In 2009, APALRC held its largest ever interpreter training with fifty candidates, who had been selected out of over three hundred bilingual applicants. Ms. Rosario “Angie” Carrera, a court-certified interpreter and Language Access Coordinator of the Office of the County Executive in Fairfax County, VA, led the rigorous two-day training held at the Thurgood Marshall Center in D.C.
The trainees learned about the interpreter code of conduct, including the importance of impartiality, professionalism, commitment, and respect, in addition to practicing interpretation skills in smaller groups. APALRC staff attorneys also shared their experiences working with low-income, limited-English proficient clients and discussed language access issues.
“The training was the most superbly organized and executed seminar I have ever attended. I think I learned a lot, not only in terms of the skill of interpretation, but also of the spirit of public service, which will certainly benefit me and whomever I will come to serve in the future,” reflected Yo Kimura, one of the trainees fluent in Japanese and English.