The interpreter profession is governed by a dizzying array of standards, many of which are constantly in flux.  For example, the federal government instituted its certification program in 1980 after passage off the 1979 Court Interpreter’s Act, and since that time many state courts have also begun certifying their interpreters. From Immigration to Telephone Interpreting to the U.S. State Department, there are examinations you must prepare for and take, and ways to get trained up and prepared for the tests. Medical interpreters are also finding out that they must attend training and take and pass tests, and there are a number of training and testing programs available to interested parties. I look forward to discussing all of these issues with you!

Here I also hope to impart an abundance of inspiration, current trends, and helpful advice about my profession, which I know will be of interest to the large group of aspiring young and talented people who have in some way laid the groundwork for becoming an interpreter. Please check my blog regularly for updates. I welcome you to share your thoughts. Please post comments or questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome to my blog! I am Yvette Citizen, a Federally Certified Court Interpreter with many years experience in the field of legal, medical, and conference interpreting and interpreter training. I find that most think it must be fun to be an interpreter. They are correct! On any given day, you can find me dealing with many interesting topics related to the law, healthcare, yoga, or a gazillion other subjects.

Like many children of immigrants, I was a child interpreter. That’s really when my career began.  I had friends and third generation cousins here in the US that didn’t speak any Spanish and since my home, thanks to my mom’s generous hospitality, was a revolving door of visiting relatives from Mexico, I was always interpreting between English speaking children and Spanish speaking children. It was actually fun. What wasn’t fun was interpreting in adult situations.  I would cringe when I’d hear my mom offer that I should go along to help out in whatever business the relatives had in the English-speaking world. “Llévate a la niña a que te ayude con el inglés,” she’d say, offering my fledgling interpretation services.  Next thing you’d know I’d be trying to interpret transactions regarding tractor parts for the broken Caterpillar back in Mexico. The absolutely worst though, were banks and medical clinics. ¡Ay, ay, ay!  Too much for my grade school bilingual brain to handle.