BERKANA LANGUAGE CENTER’s mission is to provide the best, practical self-study materials possible for translators and interpreters, as well as specialized English/Spanish dictionaries and glossaries, please use the Products tab. 

We also offer testing services in English and Spanish, please use the Testing tab.

BERKANA LANGUAGE CENTER is an approved provider of continuing education classes for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – TDLR, as well as for the American Translators Association – ATA.

Please visit our Facebook.com/Berkana-Language-Center page for occasional tips, questions, answers and discussions on translating and interpreting.

 

Berkana News!
 

It is with regret that Eta Trabing will stop the classes she has been teaching to prepare people for the certification/licensing exam for state court interpreters. Occasionally, Berkana will give a special class, either upon request or when there is time and interest; notices will be sent to those on our e-mail list, and the class will be posted on our web site.
 

Circumstances have determined that she must put her energies into other priorities at this time, such as more writing and updating of books and dictionaries.
 

TDLR classes will continue so as not to lose the provider slot Berkana now holds in Texas and the many friends we’ve made of the state’s LCIs. When the TDLR LCI Advisory Committee decides how it will implement the new interpreter law in Texas (by 9-1-10), Berkana will reevaluate and decide how it may best help the two levels of LCIs in this state.
 

Over the years of teaching, Eta has found that people whose general knowledge, and English and Spanish skills are at an adult, postgraduate college level, and who wish to pass the certification/ licensing exam for state court interpreters, can mostly do so on their own, just using the books Berkana Language Center offers for interpreter self-study.
 

It takes a lot of self-discipline and constant study on one’s own for ever to become and remain a top-notch interpreter in the courts or anywhere else. So self-study is a good way for potential interpreters to know if they really want to pursue this career and if they have the self-discipline to study on their own every day. Interpreting means learning new things for as long as you are in this career. New technologies, new words, new subjects – it’s never ending – which is what makes it so much fun and so interesting for those who want to keep up with out quickly-changing world as interpreters or translators.

 

In the FAQs, on the Berkana web site (www.eberkana.com) please read the article on Bilingualism – And What To Do With Yours. You can print it out and take your time reading it or share it with others – it’s free. Not everyone who is bilingual has to be an interpreter or translator. Every single job that has ever been created is made better by a bilingual person who can do that job in two languages. Interpreting and translating takes years of language studies and then a few more years of studying how to be a good/excellent translator or interpreter. Interpreters and translators need to know their two languages much better than the average adult, bilingual person, as one never knows what someone else is going to say, and we have to be ready for anything and everything.

 

 

 

Products
Check out our selection of exclusive, industry-specific books, bilingual dictionaries and CD's that will help you to become a better interpreter or translator and make working in a bilingual environment easier.  Click here to purchase online.

Testing Services
Language Proficiency tests in English and Spanish assess your language knowledge to work in bilingual positions. The simulated certification test for State court interpreters will let you know whether you are ready for the state oral certification exam. Click here to learn why this is so important

FAQ
Interested in becoming a translator or interpreter, or interested in certification? Click here to get answers to the most common questions about this career field.

Related Sites
Links to sites dealing with translation, interpretation and cross cultural studies.  Click here.

Search our site.  You can explore our site by using our on-site search engine.  Click here to open our search form. 

 

 

Upcoming TDLR Classes
CE credits for licensed Texas court interpreters and all others interested in the subjects.  American Translators Association (ATA)-approved classes
for the same number of CE credit hours.


All classes will be held in the conference room of the La Quinta Inn & Suites, 22455 Katy Freeway (Interstate 10), Katy, TX 77450 (281.392.9800).  If you're coming from out of town, it is also a nice place to stay.

Registration deadline with PayPal ten (10) days before each course. Personal checks must be received 10 days before each course. For additional information or questions, please call Eta Trabing at 832-437-2666. All classes provide 1 hour for lunch, or you can bring a sack lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided.  The hotel has a soft drinks machine.

Certificates of completion will be given to participants, and their participation posted on the TDLR website the day after the class. If you are not taking CE courses for TDLR or for ATA, you will still get a certificate of completion. Handouts will be provided for all classes.

You can register with PayPal on this website by clicking the button under each class you are interested in, or send a check to: Berkana, 739 Copper Creek Dr., Katy, TX 77450.


Saturday March 6, 2010
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN COURT INTERPRETING

Non-Language Specific
Course No. 5019   3 CE credit hours
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Instructor: M. Eta Trabing

Registration: $60.00.

 

Saturday March 6, 2010
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY PRACTICE SESSION
Course No. 4586    5 CE credits
12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Instructor: M. Eta Trabing

Registration: $100.00

You can sign up for one course or for both on this day.

 

 

Berkana is the DBA of M. Eta Trabing, author, teacher/trainer, technical translator, conference interpreter, and both U.S. and state certified court interpreter with over 40 years of experience.


Contact Us
Please email us if you have any questions.  We'll get back to you quickly with the information you need.

You can also contact us by mail or phone: 

Berkana
739 Copper Creek Dr.
Katy, TX 77450

832-437-2666

 


 

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739 Copper Creek Dr.
Katy, TX 77450
832-437-2666