Thank you to all our 2025 panelists, community partners, and volunteers! | View the Nov 7 alumni panel here.
What is Translate-a-thon?
The Translate-a-thon is a short, intense, community-driven translation marathon, where volunteers interested in translation come together to translate materials for the benefit of our local, national and international community. We accept projects from a variety of disciplines in a variety of different formats: including print, video and digital/web-based. We welcome all languages to our event. Translate-a-thon also promotes a sense of community among translators.We welcome current students and alums, faculty and staff, teachers and students from local high schools, prospective transfer students, professional translators and other interested parties.
View Project Gallery | Translate-a-thon FAQ
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Why participate? Read the following testimonial
"Participating in Translate-a-thon was an easy decision for me. The event truly embodies everything you would want for students studying translation or language more broadly.
For students of translation, Translate-a-thon offers a unique, hands-on glimpse into real-world translation projects. Everything we discuss, practice, and prepare for in class comes to life at this event—from community engagement and collaborative teamwork to the exciting challenge of producing high-quality translations with support from peers.
For any language learner, it is a wonderful opportunity to actively use the language they are studying. Translate-a-thon provides a supportive environment to push your limits and often discover that you can do more with your language skills than you thought possible. It’s also a chance for meaningful community outreach—making a positive impact while practicing your craft. And if the work benefits the U-M community, students can take pride (and maybe earn a little bragging rights) in giving back to their own campus.
Above all, Translate-a-thon is about collaboration. It brings together a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for using their knowledge for good.
Overall, Translate-a-thon is the perfect event to inspire language students, boost their confidence, and welcome them into a vibrant and supportive community. Year after year, my students consistently mention in their course evaluations what a wonderful experience they had at Translate-a-thon!"
Andrea Stiasny Carruthers, Ph.D.
RLL, Introduction to translation course instructor
