How to become a Professional Interpreter - Amparo reveals secrets!

Connected Conversations | July 24, 2025

What does it take to become an interpreter in today’s world—where AI is booming and cross-cultural communication is more vital than ever?

In this episode of Connected Conversations, we meet Amparo Villar García, Ad Astra’s Head of Training and a certified trainer with over 15 years of professional interpreting experience. Amparo has worked across medical, legal, conference, and business settings, and has trained hundreds of interpreters across sectors since 2018.

She’s not just navigating change—she’s driving it.

🎓 Demystifying Interpreter Certification & Training

Amparo breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in the field: training doesn’t equal certification.

She explains the difference between completing a 40- or 60-hour training program (to earn a certificate) and obtaining national certification, such as through the NBCMI or CCHI in the U.S.

With the launch of Ad Astra’s Online Skills Academy, she’s making interpreter training more accessible while still upholding rigorous standards of ethics, cultural competency, and practical application.

🤖 AI as a Tool—Not a Threat

Rather than fearing AI, Amparo sees it as an ally.

She discusses how interpreters can use AI tools to enhance prep time, broaden access, and optimise delivery—but insists that human interpreters still bring something irreplaceable: empathy, nuance, discretion, and cultural understanding.

Especially in areas like mental health or legal interpretation, the stakes are too high for anything less than human judgment.

💼 Diverse Backgrounds, Shared Purpose

One of the most refreshing insights from the episode is how many interpreters don’t come from linguistics backgrounds.

Amparo highlights how people with experience in healthcare, law, education, finance, or even the arts often become some of the most impactful interpreters—because they understand the subject matter and the stakes.

Whether you’re a nurse, a teacher, or a tech professional, interpreting can become a second career filled with meaning.

🧭 Finding Fulfillment in a Career Shift

Amparo also shares her own story of career transformation—how she left behind a different professional path and discovered deep fulfillment in interpreting.

She reflects on how the work connects her with people, gives her purpose, and continually challenges her to grow—not just as a linguist, but as a cultural bridge-builder.

🧠 Specializations & Settings in Interpretation

The episode dives into the varied settings interpreters work in:

Medical interpretation (with a focus on mental health)
Legal settings, including depositions and courtrooms
Conference interpreting
Business and education sectors

Each setting demands different skills—but across all of them, professionalism, confidentiality, and compassion are essential.

🎧 Final Takeaway

Whether you’re exploring interpretation as a new career or looking to deepen your skills, this episode offers a practical and inspiring window into the field.

With AI on the rise and global need growing, there’s never been a better time to bring human connection into professional interpretation.

🎧 Listen now and get inspired by Amparo’s journey—and the tools, training, and mindset that define today’s interpreters.