2012-2013 events now online

We’ve now updated all our events for the coming academic year! Click ‘Events’ under the ‘For students’ menu to find out what’s going on at our partner institutions. And of course, please get in touch if you would like to attend an event, or if you would like further information.

The National Network for Interpreting and the Centre for Translation Studies, Leeds 3rd International Organisations week, 16-20 April 2012

We were privileged yet again to host a delegation of conference interpreters from WTO, ICTY (UN), ILEA (Bangkok) as well as freelance interpreters working for EU institutions and other organisations. The purpose of the NNI/CTS activities was twofold. Firstly, CTS staff offered delegates English language enhancement workshops in order to improve their professional skills. In return, our visitors shared their knowledge and experience with CTS students focusing on the skills needed for work in international organisations and as freelance conference interpreters. The 2012 event was the follow up of a similar event in 2010 and 2011 and received a very positive appraisal.

One of the highlights of the week was the Outreach event on 19 April where the delegates participated in an open forum organised for undergraduate and postgraduate students of the School of Modern Languages and students from regional universities. The purpose of the event was to inform students about the diversity of the interpreting career, both in-house and freelance. About 50 students attended the forum. At the end of the event some undergraduate students commented that before the forum they had limited knowledge of a career in Conference Interpreting and how the forum helped them to get a better understanding of it.

Careers in Interpreting and Translation

Our ‘Careers in Interpreting and Translation’ event took place on 15 February at the University of Leeds. About 150 students, including undergraduates from regional universities, filled a lecture theatre to listen to employers and postgraduate alumni speak inspiringly about translation and interpreting from their own personal experience. Panellists ranged from staff of EU institutions, the UN and the British Refugee Council, to former students freelancing in interpreting, translation and subtitling. Attendees were able to ask questions of the speakers personally following the talks.

Straight after the event we began receiving very positive feedback from the participants, who felt the event had been a real eye-opener in terms of interesting career opportunities. They were particularly reassured to learn about the career paths of the alumni, and some have already been knocking on our doors seeking advice on professional language training. All in all, the event proved highly successful and most enjoyable for all involved.

The next NNI/NNT event will take place on 14 March at the University of Salford. See the events page or contact us for details!