Bárbara Almeida

Educator/Teacher, Public servant, Writer/Editor

Since I was a kid, I have loved reading, and the humanities were always my passion at school. When I got my first computer, which didn't even have internet back then, I was completely amazed; I loved playing games and exploring all of its functionalities. My mom actually thought I would go into technology, but I couldn't handle math-related subjects! That is why I chose to study Languages, and Literature became my true passion. In essence, that is how my teaching journey began. When my teaching adventure came to an end, I started volunteering for TED, where I learned to use CaptionHub and first came into contact with Artificial Intelligence technology. I realized I could finally bring that childhood sparkle back. It was absolutely mind-blowing.

I love The Hobbit book by Tolkien. In the beginning, Bilbo doesn't want to go on an adventure because he is too attached to things that don't bring him real joy, like his mother's dishes and a spotless, clean house. But when the dwarves arrive for dinner, they eat, sing, and have fun. They mess up his house and his life. Then, they invite him to join their adventure, but he is too afraid to leave his predictable comfort behind. However, he decides to go, and that single decision changes his life forever.

The only constant in life is change, and that becomes fascinating if you embrace a curious mindset. Sometimes, you will need to reinvent yourself, and that is a journey worth taking.

Education, Technology

I tried to make sense of teaching, even with all its challenges. But over time, it became heartbreaking. Not because sharing knowledge was difficult, but because our society has been disrespecting this profession. So, I decided it was time to change and study Translation. It was a great course, yet something still felt missing. Also, it was tough to envision a future in the field at first because finding work, even freelance opportunities, was incredibly hard. That is exactly why I looked for volunteer opportunities; I wanted to practice, gain experience, and understand how this market really works. That is how I discovered TED Translators. I have been having so much fun translating, subtitling, and transcribing videos. Plus, I found an amazing community on Facebook where other TED Translators share knowledge and review my work. Overall, I have learned so many new skills, and thanks to TED, many exciting new doors are beginning to open to me.

People think it is too unexpected to integrate linguistics with artificial intelligence. When I talk about what I've been studying and how it applies, they often can't relate. I have been trying to refer people to these opportunities, thinking it would be easy for them to apply and land a freelance job just like it was for me. However, not a single person made it through the selection process. That is when I stopped saying it is easy, because I realized it is only easy for me.