Interpreter Readiness Lab

April here! Andrea and I have known each other for over 15 years (!!!). I was a student, and she was one of the first friendly, approachable interpreters I met on my journey. I was in awe of her skill and learned over the years that it wasn’t just because I was new and she was certified and working. She’s really that good!

Fast forward many years, degrees, mountains, kids, tears, tarot readings, and workshop reunions, and we found ourselves teaching for the same ITP and brainstorming our way through the many challenges that come with teaching in an ITP. We found a shared frustration, and excitement, in meeting students where they were and guiding them toward whatever was next on their journey. Everyone needed something different than what could be offered in a structured classroom.

So we created and tweaked and researched and threw it all away and started over again.

And then, in a bit of serendipity, we both ended up planted behind our computers for far too many hours every day, looking for a creative outlet for ourselves and our mentees. In spring 2026, IRL was born. And while anyone who already knows us probably isn't surprised by this, we made a plan and, in our stubbornness, worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition.

Alas, here we are. Here is Interpreter Readiness Lab - the thing we dreamed up, tore apart, rebuilt, and finally brought to life.

We hope you find inspiration and encouragement on these pages to keep you going on your journey, whether you’re working toward your very first certification or leveling up your current skills and certification.

We are thrilled to be on this journey with you, and we are so honored and grateful that you trust us with your learning.

Andrea’s ramblings:

As April said, we've known each other for years now — even after I left my home state of Michigan mid-career (sorry, Michigan, it wasn't you, it was me). We've taught together, climbed a mountain together, cried together, talked spiritual life together, but mostly — and I mean mostly — we've talked about interpreting. Our hopes for the field, teaching, working with students, and how to actually make all of this make sense.

April came to me with this idea, and it turned out we each brought a very particular set of skills to the table — and thankfully, they complemented each other. So April's idea came to life through a lot of hard work, creativity, and probably too many hours staring at a computer screen. We both love working with students, but we're not always able to reach everyone directly, so this became our way to do more than just 1:1 mentoring.

We also knew the BEI test was on the rise, and so many people had been reaching out to us for resources and help — so here we are. We put a ton of time and thought into these materials, genuinely hoping they end up being useful to you.