Global Arena: Bridging the Gap Training Center

Global Arena Offers Remote Bridging the Gap Medical Certificate Courses

Global Arena is an authorized provider of Bridging the Gap (BTG), a nationally recognized medical interpreter training program developed by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program. Bridging the Gap offers standardized training designed to ensure the highest level of interpreting professionalism and client experience.

The program consists of 40 hours of instruction and covers the role of the interpreter, interpreting procedures, and medical terminology within real-world healthcare scenarios. Global Arena is delighted to offer a remote version of the full course, allowing participants to train from the comfort and convenience of their home while engaging in a live, interactive environment led by experienced professionals.

Schedule your Bridging the Gap session today. Seats are limited.

Bridging the Gap: The Program

Bridging the Gap is designed for bilingual individuals and interpreters at different stages of experience, from those entering the field to trained professionals seeking to strengthen their skills.

The course not only teaches medical terminology, but also provides a foundation for a professional career as a medical interpreter. The interpreting industry is often unstandardized, with different agencies and organizations applying varying training methods and expectations. Bridging the Gap addresses this challenge by offering a comprehensive and standardized curriculum available across the United States.

With standardized training comes a more consistent interpreting experience. When both clients and interpreters understand what to expect from an interpreting session, communication improves and interactions run more smoothly. Non-English-speaking patients receive a higher standard of care, as all parties can focus on the patient rather than the interpreting process itself.

Bridging the Gap offers an interactive, instructor-led training style combined with hands-on skill-building to engage participants. The course encourages participants to use each other as resources and support, fostering both collaboration and confidence.

Participants will build not only foundational knowledge of the interpreting profession, but also practical experience applying skills in realistic scenarios. The 40 hours of instructional time are structured across several days, with scheduled breaks to support knowledge retention and engagement.

The program includes repetition, group activities, and guided practice to ensure that participants develop both confidence and competence. By the end of the training, participants will have a clear understanding of professional interpreting procedures and how to implement them effectively.

A key component of the Bridging the Gap experience is the final assessment process, which includes both written and performance-based evaluations. Participants are prepared through a combination of instructional sessions, reviews, quizzes, and group activities.

Each day begins with a brief review to reinforce previously covered material. We are dedicated to your success and look forward to supporting you as you earn your Bridging the Gap certificate of completion.

Bridging the Gap at Global Arena

Bridging the Gap is a nationally recognized interpreting training program and a valuable credential for individuals seeking to enter or advance in the medical interpreting field.

At Global Arena, we take the training a step further by introducing participants to our Interpreting Department Manager, who is available to answer questions and provide guidance. We discuss:

• The interpreting industry in Philadelphia and beyond
• Day-to-day life as an interpreter
• How to begin working as an interpreter
• The hiring process and professional expectations

The Interpreting Department Manager remains available after the course is completed, providing ongoing support as participants begin their careers.

Our Bridging the Gap trainer, Cecilia Bonilla, is one of Philadelphia’s most experienced interpreters, with over thirty years in the industry. Her background includes diplomatic and embassy work, as well as legal, medical, educational, early intervention, simultaneous, and business interpreting. She is an invaluable resource and an accomplished trainer, offering participants deep, practical insight into the profession.

Global Arena is a multilingual company with a strong commitment to training and developing high-quality interpreters. With professionals located around the world, we understand the interpreting industry from both a business and practitioner perspective. We are proud to have Philadelphia as our home base and to contribute to the development of skilled interpreters who can meet the demands of today’s nationwide healthcare environment.

Contact Global Arena today to learn about our next scheduled course offerings and secure your place.

Bridging the Gap

As Global Arena knows well, the interpreting industry is often unstandardized. Training approaches, skill levels, and interpreting styles can vary widely. This lack of consistency can lead to confusion for clients and challenges in delivering a reliable and professional service.

Bridging the Gap is an aptly named program that works to “bridge the gap” between bilingual ability and professional interpreting competence. The program offers a structured 40-hour training designed to provide participants with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. Bridging the Gap interpreters are trained to be professional, confident, and prepared to work in medical settings.

After more than 7 years of successful collaboration and over 350 interpreters trained, Global Arena LLC continues its partnership with the Cross Cultural Health Care Program. Global Arena is able to train not only its own interpreters but also bilingual individuals outside the organization who are seeking to develop professional interpreting skills.

Effective interpreting requires far more than simply speaking two or more languages. Interpreters must apply a range of skills and considerations that go well beyond language proficiency.

When working with a trained medical interpreter, healthcare providers benefit from:

• A strong understanding of medical terminology
• Cultural awareness that helps bridge misunderstandings
• The ability to accurately and effectively communicate messages between languages

Many providers rely on untrained bilingual employees or patients’ friends and family members. This can increase the risk of miscommunication and potential liability. Using a trained medical interpreter leads to clearer communication, better care, and improved patient satisfaction.

Training as an Interpreter

Global Arena is an interpreting and translation solutions company that also provides language and intercultural training services. We understand that medical interpreting requires a high degree of accuracy, as even minor miscommunications can have serious consequences for patient health and safety.

Medical interpreters facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers while maintaining accuracy, neutrality, and professionalism. This requires skills such as sight translation, register management, cultural clarification, and adherence to ethical standards.

Untrained or self-taught interpreters can especially benefit from a program focused on elevating them from bilingual speakers to professional interpreters.

Bridging the Gap is a nationally recognized program and has been a leader in medical interpreter training for over twenty years. The Cross Cultural Health Care Program established the program to prepare bilingual individuals to work as effective, competent, and professional medical interpreters.

The training consists of a 40-hour course covering essential topics, including:

• Interpreter roles and ethics
• Interpreting skills and techniques
• Medical terminology
• Overview of the U.S. healthcare system
• Best practices for real-world assignments

Global Arena is an authorized Bridging the Gap training center and offers online training led by a certified instructor, ensuring participants receive high-quality, standardized instruction.

Your Authorized Bridging the Gap Training Center

Global Arena offers participants the opportunity to obtain a Bridging the Gap certificate of completion, a recognized credential within the medical interpreting field. In addition to the training, participants gain access to industry insights, professional guidance, and a network designed to support their success as interpreters.

Participants leave Global Arena’s Bridging the Gap program with not only training, but also a network and support system dedicated to their success.

The Training Process

Each Bridging the Gap session at Global Arena consists of 40 hours of training delivered over multiple days. Training days include a combination of instructional content and practical exercises designed to build confidence and competency. Participants engage in:

• Interactive learning activities
• Practice scenarios
• Group exercises
• Guided feedback

The program emphasizes both technical knowledge and practical application, ensuring participants are prepared to perform effectively in real interpreting situations.

Global Arena offers a variety of course schedules to accommodate different participant needs. Check our current training schedule for upcoming sessions.

This certification course is valuable for all interpreters and essential for those working in medical settings. Standardized training leads to increased consistency, improved communication, and better outcomes in healthcare environments.

Take the next Step

Medical interpreters play a vital role in ensuring effective communication and quality care. Don’t be left behind.

Secure your spot in the next Bridging the Gap session and begin your path toward a professional interpreting career.