have been in it for a while, the journey is anything but predictable. When the unexpected happens or when we feel lost, What do we do? In this episode, Jessie and Xiaochuan explore different resources to help our T&I colleagues find their bearings in overwhelming situations. Through the lens of Xiaochuan’s personal experience, we wis...

In this 23-minute chat between Jessie and Corinne, they demonstrate through their own experiences to freelance translators having outstanding invoices the strategies and tactics used to successfully collect on outstanding invoices, which could have been otherwise written off. Give it a listen and you might be inspired to be even more creative with your own collection efforts. 

If you are a freelance interpreter or translator, chances are that you have been stuck at this question of how to quote a potential client for your service, especially if you are new to the field. People aren’t comfortable talking about their rates for various reasons but that may not be the healthiest thing to do individually or collectively as a profession. We should have open and transparent di...

In this unscheduled episode, seasoned conference interpreter and interpreter trainer Maha El-Metwally shares her insights into Zoom’s latest update on November 6th, which includes a baffling feature that automatically records the interpretation channel when the main meeting audio is recorded. She also puts it in perspective for fellow interpreter colleagues as to how this feature impacts our work...

In this episode, professional interpreter and published author Ms. Barbara Hong Li shares with us her experience and takeaways from attending her very first ATA annual conference, the ATA 63rd in Los Angeles. Barbara has been in the profession for 20 years already. Are you curious why Barbara just decided to make her way to the very first conference? Do you want to know what her takeaways are give...

In this episode, the distinguished guest speaker of our division at The ATA 63rd Annual Conference, Mr. Joel Sahleen is giving us a preview of his talk on software internationalization and localization. While the topic of the talk is quite tech-oriented at the first glance, it may just surprise you how relevant internationalization and localization to our work as translators, and the new job oppor...

In this episode, instead of talking about the industry and profession-related topics, Jessie, who considers herself a LA local invites Ben Karl who is also based in the Los Angeles area to the show to chat about some tips and tricks about visiting LA this October for the upcoming flagship event of the Association – The ATA 63rd Annual Conference. As the board member of the ATA, Ben shared with the...

In this 16-minute episode, while Jessie sets the stage and explores some possible reasons why many freelance linguists haven’t started building their websites even though it has been on their minds to do so, Zoe shares very practical tips and perspectives from her own website building experience to make this seemingly massive and overwhelming task manageable, and to help translate the will of havi...

In this episode, we take a stroll down memory lane with Professor Holly Mikkelson as she recounts her experience starting out as a court interpreter. It may have been the only career option available to her back then, but her passion and dedication to the then-infant profession, along with the support of various professional associations and organizing bodies, has nurtured the growth and developme...

In this episode, David discusses the history, pedagogical value of long consecutive interpreting, and why long consecutive interpreting and note-taking skills are essential to master for professional interpreters. David shares with us the free resources available for interpreters to take advantage of. At the same time as practicing hard interpreting skills with a top-notch interpreter in the field...

In this 15-minute chat, Jessie and James Philips, director of the PCT Translation Division at WIPO, talk about the type of translation tasks done at WIPO and the language pairs needed, with a deep dive into how machine translation fits amongst all these moving parts in the world of patent and technical translation. A great opportunity for translators who wish to get in on the patent and technical...

In this episode, Ms. Maureen Sweeney, Deputy Chief of the Interpreting Staff of the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, takes the listeners on a behind-the-scenes tour of the interpreter programs at the Olympics. She talks to the audience about how the quintessential International sports event engages and interacts with linguists in this largely remote working environment that we are seeing as the new nor...

In this 15-minute interview, Rony Gao chats with a fellow ATA member and classmate, Jessie Liu, about the experience of going back to school in an unusual year, remote interpreting, and continued professional development.

As a veteran Chinese interpreter, translator and linguist, Prudence‘s Chinese learning experience dates back to the 1980s! In this introductory episode, Prudence shared with June stories about how her aunt inspired her to learn Chinese, how she continued this path by traveling to another continent for enhanced study, how she views her career now and more!