When you translate for your family and community, you’re using some amazing skills, like switching between languages, problem-solving, and understanding cultural differences. These skills are valuable now and will continue to help you in school, work, and life.
Skills you’re building:
- Navigating between languages and cultures: You know how to move between languages and between cultures, as you help others by translating, interpreting, and just doing things for them.
- Problem-solving: You can find solutions when instructions or situations are unclear.
- Active listening and summarizing: You make sure everyone understands important information, and to do this, you have to listen carefully and then summarize what is being said.
- Communication and leadership: During moments when you are interpreting between two people (or more!), you work to make sure others feel included and informed.
Resources for skill-building:
Want to keep building these skills, or see how other young language brokers experience them? Here are a few places to start:
- Read this article to see how one young translator experiences skill-building during her day-to-day life activities: Day in the Life
- Check out our page for teachers, more information about all The Skills Involved
- Visit these “Know Your Rights” community resources, to help you think about how to navigate tricky legal situations: Immigrant Legal Resource Center and CIELO