Northwestern College offers a new 4-year major degree in Spanish translation and interpretation

by NITA Administrator ~ June 15, 2010

Northwestern College offers Spanish translation and interpreting major

Beginning next fall, the Northwestern College will offer a new major in Spanish translation and interpretation. The program is designed for bilingual high school graduates who desire to earn a bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts setting and work in the burgeoning fields of translation and interpretation.

The program seeks to help meet a growing demand—locally, statewide, nationally and globally—for translators and interpreters and includes six new courses, one of which is a senior-year practicum in which students will serve as professional interpreters and translators. The program consists of 35 credit hours in Spanish, translation and interpretation; an additional 14 hours of cognate requirements such as courses in public speaking, linguistics and the law; and classes in a variety of disciplines to meet Northwestern’s general education requirement.

Koene says future interpreters and translators will benefit from studying in a liberal arts college like Northwestern. “Successful interpreters and translators have a wide-ranging knowledge in many subjects. A liberal arts program provides a strong foundation and encourages students to be lifelong learners, which is essential to excel in this field.”

Koene, named the Iowa Professor of the Year in 2004, has taught in Northwestern’s modern foreign language department since 2000. He earned a master’s degree in translation and interpretation, as well as professional certifications in both areas, at the Monterey (California) Institute of International Studies last year.

Northwestern plans to purchase an interpretation laboratory, an interpreting booth for Christ Chapel, and portable translation and interpretation equipment to provide students with hands-on experience. Majors will use the equipment while offering valuable services to the community. “By providing students opportunity for practice in settings such as at a business, dentist’s office or school, we will also be building links with the surrounding communities and serving the Hispanic and Anglo individuals in our area,” says Rick Clark, Chair of the Modern Foreign Languages Department.

For more information about the new major, contact Piet Koene at 712-707-7051 or via email: koene@nwciowa.edu