Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) is charting a path for its international student-athletes beyond the playing field. This spring, two Brazilian students teamed up to translate Innovation for Children—a Portuguese-language picture book—into English. What began as a community-college collaboration has blossomed into a launchpad for language mastery, resume-building, and cross-cultural outreach.
Project Origins and Community Partnership
A local educator connected WITCC’s International Student Office with João Silva, a São Paulo–based author seeking to expand the reach of his STEM-themed picture book. Silva’s Innovation for Children uses vibrant illustrations and simple narratives to introduce engineering concepts—like building bridges out of household materials—to young readers. By translating the text into English, WITCC students help Silva tap into North American libraries, schools, and bilingual markets.
Building Real-World Skills
For sophomore Giulia Carelli and freshman Grazielli Pardinho, the translation project offered more than academic credit—it provided hard-to-come-by workforce experience. As international student-athletes, both juggle court practices with classroom labs, and federal regulations limit their on-campus employment to 20 hours per week. This book translation counted as Curricular Practical Training, a university-sanctioned internship that:
- Strengthened Language Proficiency: Shifting from formal English coursework to the playful tone of children’s literature deepened Carelli’s grasp of idioms, rhythm, and age-appropriate vocabulary.
- Honed Translation Techniques: Pardinho researched terminology, cultural references, and readability standards for ages 6–9, ensuring the text reads naturally without losing Silva’s original intent.
- Enhanced Resume Credentials: Both students now list “Published Translator, Innovation for Children” under professional experience, a distinction that sets them apart in future job and graduate-school applications.
Behind the Pages: Author Insights
Silva, a mechanical engineer turned educator, penned Innovation for Children to spark curiosity in his daughter’s classmates. He chose WITCC after meeting a community-college liaison at an Iowa writers’ symposium. “Translating my book took courage,” Silva reflects, “but Giulia and Grazielli preserved the spirit of invention I hope to share with every child.”
The English edition features:
- Adapted STEM Examples: “Bottle-cap gears” replace Brazilian-specific items, and U.S. customary units appear alongside metric measurements for broader accessibility.
- Glossary & Activity Guide: A final section encourages classroom experiments—building simple pulleys or testing paper-airplane designs—bridging literacy with hands-on learning.
The Art and Challenge of Children’s Book Translation
Translating for young readers demands a unique touch:
- Maintaining Simplicity: Sentences must flow smoothly, avoiding complex clauses while retaining narrative drive.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Food, games, and local landmarks are swapped for generic or locally relevant items so readers everywhere feel included.
- Illustration Sync: Text length must match page art to preserve layout and pacing—each English line was measured against Silva’s watercolor spreads.
Through weekly workshops, the students compared draft versions, tested reads with local elementary classes, and refined phrasing to boost comprehension and engagement.
Broader Impact and Future Opportunities
WITCC’s translation initiative exemplifies community-college innovation:
- Expanding Global Literacy: The book will be available on Amazon KDP and distributed digitally to Iowa school districts, enriching immigrant-serving classrooms with bilingual resources.
- Career Pathways in Linguistics: The project has inspired the college to explore a formal Translation Studies certificate, combining linguistics, TESOL, and digital publishing courses.
- Cultural Exchange: Local libraries plan read-aloud events featuring both languages, strengthening ties between Siouxland’s Brazilian-American community and native English speakers.
Carelli and Pardinho are already fielding inquiries about translating a second title—an environmental fable—demonstrating how one children’s book can open doors for multiple learners and readers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How did WITCC students qualify to work on this project?
They participated through Curricular Practical Training, which allows F-1 visa holders to gain internship experience directly tied to their academic program.
Q2: What makes translating children’s books different from other texts?
The language must be age-appropriate and concise to match illustrations, with cultural references adapted for target readers while preserving the original’s tone and intent.
Q3: How will the translated book reach its audience?
The English edition will launch on major digital platforms, be offered to school and public libraries, and featured at bilingual story hours throughout Iowa.
Q4: What skills did the students develop?
They enhanced ESL proficiency, learned translation workflows, practiced project coordination across time zones, and gained experience with digital publishing tools.
Q5: Can this translation model be replicated for other languages or genres?
Yes—community colleges and libraries can partner with authors to train multilingual students in translating educational and cultural materials, fostering workforce readiness and literacy outreach.
Q6: What are the next steps for the translators?
Both students plan to pursue advanced roles in language services, with Carelli eyeing TESOL certification and Pardinho considering a master’s in Applied Translation Studies.
Sources KTIV
