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Impeccable academic credentials

I worked my way through university, earning a B.A. cum laude in Spanish Language and Literature from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, along with more than 15 M.A. credits earned through the A Grade Advanced Placement Program while still an undergraduate. Most of my studies were focused on linguistic theory and comparative historical Romance linguistics. After graduation, I was offered a position on W.S.U.'s adjunct faculty. I accepted the offer and taught second- and third-semester Spanish to university students for three years prior to moving to Spain.

Additional qualifications

I hold the prestigious Diploma in Translation from the Institute of Linguists. This post-graduate diploma is classified by the British Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in the National Framework of Qualifications at level 7 (Master's Degree). If you are unfamiliar with this internationally recognised and highly regarded qualification, you can read more about it here: IOL

Spanish has been part of my life since I first discovered it at the age of five. By the time I began formal studies at the age of 13, I had already learned hundreds of words on my own, which enabled me to complete four years of high school Spanish studies in just three years. During my senior year in high school, I was admitted on an exceptional basis to Oakland University to study Spanish Phonetics, for which I received the mark of 3.5/4 (the second highest in the class of 18).

I lived for ten years in southwest Detroit's barrio, where I became familiar with several variants of Latin American Spanish. In 1995, I moved to Málaga, Spain, where I was finally able to totally and happily immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture. All members of my family are bilingual and bicultural.

Upon arriving in Málaga, I began working as a teacher of Spanish, Modern International History, British History and Child Care and Development at a British international school on the Costa del Sol.

I've been a full-time freelance translator for the past six years. Prior to that, I translated part-time and as part of different jobs I held beginning in 1985.

Areas of expertise

Following are some of the projects I have done in the fields I work in:

Power Generation/Alternative Energies: For the past three years, I've translated nearly all the documentation for five different solar-thermal power generation plants to be built at different locations in Spain. Totalling nearly 1,000,000 words to date, these documents include Environmental Impact Studies (averaging some 150,000 words each), Preliminary Studies, Sound Models, Atmospheric Dispersion Models, Restoration Plans, Plans for Compensatory Measures, Wildlife Inventories, etc. Other projects include specifications for stringing high-voltage overhead lines, preliminary plans for the world's largest wind farm, cable quality specifications, reports on power generation and alternative energies for several Latin American countries, power generation-related publications in Official Gazettes (BOE), proposals for funding for algae-based bio-fuel research, portable solar power generation units, etc.

Other technical translations: Instruction manuals (paint, cement, concrete, household appliances, scaffolding, etc.), UNE (Spain) and COVENIN (Venezuela) technical standards, dam evaluations, tunnel construction projects, road signage, installation of fire fighting equipment, building exit standards, occupational risk prevention, factory health and safety guidelines, etc.

Sociology/Social Sciences: Archaeological reports, reports on social exclusion, socio-economic impact reports, annual and quarterly reports from ONGs serving street children in various Central American countries, progress reports for the UN's Millennium Development Goals, etc.

Marketing: PowerPoint presentations of marketing campaigns, marketing survey results ("verbatims"), "secret shopper" instructions and reports, press releases.

History and Culture: The new 300+ page "The Alhambra and the Generalife: Official Guide", published in September 2010; exhibition materials for several museums; and a guide to historical sites in Spain, among others.

Business: Annual Accounts (large and small), Annual Reports, business correspondence, contracts, PowerPoint training presentations, etc.

Tourism: The 2008 Andalusian "Grandes experiencias: Turismo para Mayores en Andalucía" (a nearly 200-page catalogue of Andalusian holidays for seniors); brochures on local sites of interest for several Spanish cities; hotel materials (letters of welcome, fire safety instructions, room service menus, etc.).

Formats

Word (all versions), .pdf, PowerPoint, Excel

Technology

Four PC's and a laptop running various versions of Windows and Office, two printers/scanners, Wordfast Classic and Wordfast Pro (licenced versions), all of which are kept updated and running by my husband, a 20+ year computer professional.

Philosophy

You can count on me to "go the extra mile" to attain the highest possible quality translation. Once finished, each translation is carefully proofread before being delivered on time and in the requested format.

I'm fast, accurate, flexible, reliable and honest. I enjoy my profession and the quality of my translations reflects my love of Spanish and my passion for high standards.