Interpretation and Translation
Valérie Guitton, owner of ACCULINGUAL, started her career in translation and interpretation in 1998.
Shortly after moving to London, U.K. in 1998 with a Graduate Business degree from France (l’École Supérieure de Commerce de Brest), Valérie was hired by language agencies to do contract work for multinational companies such as Standard & Poor’s, Lactalis U.K. Ltd, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the U.N.
Although her work was at first mainly marketing-oriented, she was also always asked to act as a translator, and in some instances, as an interpreter. As she spent more time in the Big Ben city, her contract work for London-based international companies became more and more focused on language skills and translation.
For example, Valérie acted as an English-French bilingual liaison and administrator for the African department of the international non-profit World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which promotes high quality non-formal educational programs and international opportunities for girls and women around the world.
She was also hired to assist with interpreting at a conference on orphan diseases for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of the E.U., and later, as a Translation Reviser for the French Word Processing Department of the IMO, the Maritime agency of the U.N.
International Experience
After 4 years in the British capital, Valérie decided to further her studies and expand her career opportunities by earning a degree in English-French Translation. To this end, she moved to Toronto, ON, Canada, and earned a Bachelor Honours degree in English-French Translation from York University.
While studying at York University, she also worked as a translator for the Glendon College Psychology Department, translating into French English websites on research and testing in the field of psychology ; as well as doing occasional translations for the Glendon College Athletics Club.
After graduation from York University in 2005, Valérie moved to San Diego, CA, U.S.A, where she combined her business and language skills as a Bilingual Translator and Office Manager for Kyriba Treasury Management, a Franco-American company, until 2007.
In 2008 Valérie created Acculingual, and started accepting freelance translation and interpretation assignments.
She also decided to return to college that year, and graduated in 2012 with a Master’s in French studies and a Certificate in English-Spanish Interpretation and Translation from San Diego State University (SDSU).
Since she started learning German in France as a child, she also took classes in German-English Translation at SDSU (though no degree was offered in this language combination).
Teaching and Tutoring
During her time at SDSU, Valérie taught diverse subjects in French for the Department of European Studies, from Beginner courses in French Language to French Literature and French Civilization courses.
She also worked at the Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC) for San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF) on various language programs and projects.
And she taught French grammar at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
Valérie has also been providing on-going tutoring classes in French to British, Canadian and American kids and adults. She has experience teaching learners of various backgrounds, ages, and levels of French.
Present
Since 2014, Valérie is also a contractor for the Alliance for African Assistance.
She assists refugees at medical appointments by interpreting for them from English into French and for their doctor from French into English. If needed, she offers translation services as well.
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