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Experience

Formal
Education

My professional practice and education began in 2016, when I enrolled and later obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish-English Translation & Interpretation from Northwestern College. While in the program, I was a collaborator on a research poster on the Process of Professional Translation in the institution's Celebration of Research event. I then made the intentional decision to further my knowledge and skills with a Specialized Certificate in Translation through the University of California San Diego's Division of Extended Studies.

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Both of these educational spaces provided me with the realization of my love and passion for being a Language Service Provider, offering me the opportunities to exercise my skills in a vast array of fields - from literature and advertisement to legal and medical texts.

Continuing work in...

Legal

The majority of my translation assignments have centered around the legal field, and particularly in assisting those seeking refuge and home in the United State's ever-growing community. This has provided me with the benefit of reading, understanding and translating many legal texts from many Latin American countries, making it possible for me to offer speedy services on multiple occasions, working on different templates for certificates and documents from specific entities and regions.

Medical

Nearly half of my professional life has involved operating and interacting in medical contexts and conversations in both my languages. I have contributed to communication between patients and health services in a clinic in a rural area of the American Midwest with a growing population of Spanish-speaking members. I have also served as a bilingual staff member and interpreter translator in two hospitals offering access to both internal medicine and specialty clinics. I am proud to have been able to bridge this linguistic gap between the population and these essential services.

Research

Building onto of my experience in healthcare, I have had the privilege of collaborating on research projects in the communication sciences, including Audiology and Speech & Language researchers. This experience has allowed me to facilitate the communication between lab staff and Spanish speakers, even implementing formal workflows and resources for the translation of various written materials essential to the engagement, education, recruitment and inclusion of US-based participants who use the Spanish language.

Hospitality

I have also been blessed with experiences in the hospitality, food and service industry. I have reached a managerial position in coffeehouse with a plentiful menu of food and drink items, and have appreciated and worked in establishments that specialize in offering quality wine and their own craft beer. Given the nature of my linguistic background, I was able to communicate with other Spanish-speaking enthusiasts of the culinary arts at these businesses, leading me to offer translations of several food menus.

Faith & Religion

From my formative years and into my adult experiences, acquired an array of knowledge regarding many faith-based communities in both my languages. In fact, before I even knew a career in language services was a possibility, I fulfilled the duties of an interpreter in the church in which I grew up. This would prepare me for the practice assignments of simultaneous interpreting chapel services as part of my undergraduate studies. Combined with my appreciation of different spiritual experiences of others, I have confidence in my ability to continually offer language services for religious contexts.

Other Language Needs

As an appreciator of everything both written and spoken language is used for, I understand that there are language services that don't quite fall under one of the above categories. As a native speaker, I have helped Spanish learners practice their conversational skills and vocabulary. Having studied both the Spanish and English languages in depth, I have also served as a language and writing tutor for students. Please feel free to contact me with language needs that don't necessarily require translation and interpreting skills!

Legal
Medical
Research
Hoptality
Faith
Other

Translate Your Words by Suresh A. Portillo

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