Jacob Thompson is a curious and passionate EN < > FR language professional experienced in health, wellness, education, and evidence-based translation.
Who are you? Please introduce yourself
I’m an English and French language professional with experience in translation, interpreting, localization, and transcreation. I help bridge communication between English- and French-speaking audiences with clear, accurate, and culturally natural language.
My background includes healthcare, marketing, bilingual content adaptation, and quality-focused language work. I aim to deliver translations that preserve meaning, tone, and intent while sounding fluent and professional in French or English.
I’m especially interested in projects that require strong writing skills, attention to nuance, and the ability to adapt content for different audiences while maintaining consistency and quality.
Do you translate, interpret, or both? What are your areas of specialism?
I started as a legal translator between Continental French and American English in 2012, and then was directed more towards digital communication roles in health and wellness for québécois and American English in 2020. My main professional experience in French and English has included more recent digital messaging, former legal and criminal evidentiary translations, transcriptions, and interpretation, and contractual texts in educational institutions. My specialisations came at first from the opportunities that presented themselves, but then I deepened my knowledge by through extra activities, like studying at Sciences-Po, Toulouse and studying Canadian legal and regulatory practices for product distribution, routinely doing exercise and nutrition activities (like certificates, coaching or challenges) in French and English, acquiring translation certifications, and graduating with a Masters in Translation Studies through the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Why did you decide to get into translation or interpreting?
Identity and culture have intrigued me ever since I was young. I found it fascinating to see how people from different areas of the world interact, communicate, and execute intercultural activities. Each person is different. “Chacun voit midi à sa porte”, so you can speak the same language, and misunderstandings can occur in the simplest forms of communication. I first started translating and interpreting in 2007 where kindergarten teachers needed these services for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) speakers or readers. Finding diverse groups of people in my local agricultural town was fascinating. Then I translated and interpreted for universities, with texts like legal documents, contracts, web posts, emails, graduation ceremonies, etc. After translating and interpreting for a while as a student in high school and at college, I kept my passion ablaze by centring on both as my main source of income.
What’s your favourite type of project?
I LOVE working on documents that are clear, straightforward, slightly ambiguous, and what most people would think is “boring” or “too technical”, like product details, legal contracts or medical documents. Often the most overlooked details and texts open breathtaking horizons that few get to contemplate. Discovering these rare sites is my main drive. I remember several projects where colleagues didn’t understand, or didn’t want to understand, the ins and outs of large ruminant digestive tracts. I accepted those projects because I was curious about comparing nutrition supplements interacting with a four-stomach system to other supplementation interacting in humans’ digestive systems. I also loved working for the State of Utah as a civilian translator at a military institution and in court systems. In that environment, there was always a unique blend of register, tone, global cultural nuance, and detailed linguistic materialism that I have not found anywhere else. I miss the text variety and standardisation structure in that specific environment, yet can appreciate the creativity involved and the transforming appellative functions in my current digital marketing roles.
What do you do outside of translation or interpreting?
I am a very active person. Hiking and rock climbing are my greatest extra passions, and I like cooking and learning how that can help my body. Running and dabbling in kickboxing are my side hobbies. Other activities that I take advantage of, but do not do frequently enough, are: hunting, snowshoeing, stargazing, and working on house projects. Reading is my least favourite activity, but it is a means to and end of unlimited learning, which is what drives me to be better every day.
