Translation Internships Abroad

“I chose Uruguay for its safety and security, but quickly fell in love with the ‘tranqui’ way of life, the Rioplatense dialect and the hospitality between the people. My expectations were to put my head down for four months and work at the office doing my internship in translation, then return home. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I met some amazing people from all over the world, who were fascinated about me and my country (the UK) and eager to exchange cultures. It was my first time visiting a country whose people didn’t know much about the UK, and I learned so much about how it is viewed on the other side of the world. Simultaneously I learnt so much about Uruguayan culture from almost constant interaction with natives both in the office at my internship and also at the home where I was staying. I found that Uruguayans are lovely people and will always do the most to ensure you are doing okay- in a way that is so different from the customary and empty English “how are you doing?” to which you will always answer “fine”. My experience with Adelante was amazing. Communication was always swift, I always found myself informed about the logistics of my placement and it was a big reassurance to have the programme coordinator in the country- especially as a young solo female traveller. I would heavily recommend Uruguay to anyone, but especially to any traveller who is concerned about safety. My experience here has been wonderful and I definitely see myself coming back.”

“Everything is going wonderfully here in Uruguay! I’m planning on visiting a tango show with my friend this weekend and also visiting the language exchange here in Montevideo which is held every Saturday. My work placement is a perfect fit for me- I’ve been translating a lot of guidelines for cancer treatments into Spanish- which is challenging, but satisfying and rewarding. My office has also moved so I’m enjoying taking a different route there every morning. Overall- I’m loving it! I wish I could stay longer.”

Everything in Spain is going well. The internship has been really great thus far. I mainly help to coordinate volunteers for projects that (my internship’s NGO section) has going on. But I have also helped with revisions in Spanish, French and English, and have translated a few articles into English. It’s been really interesting learning about all the programs, software, and how other people translate.

My Madrid summer with Adelante was amazing. As a graduate student, I was worried that this program wouldn’t be rigorous enough for me but I am happy to say I was wrong. My internship was so practical and, unlike in the U.S., I was given responsibility on projects and trusted with complex tasks that were presented to clients. My Spanish also improved more than I expected it to and now I feel comfortable talking to any Spanish speaker! Part of what drew me to Adelante is all the planning they do for you before you even set foot in the country. It was such a relief to not have to try to find housing or get an interview for the job I worked for. If you want to go abroad, experience a new culture and get a seriously good experience, Adelante is for you.