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In this blog post we interviewed David Thomson, who is currently a second-year graduate student in the International Policy Studies program at Monterey Institute of International Studies. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, David exemplifies how language learning has opened multiple doors for him.
A Passion for Languages
Born and raised in California, David showed a great interest in language learning since young age. While studying Spanish literature and culture in San Jose State, he has spent time abroad in Madrid, Spain. In his junior year in college, he picked up Mandarin as a minor and went to Beijing University to sharpen his Chinese. These life experiences have given him different perspectives on international issues, which eventually led him to study policy with the focus in trade between the United States and China. David mentioned that “being able to speak another language not only introduces me to a new culture, but also teaches me how people think and behave in that specific culture.” He also joked about how being able to speak both Spanish and Mandarin allowed to “survive” in Spain, Mexico, and China during many unexpected situations.
David feels very fortunate to possess multiple language skills in both academic and professional fields. His academic specialty in trade inevitably requires him to gather both countries’ situations and argument in order to draft a strong analysis. As a result, his ability to read research journals and articles in Chinese has benefited him greatly. David mentioned that a paper can never be “well-rounded” unless both sides of the arguments have been touched upon. In the professional area, David’s academic experience and language skills have helped him land an internship with the U.S. Department of Commerce in Shanghai, and he will continue the internship in San Jose this coming semester.
Benefits of Leaning a Foreign Language
There are many benefits to learning a foreign language. Potential career paths not only include translation and interpretation, but countless others in business and in policy, like David’s. In addition, learning a foreign language can lead to a magnificent journey in a foreign country, the ability to watch foreign movies without the aid of subtitles, and the opportunity to make friends all over the world.
What makes a quality medical interpreter? The previous blog post pointed out the balance between compassion and professionalism. In reality, medical interpretation requires more than those skills. Cultural understanding and sensitivity, along with compassion and professionalism, are equally crucial in the makings of a successful medical interpreter.
A medical interpreter? What comes to your mind? Medical interpreters, like court interpreters, are considered as “community interpreters” because they usually work within a local community, serving in both public and private sectors. Last October one of our team members joined a medical interpretation training sponsored by California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA). The focus of the training was palliative care, an area of healthcare that concentrates on alleviate the symptoms and suffering of the patients. The training was truly a great experience, as it emphasized both the professional and human aspects of an interpreter.
During the holiday, we saw an inspiring movie, Dancing Across Borders, about a young Cambodian dancer who came to the United States at the age 18 to learn classic ballet. We cannot help but notice that he found comfort through a Cambodian interpreter and a Cambodian family that the interpreter introduced to him. This reminds us again of the importance of interpreters assisting in communication. 
I recently received a translation assignment, which consisted of only one sentence. The assignment came from a Chinese restaurant owner, who gave me a picture with the sentence in it. Many customers, including English and Spanish speakers, always asked her about the meaning of that sentence. My first reaction was, “This should be a piece of cake!” However, the assignment turned out to be a fulfilling learning experience.Because I followed the Chinese sentence structure very closely, my initial translation was a little confusing to some native English speakers. This raised a very interesting question: can Chinese be translated word for word? The answer seemed to be negative, as Chinese and English have very different syntaxes. One sensible approach is to understand the meaning first. However, even with the understanding of the Chinese text, searching for the perfect English equivalent will require time and patience.And then it all became clear to me. Only through meticulous analysis and review, a quality translation can be produced. Quality lies in every single word that I chose to use — even if it means going over the minutest details. It was an assignment with only one sentence, but it gave me a priceless lesson on the value of quality. ~ By Ringo Li
Recently, researchers from Microsoft Corporation gave a presentation in China, showcasing the company’s latest language software, which was able to turn an English speech into Chinese—in the speaker’s own voice.
