Interpreting Gives Lifelong Language Learner a New Way to Give Back

Sabrina Wilson knew there was a lot more to it than just speaking the language.

“When do I do simultaneous? When do I take notes? I understand the language, but what are the protocols?” Wilson said.

A native Portuguese speaker, Wilson has a PhD in Latin American studies and has taught Portuguese and Spanish literature at the college level for 14 years.

When she transitioned to teaching Spanish at a private, independent high school in Marin County, Wilson discovered a new way to use her affinity for languages to help her community—volunteering as an interpreter. 

“I would come in and help people communicate with each other so the necessary support could be put into place for the student or family,” Wilson said. 

She bridged the gap between administrators and families.

“I was working informally with Spanish-speaking families at the school, in critical situations when the family or student was facing something difficult,” Wilson said. “But without any formal training.”

After a friend attended Middlebury Institute’s Professional Certificate in Spanish Community Interpreting program in 2020, Wilson’s curiosity was piqued. She began the rigorous virtual program in August 2023 and graduated in June 2024 after a weeklong intensive in Monterey.

Middlebury’s low-residency program is designed to meet the growing demand for medical and legal interpreters in our communities while giving these professionals the skills and confidence needed for a successful and rewarding career. The program includes four online modules, followed by a one-week intensive in-person module allowing participants to gain professional interpreting skills while staying employed. 

Wilson said the certificate program influenced her professional career almost immediately, as she was offered the newly created position of bilingual family liaison at her school. 

“Before this service had been ad hoc and spotty,” Wilson said. “Now it will be provided in a formal way, with a formal title.”

Wilson will begin offering simultaneous interpretation on a parallel channel during her high school’s community meetings, and workshops on Zoom about topics like financial aid, carpooling, and orientation.

“I don’t think I would have said yes before to this direct ask for simultaneous interpretation for the school’s community meetings and workshops on Zoom,” Wilson said. “Now I have more practice and I know how to practice and prepare.”

Wilson plans to get her national certification as a healthcare interpreter in August, with a goal to start connecting with agencies to offer community interpreting services weekly. She is especially passionate about advocating for mental health.

“Teachers gravitate to teaching because they want to help people,” Wilson said. “This is the line of work I feel equipped to do, and it really makes a difference in people’s lives.”

She found one of the most useful parts of the program was learning the protocols and methods behind the art of interpretation.

“Now I know what to look for and I can assess my own performance. I’m more confident with my note-taking, and I have clearer tools for fine-tuning and practicing,” she said.

Dr. Wilson describes her educational path as “pretty demanding,” but she counts completing this certificate program among her proudest accomplishments.

“I felt very proud, and that’s saying a lot,” Wilson said. “I was as proud as my PhD in a way.”