COVID-19 and Language Professionals

The emergence of the coronavirus had an enormous impact on the world economy. Governments had shut down whole commercial sectors and the effects are now being felt in all the economy. The language industry is not an exception. With more than 80% of the revenues of the international language service market coming from the EU and North America, 2 of the worst affected regions of the world, it is not difficult to imagine that COVID-19 is one of the current top concerns for language professionals.

In this article, I am going to analyze the effects of the pandemic over 3 areas: interpretation services, translation services, and language teaching industry. I am not currently working in any of those areas so I will base my research on available reports and my conversations with colleagues.    

Interpretation Services

Interpreters who typically work face to face are having the hardest impact. With event cancellations, growing concerns about the risks faced working onsite and facing isolation and lockdown measures in some cities are part of the ongoing crisis. Most Professional Interpreters are freelancers who do not enjoy the same work benefits as people who are full-time employees. 

Some of the industries among the top users of interpretation services are Event production, entertainment, travel, schools, and training business. All of them have been affected by suspensions and cancellations. Some organizations are using online options for distance meetings and interpretation technologies where my interpreter colleagues are not invited. 

Legal services and Banking are now working partially. They are still open but for essential services. Right now, there are few assignments coming from those sectors, however, there are many cases on hold waiting for a normalization of activities and we could expect a surge in the demand of services when this happens.

But on another hand, Healthcare is a critical area where interpreters are needed. But additional solutions are now in use like the VRI (Video Remote Interpreting). Thanks to VRI language professionals can work remotely with limited exposure while performing their role helping patients and healthcare professionals to communicate effectively in this critical moment. VRI can easily be implemented whether the patient is receiving treatment in a hospital or at home.   

Language professionals who work remotely over the phone have seen an increase in remote interpreting assignments.

Translation Services

Translation services are very important for a global response to the outbreak of coronavirus. On the other hand, most of the Translators are ready to work from home using online tools. Scientists and Medical professionals need to act quickly amid the crisis and information need to be spread efficiently and translators have been called to assist. 

It looks that there is plenty of work opportunities in this sector, but the truth is that this business has suffered a severe blow due to cancellations and slow down of important sectors that require translations, like tourism, financial, marketing. Some international companies are requesting translations basically to inform their employees about the COVID-19, what is it, how to prevent it and new policies to help protect workers and customers alike.

But there are other points virtually unknown: There are a lot of organizations that now rely on volunteer translators, including the United Nations, Translators Without Borders, Amnesty International. Some communities are also requesting help from volunteer translators.

In another hand, the Translation Bureau of Canada, reports that translation agencies have cut prices for their services.

Teaching Languages

Teaching a language is now an international business. It does not only serve people who just want to learn a language for fun. Some countries attract thousands of international students who come to learn the local language. Canada attracts approx 150 thousand international students each year who want to learn either English or French and this sector employs approx 9000 people. 

With such amount of schools and educational institutions going into lockdown, this activity has been impacted. This means teachers having to stay home without working hours and multiple cancellations. Those teachers who work in-company have been also affected by cancellations. New travel restrictions in place also mean that prospective students are postponing their plans for language learning. Important language tests have been suspended as well.

But not all are bad news. Language learning is now going online and teachers who are prepared for this new reality are facing new job proposals with even more working hours. Some schools that are not able to receive new students in their classrooms are now offering online solutions and students are glad to accept them. 

In the other hand, language apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone and Babbel are experiencing a surge in language software sales. There are many people trying to learn a new language while staying home.

Language professionals are coping with the impact of COVID-19 in their business. But one thing in common when dealing with this reality is the use of online resources in order to continue delivering services. It is possible that when this crisis is over, online reality will remain. Language professionals need computer literacy. Those who are ready to work with IT tools will probably be in a better position to keep their business going.