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The Chinese translation and interpretation program equips students with the latest skill sets for exciting and rewarding careers.

Careers

We have a well-connected and influential alumni network that is eager to help you launch your career. Our recent graduates are sought after around the world by high-profile organizations for opportunities such as managing localization projects for Silicon Valley giants like Apple and Google; interpreting at high-profile events such as United Nations conferences, U.S.-China state visits, the Olympics, and APEC and WTO Ministerial Conferences; working with Bank of China on many levels; translating materials for government and nongovernment groups; and translating literary volumes. Some thrive as freelance translators and interpreters.

We have also successfully prepared current students for the United Nations language competitive examinations.

Tiffany Cao

Xinyi (Tiffany) Cao

Current Employment: Mandarin translator/interpreter for the County of Santa Clara in San Jose, California

Degree: Conference Interpretation

Languages of Study: Chinese, English

Institute Advantage: Career fairs helped me form new connections and step out of my comfort zone as a student. Additionally, the interpretation training at the Middlebury Institute, such as the practicum and various interpretation classes and exams, thoroughly prepared me for the interview process.

Story: How I Got Hired: Mandarin Translator/Interpreter, County of Santa Clara

June Jiang

June Jiang

Current Employment: Associate localization producer with Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, California

Degree: Translation and Localization Management (with Translation courses)

Languages of Study: Chinese, English

Institute Advantage: The Institute’s alumni network helped me connect with people in the industry to gain more insights, and class projects I completed gave me hands-on experiences that I was able to share during the interview.          

Story: How I Got Hired: Associate Localization Producer, Blizzard Entertainment

Jessie Liu

Jessie Liu

Current Employment: Freelance conference interpreter, certified court interpreter and translator, adjunct instructor at UCLA Court Interpreting Program 

Degree: Translation and Interpretation

Languages of Study: Chinese, English

Institute Advantage: Being an interpreter is so much more than just having the hard skill sets, i.e., the linguist proficiencies, note-taking mastery, the ability to work under pressure, etc. My experience at MIIS is instrumental in making me a more well-rounded linguistic professional.  

Story: How to Become a Certified Court Interpreter in California

Meng Zhang

Meng Zhang

Current Employment: Founder and CEO of Global Strategic Initiative, LLC

Degree: Translation

Languages of Study: Chinese, English

Institute Advantage: I found the career management course, career fair, and advice on my résumé from the Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS) very helpful. While still in school, I received three job offers and started working as an interpreter, translator, executive assistant, accounting specialist, and terminology specialist. Two of my Immersive Professional Learning experiences turned into ongoing work.

Story: How I Got Hired: Founder and CEO, Global Strategic Initiative

Internships

During the summer and winter breaks, students take advantage of available internships at organizations including Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, Hara, Kyocera, Translations.com, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and ISI Language Solutions.

Course Work

Thanks to our small class sizes, you will receive individual attention, immediate feedback, and intensive mentoring from your professors, greatly accelerating your development. This also means you will have more hours of practice in our interpretation booths, giving you a competitive edge once you graduate.

Courses are content-based and market-oriented, with balanced emphasis on contemporary literature, law, international relations and politics, economics, environmental protection, energy, intellectual property rights, trade and commerce, medicine, and technology.

Practicum in Interpretation

The Practicum in Interpretation facilitates students’ transition from the classroom to their first professional assignments by offering them a wide range of interpretation experiences. Advanced interpreting students become comfortable with working in settings in which different modes of interpretation are called for and where relay interpretation is the norm. Students provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation at the Institute’s public events and taped conferences, in interdisciplinary courses, and as part of community outreach; they also work intensively together in multilingual practice groups during the semester. The Practicum in Interpretation reinforces the concept of reflective practice, requiring students to evaluate their own performances as well as those of their peers.

International Students

Our international students greatly benefit from the immersive English environment at the Middlebury Institute. Upon graduation, international students may be able to take advantage of Optional Practical Training (OPT) to work in the U.S.

Scholarships

We offer a wide range of scholarships to make this investment in yourself and your career more affordable. More than 95 percent of students who request scholarship consideration receive institutional support. U.S. and international students are eligible.

Stilwell Scholarship

Thanks to the generosity of the Stilwell family and friends of the Middlebury Institute, each year we offer several $10,000-per-year (prorated by program length) scholarships to deserving students from the People’s Republic of China. Preference is given to students who intend to return to China to pursue a career. Recipients must maintain good academic standing throughout their course of study in order to retain the award. This scholarship is only available for fall start students and eligible applicants should apply to a Middlebury Institute degree program by April 1 to be considered.

Advanced Entry

Applicants who have earned a master’s degree from a recognized translation and interpretation program OR have at least two years of relevant full-time professional experience are eligible to apply for Advanced Entry. Learn more about Advanced Entry for the Chinese translation and interpretation programs.

Faculty

Our faculty are active professionals who bring a broad range of experience and expertise to their teaching, having translated and interpreted for organizations such as the U.S. State Department, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization, and many more. They foster strong mentoring relationships with students, providing guidance on academic performance and career opportunities.

Regular Faculty

Wallace Chen 陳瑞清

Professor; Program Chair, T&I Degree Programs

Office:
Casa Fuente Building CF300J

Laura Burian

Professor, Chinese Translation and Interpretation

Office:
400 Pacific D105

Lijian Cai

Professor of Professional Practice

Office:
IIRC H

Charles Cai

Associate Professor; Program Head, Chinese Translation and Interpretation

Email:
rcai@miis.edu
Office:
Casa Fuente Bulding CF300H

Marsha Man-Hua Chou

Associate Professor

Office:
Casa Fuente 443C

Wei Ding

Associate Professor, Chinese translation and interpretation

Office:
Casa Fuente 300B

Yuanyuan (Cherry) Ding

Associate Professor

Office:
IIRC E

Scott E. Myers

Assistant Professor

Office:
D202, 400 Pacific Street

Patty Pai

Associate Professor

Office:
400 Pacific, D209

Xiaoyan Shen

Associate Professor

Office:
Casa Fuente Building CF443 Suite A

Visiting Faculty

Ling Lau

Visiting Professor

Office:
IIRC D

Faculty Emeriti

John Balcom

Professor Emeritus

Office:
McCone Building M117

Chuanyun Bao

Professor Emeritus

Office:
Casa Fuente Building 300C

Zinan Ye

Professor Emeritus

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