For those who have a knack for languages and want to enter the growing field of professional interpreters, there’s still time to enter the English/Spanish Interpreters Program at Lone Star College-North Harris and Lone Star College-East Aldine Center.
Classes begin with the start of the spring 2020 semester on Monday, Jan. 13. Courses are offered Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday from 6 - 9 p.m. Registration for all spring classes and programs is now open. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu/registration.
The LSC-North Harris and LSC-East Aldine Center English/Spanish Interpreter programs serve as training towards professional certification for those who want to provide a voice to community members who do not speak English.
Professional English/Spanish interpreters are increasingly in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of interpreters is expected to grow 18 percent, from 2016 to 2026. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The programs at LSC-North Harris and LSC-East Aldine Center give students an edge over competitors when applying for open positions.
Due to the expected increases in the population of Hispanics in the United States, a similar increase will develop for the need of qualified interpreters. Moreover, under federal law, federal agencies are required to provide Limited-English-Proficient individuals fair access to their programs and services. In addition to supporting government services, certification as an English/Spanish interpreter will open doors to work in healthcare, law and other industries where the need for good communication is critical.
LSC-North Harris and LSC-East Aldine Center offer three courses as part of the interpreter program: English/Spanish Foundational Interpreting, English/Spanish Interpreting in Court Settings and English/Spanish Interpreting in Medical Settings. All these courses are approved by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission of the State of Texas as a Pre-Licensing Orientation course, which is required before applying to become a Certified Court Interpreter.
In the lecture portion of the classes, participants learn about current principles, code of ethics, responsibilities and standard practices of the interpreting profession. During the lab sessions, they use the state-of-the-art interpreting equipment to practice note taking, sight translation, simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. In addition, participants go on field trips to medical and courtroom settings to witness firsthand the rewarding career of an English/Spanish interpreter.
For more information, visit LoneStar.edu/BilingualInterpreterCertificate.htm, or contact professor Erich Polack at 281.618.5564 or Erich.G.Polack@LoneStar.edu.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
###