Associate Professor; Program Head, French Translation and Interpretation
Since Christiane Abel started teaching in the French Translation and Interpretation program at the Institute, she has taught all of the translation and interpretation classes offered from English into French, and she became the French TI Program Coordinator in 2009.
She maintains a vibrant private practice as a freelance translator and conference interpreter, with clients including private companies, NGOs, the US Department of State, and international organizations. She specializes in international development, microfinancing, and international humanitarian law. She has drawn on her experience as an interpreter for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and subsequent interpreting assignments focusing on the atrocities committed in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa to research and present on how interpreters can best prepare for and cope with assignments dealing with deeply traumatic events.
She is certified by the American Translators Association (ATA - English into French), and she is an active member of the Association internationale des interprètes de conférence (AIIC).
Maybe because of my business background, I insist on professionalism from my students from day one. I try to establish a “client-provider” relationship, instead of a more traditional “teacher-student” relationship, so that my students are market-ready upon graduation. What is fascinating about our profession is that you never stop learning: Each new assignment lets us discover new concepts or new vocabulary, or understand a fine grammatical point. I also have the privilege to constantly learn from my students, whether we are questioning a particular word or phrase, or whether they lead me to a new Website, podcast or other great content in French or English.
Professor Abel has been teaching at the Institute since 2001.
Translation and Interpretation graduate Amandine Martin describes how career management courses and the Middlebury Institute network helped her to launch her career as a freelance interpreter and translator.
| by Nina Fink MATI ’12
Translation and Interpretation alum Nina Fink shares how she landed a career as a freelance translator and interpreter.
| by Stephen Diehl
Two Middlebury Institute students answered the call to volunteer their services during the United Nations Climate Change Conference—also known as COP26—which took place in November in Glasgow.
