SWAP TRANSLATORS, a well-established leader in the Colombian translation industry, is dedicated to delivering high-quality, timely, and culturally accurate services. As part of its social and professional commitment, the company partners with universities to host interns from modern language programs. These internships aim to provide students with real-world experience while giving the company access to fresh talent.
However, experience has revealed that many interns, despite their academic preparation, lack certain critical skills for professional translation work. These gaps span both linguistic and technological areas including advanced language use to managing glossaries, working with terminology databases, and handling essential tools such as Microsoft Word. This is not a problem unique to Swap Translators—it mirrors a global challenge in aligning academic language training with the evolving demands of the translation industry.
One promising framework for addressing these challenges lies in literacy coaching, a model gaining prominence not only in schools but also across professional, bilingual, and global industries. Literacy coaching focuses on sustained, personalized, and feedback-driven development—a model that aligns closely with the mentoring approach already in place at Swap Translators. By situating the company’s training within this broader international conversation, it becomes possible to highlight its alignment with trends in literacy education and workforce development.
University language programs provide students with strong theoretical foundations in linguistics, translation theory, and cultural studies. Students gain an appreciation for language as a system, learn to navigate between source and target cultures, and explore translation strategies. However, the emphasis is often on theory rather than practical, hands-on skills that mirror industry needs.
The translation sector demands far more than linguistic competence. Professionals must be adept at terminology management, operate Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, and deliver client-ready documents with perfect formatting. They must also adapt to diverse style guides, maintain consistency across large projects, and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously. Without practical preparation in these areas, graduates face steep learning curves once employed.
Identifying skills gaps
- Language proficiency and style. Many interns show strong bilingual skills but struggle with advanced grammar, register, and stylistic consistency. Problems include literal translations, sensitive data spelling mistakes, and insufficient adaptation to cultural context. These weaknesses often require extensive feedback and targeted coaching to correct.
- Technological and digital literacy. A significant proportion of interns lack familiarity with Microsoft Word’s advanced functions, Excel-based project tracking, IA tools, and CAT tools like SDL Trados, MemoQ, or Phrase. Without these skills, efficiency suffers and project managers must invest additional time in corrections.
- Professional and organizational skills. Deficits in time management, attention to client-specific instructions, and understanding project workflows are common. Interns often need structured guidance to develop a professional work rhythm.
The training approach
Structured in-house training covers Microsoft Office proficiency, glossary creation, and the use of translation memories. Interns also learn terminology management practices, ensuring consistent and accurate use of specialized vocabulary.
The mentoring approach at Swap Translators embodies the essence of literacy coaching: Sustained, personalized, and feedback-rich. Swap Translators guides interns in building both linguistic and strategic competence by providing online tools via WhatsApp and authored courses adapted to the main errors and faults encountered during quality control processes.
Quality control personnel help interns develop culturally responsive translations, maintain tone consistency, and improve overall quality. This parallel positions Swap Translator’s training as part of a larger movement toward coaching-based professional development.
Recommendations for colleges and universities
- Integrating translation technology in curricula: Mandatory, hands-on courses in CAT tools, terminology databases, and professional formatting should be embedded in translation programs. Students should graduate with demonstrable competence in these tools.
- Collaboration with industry partners: Jointly developed internship programs ensure alignment between academic training and professional expectations. These partnerships could also facilitate guest lectures, workshops, and collaborative projects that bridge the gap between the classroom and workplace.
- Adopting a coaching mindset: Institutions should adopt a literacy coaching approach for skill development, guiding students in their transition from academic learning to professional performance. This mindset fosters adaptability, resilience, and a deeper integration of theory and practice.
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Closing the gap between academic preparation and professional translation demands requires sustained cooperation between higher education and industry. Swap Translators’ approach—enriched by the principles of literacy coaching—offers a practical model for developing translators who are linguistically skilled, technologically competent, and culturally aware.
The broader role of language educators is to build strong literacy foundations that extend beyond the classroom and into professional life. A literacy-based approach, applied consistently from early education through higher education and into professional development, can raise the overall quality of language professionals entering the industry. For translation companies, this means receiving interns who can quickly adapt to workflows, contribute meaningfully to projects, and maintain high standards of quality.
By aligning its mentoring with global coaching models, Swap Translators not only addresses immediate training needs but also participates in the long-term advancement of the translation profession. Strengthening literacy education across the educational pipeline is ultimately an investment in the future of the industry, benefiting employers, educators, and professionals alike.
John Oyuela (john.oyuela@swap.com.co), an ILA member, is the co-founder of Swap Translators, current president of the National Association of Official Translators and Interpreters of Colombia, graduate of philology and languages from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and specialist in text translation from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. He is a specialist in legal, technical, and commercial translation, and lecturer of translation techniques courses.
