My experience and education ensure sensitive, nuanced translations into English, my native language. I have more than 15 years of experience in technical writing, editing, and publication production for a cultural resource management/historic preservation firm at the College of William & Mary in the United States. This professional experience is invaluable for producing appropriately worded and carefully edited translations into the target language. Further qualifications include a B.A. in British History from the University of Chicago and M.A. in American Studies from the College of William & Mary. Requirements for the M.A. included writing a thesis on the history of publishing in Early America, using Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia as a case study.
Fluency in French comes, first of all, from immersion in French language for six years (4th through 9th grades) at the SHAPE International School in Casteau, Belgium. All instruction and conversation with peers was in the French language. I used French widely outside of school both in the local community and with friends, and as a consumer of popular culture. After moving to the United States in the 10th grade, I continued to practice the French language and learn about Francophone cultures through courses at the high school and college levels. Before beginning a career in cultural resource management, I applied my knowledge of the language to teaching French full-time at the middle school level and giving part-time individual instruction to adults. In addition to thorough education in the French language, I also have studied Latin (three and a half years), Dutch (three years), and German (one year) at the high school level.
Freelance experience includes a French to English translation of a 200-page text on the history of French naval strategy for the U.S. Navy.
I look forward to applying my skills and experience to a variety of translation projects. |