Hello all!

    My name is Will, and I am originally from California.  I will be living in the city of Madrid starting in September participating in the English Language and Cultural Assistant program in a Spanish primary school.  In short, I will work with a Spanish English teacher in a actual spanish classroom, imparting various aspects of English such as grammar, phonology and comprehension of texts to Spanish students.  I have already done this program from September of last year to June of this year in C?ceres in the Comunidad Autonoma de Extremadura and found it very rewarding.  In general, I’ve really enjoyed my experience in Spain so far and I would like to continue to live, study and/or work in Spain for as long as possible; I really enjoy the lifestyle and culture of the country.

    Something I am seriously considering is pursuing a masters degree in conference interpretation and translation.  I’ve done research into what the job entails and it seems like something I would really like to take up as a career.  I also study French and Portuguese in my free time (though I am looking into taking courses in an official language school this year) and feel this would be an excellent way to integrate these interests into my career.  I’ve received a bachelors degree from UCLA with a major in International Relations and a minor in Spanish in the Spring of 2009.  My problem of course then is finding out if this degree would be valid in Spain.  I understand that the process of homogenization of a degree from a university from outside the EU to fit their academic standards is a lengthy and often complicated process and I’m not sure where to start.  My major at UCLA didn’t provide any formal academic training in Conference Interpretation and Translation but I was also wondering if gaining professional experience, through acquiring part time paid or unpaid work during my stay in Spain this year, would help me. 

  Has anyone else gone through this process of trying to get their university degree validated in Spain?  How does one go about doing this?  Has anyone worked in translation and interpretation in the country before and have any suggestions on how to get started?

  I would be very grateful for any advice or accounts of previous experiences that someone might have to provide.  Thank you very much for your time!

  Cheers

schaperwill,
you can check the websites of all spanish universities and see all the programs (diplomatura, licenciatura or grado) they offer that may match your degree.
if you cannot find a match look for the ones which have as many subjects in common with your degree.
if you cannot find then try to accredit it as grado en humanidades.
you download the application,
and you submit all the requirements to listed. it may take 2 years to get an answer.

if you don’t get accredited, there is still a chance that you can pursue a master’s degree in translation and interpretation.
the school may accept your degree as a non acredited foreign grado meeting the requirement to take the master.

i have plans of taking this degree myself but i prefer to take the grado instead of the master’s when the uned offers it.
why? because you can become a certified translator when you get the diploma.

Thank you for the advice!  However I would like to know what the difference is between a masters and a grado.  Is this another option I can pursue or is this something you do if you don’t already have a degree?

Thanks again!

schaperwill,
a grado is a bachelor’s degree.
you can take as many bachelor’s degrees as you want.

Hey Will,

I’m in Caceres this year and I was last year as well! I don’t think we ever met but Mai and Jimmy mentioned you a few times. I’m looking into the same degree and I would like to know what information you found. I’m finishing up the Auxiliar program in May and I would like to stay on in Spain. Should I not find a teaching gig anywhere I want to get started on the degree in Translation and Interpretation. It seems there are a few options throughout Spain but the qualifications are vague and if the person that responded to your previous post says it takes 2 years, I want to get started now. What say you? 😊