Linguist Spotlight: Laura – From Studying Biology to Mastering Translation

Our linguists are the heartbeat of our mission, bringing diverse stories and expertise to the forefront of global communication. We’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Laura, one of our experienced Spanish translators whose life journey includes biology, teaching, and an abiding passion for language that makes her work truly rewarding.

Laura's path to translation was not a straight line. She initially began studying biology at a local university in Argentina, but soon realized it wasn't her passion. Her true calling was rooted in a long-standing fascination with foreign culture and other languages that she began studying at 13. 

Her professional life began with a big translation company in Mexico City, where she lived for two years after an impactful year as an Au Pair in Connecticut. Upon returning to Argentina, she established her own small business providing remote English training for companies, a venture she still owns. After teaching for about ten years, Laura now leaves that up to her team so she can focus on what she loves most: translation. "What I really love is translating," she says. "For me, it’s so rewarding to get paid for doing something that I love!  

While Laura is formally trained in legal translation, she found her true niche in educational translation. This specialization was honed during her time with Global Wordsmith, and it quickly became her "right area of expertise.” She attributes her love of educational translation to her years spent teaching, studying biology, and being a mom of three. 

Laura translates documents like Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and re-evaluation reports. She finds this work profoundly interesting and rewarding, especially as she learns about children with different needs and disabilities, like Autism. She views her work as a mutual exchange: “It’s really rewarding when you translate, because you’re learning at the same time. You give, but you also get back in so many ways. I'm providing the translation for somebody that will be able to understand this and be able to communicate with their teachers, the schools and their kids.”

Laura values the flexibility that her translation career offers. Working from home allows her to manage her own time, which is essential as a mother of three children. "I can be a mom who’s present. I can make it to all their school activities, and I’m so lucky to say, I’m always there.

She remains eager to learn, even contemplating studying a new language, like Italian, as a passion project. Laura's dedication to quality in her translation work, ensuring the meaning is conveyed accurately and not just literally, makes her an invaluable asset to Global Wordsmith and the communities we serve.

When she’s not translating, she’s spending time with her family and doing insanely challenging yoga poses like postura del cuervo.   Interested in joining our team of linguists? If so, contact careers@globalwordsmiths.com. We’d love to hear from you.