<p><span class="p-body">NYU SPS Adjunct Instructor Jeff Beatty holds a BA from Brigham Young University in Spanish Translation and Computational Linguistics as well as an MSc from the University of Limerick in Multilingual Computing and Localization. Before joining NYU SPS, he taught courses on translation technology for almost a decade at BYU, and had defined the courses and curriculum for their Translation and Localization undergraduate minor program. However, after a respectable tenure, he decided it was time to make a change. Thankfully NYU was looking to create a course on Machine Translation and Post-Editing!</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Beatty has always found that the best way to learn is through teaching. His initial draw to the profession was to learn more in-depth topics, and understanding that he would be expected to teach and be the &quot;expert in the room&quot; on various topics. However, in addition to the learning opportunities, the students he has encountered have truly been what's kept him returning to teach semester after semester.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">&quot;I like teaching technical courses to non-technical students, because the course becomes a defining moment in their lives,&quot; he shares. &quot;They decide to take on what they view as an herculean challenge. I've seen so many students rise to the challenge in this program and have been very impressed with each of their efforts.&quot;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">He finds that adapting lessons and assignments to be challenging yet achievable, as well as finding appropriate educational materials, can be equally challenging and rewarding. &quot;There's a lot out there on machine translation that is either marketing fluff or out of the deeply technical computer science world,&quot; he explains. &quot;It's difficult to find materials that offer the right balance of being informative, but digestible.&quot;</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Beatty believes that cultural relevance is important in the technology space—for two main reasons. &quot;First, culturally agnostic localization of a product incurs a high risk for companies who choose to localize their products, because there's a lot of potential for things to go wrong and become press nightmares. But secondly, you want deep engagement,&quot; he divulges.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">When asked how aspiring translators and interpreters can stay ahead of the curve, he believes it essential to learn how to communicate effectively to your audience. Too often, translation and interpretation professionals are mired in their own jargon, and try to &quot;educate&quot; people by tossing them into the deep end of our world.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">&quot;Learning how to adapt your communication and &quot;translate&quot; industry speak to lay-people is a critical life skill that will improve your odds of finding work, being seen as a collaborative partner, and obtaining influence within a fast paced industry,&quot; he urges. But that's not all—he also stresses the importance of becoming early tech adopters. &quot;Don't fall for the hype of new tech's promises (validate, validate, validate) or be afraid to start using tech you're unfamiliar with!&quot;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Earning an MS in <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-translation.html">M.S. in Translation &amp; Interpreting</a> at NYU SPS can open doors you may have never imagined possible. See where you can start the next chapter of your career with a degree from the Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media.</span></p>