About Us
The Translator and Interpreter Corps (TIC) gives its student employees, who are proficient in at least one foreign language, the opportunity to complete real-world translation and interpreting projects with partners across Chicagoland. TIC students gain valuable experience in translation and interpreting as they help break down language barriers and build bridges between cultures.
TIC provides students with a unique opportunity to use their language skills in the service of others as they develop competencies that may serve them in the future. TIC students work with the support and guidance of the Director of TIC and other faculty from the Department of Modern Languages.
TIC offers a limited number of student worker positions depending on current and projected needs. To inquire whether TIC is currently accepting applications, or for any other information about TIC, please contact Elias Shakkour, Director of TIC, at
tic@depaul.edu.
Mission
TIC was founded in 2015 as an initiative to provide immigrant, low-income and/or limited-English proficiency (LEP) individuals with access to key language services that would have otherwise been unavailable to them. The goal was to support DePaul's Vincentian mission and at the same time provide students with experiential learning opportunities by allowing them to gain practical experience in translation and interpreting. Since then, TIC has expanded the scope of its services to include any and all organizations and individuals needing translation and interpreting services for any reason.
TIC continues to be committed to promoting linguistic justice and diversity through translation and interpreting work, in the hopes of working toward a more equitable, just, and peaceful society.
TIC was originally founded through support from the MacArthur Foundation, as an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Law School’s Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic and the Department of Modern Languages. Since the fall of 2019, TIC has been housed in and funded by the Department of Modern Languages.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the translation and interpreting professions are projected to grow by 18% by 2026. Despite the aid of machine translation and other tools, nuanced human intervention remains essential, hence the need for talented translators and interpreters.
Additionally, translation and interpreting skills are advantageous in many careers, as there are a host of areas that intersect with translation and interpreting, such as scientific and medical research, business operations, literature, trade and patent work, media, immigration and legal services, government and intergovernmental positions, education, medicine, museology, and archaeology. The skills acquired through TIC work have lasting professional value across a variety of disciplines and fields.