I am a professional translator and teacher with over 15 years of experience translating English to Portuguese and Portuguese to English. My circumstances are unique in that I grew up bilingual so I am a native speaker in both languages. Also, having spent my teen years through adulthood in the US, I was able to attend school here. Living here gave me the opportunity to see the English language in action. What I mean by that is I can not only translate words but I can interpret them how they would actually be used in the US by actual American people. A translation is worthless if communication is not achieved. For example, someon translates an idiomatic expression from English to Portuguese. The translation is technically correct but is not commonly used. If that person tries to use that term as it was translated the listener will not understand. Therefore, it was not a good translation. I feel it's important to live in the country of the language in which one is translating in order to be an effective translator. Usage and meaning are a major component in translating effectively. The technical part of translating can be learned but translating usage can only be acquired through experience. That is where I come in. I am fortunate to have both. I have a Bachelor's Degree in English and have studied the English language from an educator's perspective for many years. My interest is in effective communication and biculturalism. I hope through my knowledge and experience to help others become better translators and communicatiors.