About me at a glance
Hello, my name is Ilona Sobczak
Thank you for your interest. Please let me briefly introduce myseIf: I have dual citizenship (American/Belgian). I originally come from Belgium, but my job brought me to the US in 1993. Since I have lived and worked for more than half of my life in the US, I became trilingual (German / French / English), which is my greatest asset as a translator and interpreter. I acquired permanent residence through my employer in 2002 and US citizenship independently in 2009.
Education
- 11/19/2024: Successfully passed the Written Exam administered by the State Courts Administrator Office of Florida (Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program) – Approved by the Court Interpreter Certification Board (CICB) as a registered German interpreter effective 12/17/2024 and recorded in the registry of court interpreters for the Florida State Courts System
- 02/14/2023: Successfully passed the Florida Teacher Certification Examination in French (K-12)
- 06/23/1997: Belgian State Exam: Translator/Reviewer – Ref.: 68022521886 / CFG97045
- 1991–1992: Teaching Certification acquired at the “Institut Saint Laurent” in Liège, Belgium
- 1987-1991: "Institut Libre Marie Haps", Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Belgium : Licencié-Traducteur (recognized as Master's in Translation in the US)
- July 1991: Scholarship in Germanic Languages, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Professional Experience
- 2023: US Government Adjudication for Tier 3 IT / Level II access (access to classified information).
- 03/13/2023 – 05/31/2023: Long-term substitute French teacher / Community School of Naples (CSN)
- August 1, 2021 - Present: Self-employed as Freelance Translator and Consecutive Interpreter (German/French >< English). Member of the American Translators Association (ATA).
- 03/03/1998 – 06/03/2021: ASG Technologies, Inc. (Naples, Florida, USA): Executive Assistant & Translator; Senior HR Translator in charge of HR/legal translations (FR/GE >< EN).
- 1991 – 1998: Translator and Editor roles at J.P. Morgan Trust Company of NY, European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and Law Office Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton (Brussels, Belgium); Language Teacher at College for Economics "Institut Sainte Marie" in Liège, Belgium.
Services
As a trilingual translator (German/French >< English & German >< French) with over 30 years of experience, I am specialized in legal translations. Additionally, I offer interpretation services, particularly consecutive interpretation of depositions, and tutoring services. My work is defined by excellence, engagement, and unparalleled dedication to precision, detail, and timely responsiveness.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela
My Clients Include
"Thanks Ilona, You have been a joy to work with and we hope we have the opportunity to use your services again in the future!"
- David R., International Justice Mission
Contact
Phone: +1 239 249 9862
Email: ilonarsobczak@gmail.com