Spanish Translation and Interpreting

Program Info

Mission Statement

Utah Valley University’s Spanish translation and interpreting program helps students to build professional language skills, business savvy, cultural awareness, and connections with the language sector so they can successfully pursue interpreting, translation, and localization careers.

 

Minor and Certificates of Proficiency

Spanish-English Translation, Certificate of Proficiency

Healthcare Interpreting Spanish-English, Certificate of Proficiency

Spanish-English Translation and Interpreting, Minor

 

  • Focus on translation (written) or interpreting (spoken), or both.
  • 5 translation/interpreting specific courses:
    • LANG 3020: Language Services Industry and Languages in the Professional World
    • SPAN 4110: Intro to Translation and Interpreting
    • SPAN 4120: Advanced Translation
    • LANG 4500: Translation Technology
    • SPAN 4310: Healthcare Interpreting
  • Rest of courses = specific professional areas, such as healthcare and business.

Program map for Spanish-English Translation and Interpreting Minor

Flowchart showing the three main areas of the UVU Spanish Translation and Interpreting Minor: First, pre-requisites (SPAN 3050 or SPAN 3030 and SPAN 3040); second, translation and interpreting core (SPAN 4110, intro to translation and interpreting, followed by either of two tracks: the translation track: SPAN 4120 (advanced translation) and LANG 4500 (translation technology) or the medical interpreting track: SPAN 3310 (Spanish for healthcare) and SPAN 4310 (Healthcare Interpreting Spanish-English) | additionally there is a Language Industry and Languages in Professional World course (LANG 3020) that can be taken whenever but is best taken earlier and a Language Internship course (LANG 4180R) that can also be taken whenever; third, Professional Spanish electives (SPAN 3200 (business), SPAN 3310 (healthcare), SPAN 3320 (mental health), SPAN 3340 (tourism), SPAN 4200 (advanced business)).

 

Jobs in the Lang. Industry Internships in the Lang. Industry
  • decorative red plateau

    SPAN 4110: Intro to Translation and Interpreting

    Learn the basics of interpreting, with a focus on the healthcare and social service settings. Most time is spent on dialogue interpreting, but you will also learn simultaneous interpreting and sight translation. Learn the basics of translating naturally and effectively, breaking free of tendencies to mimic the source language too much when translating.

    See course catalog
  • decorative mountaintop with snow

    SPAN 4120: Advanced Translation

    Up your translation skills with more difficult text types (medical and legal documents, international business marketing materials, a touch of literary texts, etc.). Conduct a service learning project translating for an organization of your choice, and finish the semester off with an authentic class project where you'll be translating for a real-world client.

    See course catalog
  • mountaintop covered with low-hanging clouds

    SPAN 4310: Healthcare Interpreting Spanish-English

    An excellent continuation of SPAN 3310 (Spanish for Healthcare Professionals), this course explores all the essential knowledge and skills for a healthcare interpreter: interpreter ethics, standards of practice, and protocols; modes of interpreting; cultural competence; medical terminology; and government regulations relating to the US healthcare system.

    Upon finishing this course, students will have completed requirements to work as a qualified medical interpreter in the state of Utah and will have completed one of the pre-requisites for either of the two national certification exams for medical interpreters.

    See course catalog
  • decorative red plateaus against blue sky

    LANG 4500: Translation Technology

    This course is crucial for anyone who wants to work in the language services industry, whether as a translator, localization engineer, project manager, or if they're working in administration or HR for a language services company. This course is much more than just technology; it's also all about the business of the languages services industry and the career paths within it.

    Learn the ins and outs of CAT tools (computer aided translation) using industry-standard software, and understand the technology behind machine translation from a non-technical point of view.

    See course catalog

Student Success

  • headshot of Carlos Plummer

    Carlos Plummer
    Graduation Year: 2023

    My internship with U.S. Translation Company was very profitable for my professional career.

    I am studying international business and languages and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect opportunity to immerse myself in an experience that compiled both specialties.

    During my internship I worked as an interpreting project coordinator, so I helped organize interpreting for events that were provided in 10+ languages.

  • Image of Briana O'Neal

    Briana O'Neal
    Graduation Year: 2023

    After taking some time off, I came back to UVU to finish my degree. I took UVU's introductory interpreting course (SPAN 4110) and due to taking that class, I did an internship for a medical interpreting company, learned I really love interpreting, and now work as a medical interpreter.

    I really appreciate how this program has helped me discover what I really want to do with my life and taught me the necessary skills I need in order to succeed in my chosen career path.

  • headshot of Kaylie Walker

    Kaylie Walker
    Graduation Year: 2023

    I started working with the Utah Translation and Analysis Center in May of 2022. Having completed Dr. Gilbert’s introductory course to Spanish interpreting/translation beforehand helped me have the skillset I needed to make it through the difficult hiring process; the translation skill that I started developing in that course is what landed me such a unique, challenging, and rewarding opportunity.

    You truly get out of these classes the work and practice that you put in. I would recommend that anyone interested try out the program because translation and interpreting can be great career paths on their own, and are also highly useful tools in almost any field.

  • headshot of Hannah McKay

    Hannah McKay
    Graduation Year: 2023

    The Spanish Translation and Interpreting program improved my Spanish more than I realized it had. After being in the program for about 6 months, my mother-in-law, who lives in South America, said something along the lines of "Hannah, your Spanish has improved so much in the past 6 months. How did you do it?"

    That is where I began to realize how much the program was teaching me. I had already been volunteering as a medical interpreter and working as a bilingual representative at a call center. However, this was when people like my mother-in-law really noticed improvement in my abilities.

    I am currently working at an insurance brokerage as a translator and account coordinator and still do translation services for my previous employer at a law firm. I owe all of these translation and interpretation capabilities to the program at UVU and the tactics they taught me to improve not only my Spanish, but also my interpreting and translating methods.

  • headshot of Tyler Doty

    Tyler Doty
    Graduation Year: 2022

    I had two semesters left at UVU and had no idea what I would do after graduation. Then, Dr. Gilbert came to UVU and offered courses in translation and interpretation. His teaching and the course content completely changed my Spanish skills and abilities. Span 4110 and 4120 enabled me to express complex subjects in my L2 and to switch back and forth between languages with ease.

    I graduated UVU in May of 2022 and interned at The Consulate of Spain in Los Angeles, California. Upon meeting my Spanish coworkers, they were stunned at my level of Spanish when they discovered it is not my native language and that I have never lived in a Hispanic country. The interpreting and translating skills produced from Dr. Gilbert's courses allowed me to thrive in an all-Peninsular Spanish workplace environment that once seemed so daunting.

    A year and a half later, I find myself in the Spanish Graduate Program here at The Florida State University where I not only continue to use my translation abilities, but also the refranes and Argentinean lingo that was picked up from Professor Gilbert. As a grad student and aspiring government linguist, Span 4110 and 4120 really helped set my course and prepared me for a career during a time of great uncertainty in my life. I encourage everyone to take these courses because no matter what professional field you go into, the translation and interpretation skills acquired will always strengthen your candidacy.

Student Projects

Fall 2024 & Spring 2025

Students in Intro to Spanish Translation and Interpreting courses (SPAN 4110), the Translation Technology course (LANG 4500), and the Advanced Spanish Translation course (SPAN 4120) collaborated with the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, Utah, to translate exhibit signage content into Spanish as well as the subtitles for a film the museum shows.

Fall 2023 & Spring 2024

Students in the advanced Spanish translation course (SPAN 4120) and Intro to Spanish Translation and Interpreting (SPAN 4110) collaborated with the Utah Film Center to translate dubbing scripts for a series of educational videos on filmmaking. Dr. Gilbert’s students have also gone a step further and crafted Spanish subtitles for the videos as well. Access to these materials in Spanish will help dual-immersion classrooms study the specialized terminology of cinematography. Julie Gale, Utah Film Center Director of Education & Family Programs, remarked:

This is INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much for engaging in this project with us, and on behalf of all the Spanish-speaking students that will use these resources for years to come, we appreciate your attention to detail!

Students in the intro course (SPAN 4110) also translated/revised a lengthy patient application form for Community Health Connect (CHC, a now-defunct non-profit organization), and the students in the advanced course (SPAN 4120), aside from managing the project and serving as a liaison with this client, performed final revisions for the project. Margaret Fullmer, CHC’s Mental Health Program Manager, said:

Our application has been much improved by the work your students have done! It is much simpler to read, comprehend, and follow. For our clientele—many of whom have no formal education—this makes an enormous difference.

Spring 2023

Students in the advanced Spanish translation course (SPAN 4120) collaborated with the UVU Museum of Art to make the Museum's offerings more inclusive. They localized the Museum's webpages, translating calls for artists, and translated exhibition materials for the new location at Lakemount Manor so they could be accessible to Spanish-speakers.

Fall 2022

Students in the advanced Spanish translation course (SPAN 4120) localized a website for the Orem startup BankHunter. Carbuyers were able to get banks to compete to be their lender by filling out BankHunter’s free online form. UVU students worked to craft messaging that would be professional and attractive to a wide range of Latino age groups and national origins. Additionally, they created a marketing video that was embedded on the Spanish webpage and designed many social media ads targeting Latinos.

Spring 2022

Devin Gilbert's Spanish translation students localized the highest-demand webpages from Orem City's website into Spanish in an effort to help the city increase civic engagement from Latino members of the community. Their service was recognized in an article from the Daily Herald.

 

Two rows of students and one professor posing for a picture on a sunny day in front of the giant green UVU letters on the Orem campus

logo for the Universidad de Costa Rica (says "Lucem Aspicio" below the seal, which is an image of a sunflower turning towards the rising sun)



Since the summer of 2022, Devin Gilbert's UVU students have done virtual exchanges with professor Mariana Valverde Vargas's students from the University of Costa Rica. Costa Rican students send over English writing/translation assignments for which UVU students give them feedback, and UVU students send translations they have done into Spanish so that the students from Costa Rica can critique their work.

Language Industry Day @ UVU

Feb

25

Language Industry Day 2026 @ UVU

Date: February 25

Time: 12pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Clarke Building 101C, Utah Valley University Orem Campus

Description:
Language Industry Day 2026 @ UVU is almost here! This year, we are thrilled to be hearing from Jeff Beatty, Executive Director of Product Management (Globalization and Localization) at the Walt Disney Company (12:00 to 1:00 pm).

Then, from 1:00 to 3:30 pm, we'll have language service providers, government agencies, academic programs, and civil society organizations exhibiting opportunities for the benefit of students.

All students and faculty from Utah institutions are invited. Last year, we had nearly 20 different companies and organizations. We hope to see you this year!

🔗 Soft RSVP Form (not required but helps us plan)

🔗 Event Page on LinkedIn

 

Past Events 

Professional Partners

logo for company memoQ

Thank you to memoQ for giving our students free access to their software through the memoQ Academic Program.

 

Logo for the company Phrase

We would like to thank Phrase for granting us free access to their platform through Phrase Academic Edition.

 

logo for company Lilt

We would also like to thank  Lilt for giving our program free access to their platform as a Lilt University Partner.

 

Logo for the company RWS

Thank you to RWS Trados for giving our program free access to Trados Team as part of their Academic Partner Program.

 

Logo for U.S. Translation Company

 

MultiLingual Logo

 

 

logo for company CommGap

 

 

Transcend Translation logo

Logo for the Utah Translators and Interpreters Association

 

logo for international non-profit organization Women in Localization

 

logo for the internship connection program of the Association of Language Companies: called ALC Bridge

 

Logo for the Universidad de Costa Rica

Careers

$9.1b  Translation Industry in US

2022 figure | ~45% growth since 2012

$7.6b  Interpreting Industry in US

– figure as of 2019

$55b  Global Language Industry

a market rife with opportunity

Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 20 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Learn More About the Language Services Industry

Internships

 

See the UVU Language Services Industry Internships webpage for all steps and directions on how to apply for an internship:

UVU INTERNSHIP APPLICATION STEPS

Established Internship Partners:

Click or tap on each logo to read more about available internships

 

U.S. translation Company logo
 

U.S. Translation Company is a language service provider that works with translation, localization, and conference interpreting projects. Intern with U.S. Translation Company in their downtown Salt Lake City headquarters in areas such as:

  • translation project management
  • vendor management
  • event interpreting coordination
  • sales

The company will provide a $500 stipend upon successful completion of the internship.

Recommended prerequisite course: LANG 4500 (Translation Technology)

How to Apply

See available internships on the company's Handshake profile. Request availability and apply by sending an email to  (if applying, send cover letter, resumé, and unofficial transcript).

CommGap logo
 

CommGap is a language service provider that works with translation and localization projects, and they also coordinate interpreting services. There are two different areas in which internship opportunities with CommGap are available:

Vendor Management and Localization Engineering

Intern with CommGap at their headquarters in Cottonwood Heights working in

  • vendor management (recruiting and managing independent contractor resources, such as interpreters and translators) or
  • localization engineering | relevant technology experience needed through either of the following two areas:
    • experience with CAT tools (Computer-Assisted Translation tools) through UVU’s Translation Technology course (LANG 4500) or through industry certifications 
    • experience with computer programming

Recommended prerequisite course: LANG 4500 (Translation Technology)

Interpreter (Independent Contractor)

Work with CommGap as an independent contractor interpreter, receiving in-person assignments throughout the Wasatch Front area. Applicants must already have status as a qualified medical interpreter (through UVU’s Healthcare Interpreting English-Spanish course (SPAN 4310) or through a similar 40-hour+ course offered through a third party). Watch these linked videos for more info on what it means to be a qualified interpreter and how UVU helps students attain this status.

Recommended prerequisite course: SPAN 4310 (Healthcare Interpreting English-Spanish)

How to Apply

Request availability and apply by sending an email to .

Transcend Translation logo
 

Transcend Translationis a language service provider that provides services in localization, translation, and interpretation in over 100 languages. Come intern to learn real life experience and the opportunity to earn a full or part-time position.

Transcend Translation has been recognized as the fastest organically growing translation company in the world by Slator.com and won Best of State for Languages Services in 2023 and 2024. Join an amazing company culture that loves to help organization bridge the language barriers and be global.

Transcend Translation headquarters is in Lehi, but this is a remote/virtual position so no need to travel. Positions available include:

  • vendor manager
  • project manager
  • sales intern
  • localization engineering (for students with relevant technology experience)

Recommended prerequisite course: LANG 4500 (Translation Technology)

How to Apply

Please email your resume, position you're interested in, and ideal internship availability to[email protected]. You can also reach them by phone at 385-955-1885.

Utah Translators and Interpreters Association logo
 

Utah Translators and Interpreters Association (UTIA) is Utah's organization for professionals and companies working in translation, interpreting, and localization. UTIA provides networking and educational opportunities to promote the professional growth of its members, and advance the cause of Language Access in Utah. Intern remotely with UTIA..

  • planning and organizing professional development events for translators and interpreters
  • conducting outreach with Utah schools and organizations

Recommended prerequisite course: SPAN 4110 (Intro to Translation and Interpreting English-Spanish)

How to Apply

Request more information by talking with Dr. Devin Gilbert .

MasterWord logo
 

MasterWord is a language services provider based out of Houston, Texas, that works with translation projects, interpreting assignments, and language access and language preservation. There are three types of internships UVU students can pursue with MasterWord:

Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project

While knowledge of Mayan languages would certainly be a plus, interns do not need to know any Mayan language, though Spanish proficiency would be required. This is a volunteer internship. Interns working on this project have two different opportunities:

  • Field work: Meet with Mayan language speakers in the area to record audio and gather/co-create linguistic artefacts. Curate, organize, and perform quality checks on resources.
  • Research intern: Research ongoing language digitization and preservation initiatives in Guatemala or conduct case studies of successful digitization efforts for other minority languages.
How to apply for the Mayan Languages Project:
  1. Apply here on HandShake, following all directions outlined for the internship
  2. Email Dr. Winston Scott ([email protected]) and Dulce María Horn ([email protected]) to notify them you’ve applied.
    • They are more than open to hearing from you before or after applying, so feel free to reach out to them with any questions you may have.

Recommended prerequisite course: LANG 3000 (Language and Culture)

Translation

Translate documents and receive feedback from other professionals who review your work. This is an unpaid internship, and there is need for the following language pairs: Spanish > English; English > Spanish.

Recommended prerequisite course: SPAN 4110 (Intro to Translation and Interpreting English-Spanish)

Interpreting

Interpret remotely for medical, social services, and educational assignments. This is a paid internship, and interns must apply at least 1 month before the start of the semester so they can take MasterWord’s interpreting assessment. Participation in this internship is conditional upon passing this assessment. There is need for the following language pairs: Spanish-English, French-English.

Recommended prerequisite course: SPAN 4310 (Healthcare Interpreting English-Spanish)

How to apply for Translation or Interpreting Internships:
  1. Apply using MasterWord’s internship application
  2. On step 3 of this application, indicate whether you are interested in translation or interpreting
  3. If applying for interpreting, follow up promptly with subsequent communications from MasterWord to complete your interpreting assessment
Intermountain Health logo
 

Intermountain Health has been committed to proving language access in healthcare for more than a decade. With a centralized language service department, medical interpreters and translators have been working in hundreds of languages for patients across the Intermountain West.

The language services department consists of 100 medical interpreters in various languages as well as a growing team of translators.

Translation Internsip

Translation intern will be working on the following projects:

  1. Management of translation requests
  2. Quality assurance of translations

Recommended prerequisite course: SPAN 4110 (Intro to Translation and Interpreting English-Spanish)

Spanish-English Healthcare Interpreting Internsip

Healthcare interpreting intern will shadow and eventually interpret under the supervision of an expert staff interpreter at an Intermountain Health facility.

Required prerequisite course: SPAN 4310 (Healthcare Interpreting English-Spanish)

How to Apply

Apply for either internship by filling out this online application form. Indicate in your application whether you are interested in the translation or the interpreting internship.

Interns with Intermountain Health will need to pass a background check, obtain the required immunizations and fulfill the required coursework prior to internships.

logo for In-House Interpreting
 
In-House Interpreting is a company that offers remote medical interpreting services. Their Spanish Medical Interpreter Internship Program provides university students with hands-on experience in medical interpreting while earning academic credit and a stipend. This competitive program is designed for students who have completed university-led medical interpreter training (see this video for how UVU helps students become healthcare interpreters) and are looking to enhance their skills in a real-world setting.

Requirements

Required prerequisite course: SPAN 4310 (Healthcare Interpreting English-Spanish)

To qualify, students must:

  • Submit a language evaluation verifying Spanish proficiency.
    • For those who do not have proof of language proficiency (ACTFL OPI exam, or similar), In-House Interpreting will provide a language evaluation during the internship interview process.
  • Get the professor who taught or is teaching your university interpreting course to fill out our online internship recommendation form
  • Provide a transcript showing successful completion of a university-led medical interpreter training class with a grade of B or higher.
    • If currently enrolled in a university-led medical interpreter training class, performance in the course will be determined via the professor’s responses in the above-mentioned internship recommendation form.
  • Complete an internship interview
  • Select and commit to a credit/stipend category
  • Be available to complete the internship within the designated semester
  • Be available to complete internship hours during the Internship hours of availability:
    • Students will select their availability between 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM MST, Monday – Friday.

Internship Credit and Stipend Categories

Students can choose from the following options:

  • 1 Credit: 60 Hours of Internship Work (Active Interpreting + Preparation)
    • $600 stipend - Requires 2,400 minutes (40 hours) of active interpreting on the IHI platform
  • 2 Credits: 120 Hours of Internship Work (Active Interpreting + Preparation)
    • $1,200 stipend - Requires 4,800 minutes (80 hours) of active interpreting on the IHI platform
  • 3 Credits: 180 Hours of Internship Work (Active Interpreting + Preparation)
    • $1,800 stipend – Requires 7,200 minutes (120 hours) of active interpreting on the IHI platform

Additional Information

  • Weekly evaluations will be conducted to monitor progress, enhance skills, and ensure a meaningful learning experience.
  • An IHI site supervisor will observe interns more frequently at the start of the internship. As interns develop confidence and proficiency, observations will occur less frequently.
  • Once an intern demonstrates sufficient confidence and skill, the site supervisor may grant permission to interpret outside the standard hours of 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM MST, Monday – Friday.
  • Interns will be expected to log their hours and document tasks completed each day they engage in any internship-related activity. The IHI platform will automatically log active
  • Credit hours are earned through “Internship Work,” which is defined as
    • Active interpreting minutes on IHI’s platform
      • “Active interpreting” means the minutes you are logged as being in a call on IHI’s platform. For example, if an intern is on the IHI platform for one hour but actively interprets for only 40 minutes, only 40 minutes will count as active interpreting time.
    • Time spent reflecting, studying, and preparing between calls on IHI’s platform
    • Time spent completing assignments required by the internship instructor, such as reflection papers.
  • Stipends will be disbursed upon successful completion of the required “Active Interpreting Minutes.”
  • Upon successful completion of the internship, students will receive a Remote Medical Interpreter (RMI) certificate of completion based on the hours of active interpreting performed during the internship (40/80/120 hours)

How to Apply

  1. Fill out In-House Interpreting’s Spanish Medical Interpreter Internship Application.
  2. Request that the professor who taught or is teaching your university interpreting course to fill out In-House Interpreting’s online internship recommendation form.
UVU Department of Languages & Cultures logo
 

Intern with our department working on community partnerships and career-centered events for students. For example, coordinate volunteer interpreting opportunities in local schools, find authentic translationprojects for students to work on, guide students as they revise their translations for TED Talks or other community-facing content, and help plan Language Services Industry Day.

How to Apply

Request more information by talking with Dr. Devin Gilbert  .

ALC Bridge logo
 
You can also search for language services industry internships through our partner ALC Bridge
logo for UVU Business Resource Center
 

Intern with the UVU Business Resource Center helping to teach business outreach classes and run events. Specifically Spanish-speaking interns are needed since many of the entrepreneurs who come in to the center are Spanish-speakers.

How to Apply

Request more information by talking with Dr. Devin Gilbert  .

 

Request more Info on Internships

Jobs!

Green letters arranged in a square: "ULIN" Join the UVU Language Industry Network on LinkedIn to see jobs in the industry.
 

ALC Bridge logo ALC Bridge Jobs Directory

 

A career in the language industry: where do I start?

Check it out: Starter kit on Translation, Interpreting, and Localization

Utah Translators and Interpreters Association Logo

Networking with the Utah Translators and Interpreters Association (UTIA) is a crucial first step for any student looking to start in the industry. Besides joining UTIA (student annual fee is only $20), check out their job board for local opportunities:

UTIA WEBSITE

 

MultiLingual Media logo

One great resource for the most up-to-date info on the industry is MultiLingual. For more than 30 years, MultiLingual has been serving as the world’s source of information for the language industry. Through their magazine, newsletter, website, YouTube channel, podcast, and social media platforms you will find anything you need to know about industry-related events, news, development and opportunities.

 

 

The American Translators Association (ATA) represents not just translators but interpreters as well. It's much more affordable to join as a student, and members can become ATA certified translators (students should look into the practice test, which is an affordable way to judge your readiness for certification). Also, check out their materials for those who are looking to start in the industry:

ATA: HOW TO START YOUR CAREER

 

Did you know you Utah Valley University can help you receive a Business Spanish Certification from the Official Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madrid?

Business Spanish Certification

 

 

See where an advanced degree in translation, interpreting, or localization management might take you:

Looking at the careers graduate students have attained after graduation can give you a great idea of what opportunities might be available to those who are interested in the language services industry (whether in translation, interpreting, localization, or more on the business side of things):

 

MIDDLEBURY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: LOCALIZATION CAREERS

 

Wake Forest University: Interpreting and Translation Alumni Careers

 

MIDDLEBURY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING CAREERS

Service Opportunities

Healthcare Interpreting

follow links or contact info below to volunteer

Social Services Interpreting

  • VITA Program with United Way of Utah County, Utah Valley — (interpret every winter between volunteer tax preparers and Spanish speakers)
  • Utah Valley Refugees, Utah Valley — (call (801) 850-6013 and then fill out this form to volunteer)
    • The organization helps resettle refugees in the Utah Valley area and needs volunteers who can interpret for in-person meetings and/or sign up for certain times of day where they can be "on call" to interpret phone conversations. They also have many internship opportunities.

Educational Interpreting

Organizations

With these local, national, and international organizations, there are several ways to get involved and volunteer. Get to it!