Translation is about more than converting words from one language to another. It requires cultural understanding, empathy, and an ability to connect people with information that matters. At Michigan State University, students in the College of Arts & Letters are developing those skills through a partnership that pairs hands-on translation experience with meaningful community engagement.

Through this partnership between the MSU Translation Center and Excel Network, both housed within MSU’s College of Arts & Letters, and Chispa 4-H, aspiring translators majoring or minoring in Spanish and pursuing a certificate in language translation are gaining practical, hands-on experience while helping expand access to educational programming for Spanish-speaking communities across Michigan.

Part of Michigan 4-H, the youth development arm of MSU Extension and the largest such organization in the state, Chispa 4-H aims to equip youth in culturally distinct communities with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance and strengthen their educational journeys while also educating parents and guardians about the benefits of its programming.

Serving primarily Spanish-speaking populations, Chispa 4-H offers internships that connect classroom learning with real-world application. Co-coordinated by Paty Monterrosa, Chispa 4-H Program Director, and Deb Barrett, Senior MSU Extension Educator, the internships provide aspiring translators an opportunity to navigate the complexities of communicating across cultures and for different audiences.

“It’s important that we don’t keep knowledge to ourselves. Through programs like this partnership, we educate students and create real-world learning opportunities that benefit both the university and the broader community.”

Tony Grubbs, Director of the MSU Translation Center and Chair of the Department of Romance and Classical Studies

“It’s important that we don’t keep knowledge to ourselves. Through programs like this partnership, we educate students and create real-world learning opportunities that benefit both the university and the broader community,” said Tony Grubbs, Director of the MSU Translation Center and Chairperson of MSU’s Department of Romance and Classical Studies. “Sharing what we learn — within MSU and beyond it — is mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

For students, the experience offers more than professional preparation. It provides insight into how language access can shape trust, belonging, and opportunity within communities.

Ana Dunfee, who recently completed her third year at MSU studying International Relations in James Madison College and Spanish in the College of Art & Letters and is pursuing a certificate in translation through the College of Arts & Letters, interned with Chispa 4-H in Fall 2025. She said the internship was a “unique experience that I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere else.”

“I had an excellent mentor in Paty, and even as an experienced Spanish speaker, I still learned new things about the language and how to approach translation for different audiences,” Dunfee said. “I also really enjoyed learning about 4-H and how it engages with the community. I hadn’t realized how connected it is in Michigan or how involved MSU students are with 4-H and MSU Extension. The biggest takeaway was learning about all their resources and programs. It was really fun to be a part of that.”

“When so much else may be unfamiliar, providing information in a language people understand makes a real difference. It shows we’re committed to sharing skills and resources directly with the community and that we genuinely care.”

Ana Dunfee

Dunfee, who aspires to be an immigration lawyer, witnessed how Chispa 4-H is making a real difference in culturally distinct communities — and why the program is so important in supporting programming on topics such as nutrition, leadership, and financial literacy by making information accessible to those who don’t speak English as a first language.

“When so much else may be unfamiliar, providing information in a language people understand makes a real difference,” she said. “It shows we’re committed to sharing skills and resources directly with the community and that we genuinely care.”

The partnership reflects the College of Arts & Letters’ broader commitment to experiential learning and student success. In addition to providing real-world internship opportunities, the Excel Network offers scholarship support for students with College of Arts & Letters majors who participate in the program, helping make community-engaged learning experiences more accessible. Together, these opportunities allow students to apply language, cultural understanding, and communication skills in ways that extend beyond the classroom and create meaningful community impact.

The partnership also reflects the vision behind Michigan State University’s new Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing initiative (AHHW), which prepares students to approach health, care, and community wellbeing through both professional knowledge and human experience. Language access plays an important role in equitable care, shaping whether individuals and families can understand resources, build trust, ask questions, and fully engage with opportunities that support their wellbeing.

Through the hands-on translation work with Chispa 4-H, students are developing the empathy, cultural awareness, ethical judgment, and communication skills that AHHW seeks to elevate as essential to more compassionate and responsive health and community systems.

Adapted from an article by Alex Tekip. For the full article and more information on the Chispa 4-H program, see “Language access and leadership: 4-H program sparks impact” published by MSU Today.