The first virtual class with the School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Interpretation and Translation of the Bologna University!

On April, 24 the Caspian Higher School of Interpretation and Translation held the first virtual class with the School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Interpretation and Translation of the Bologna University, Italy! The participants were our MA students Anastasiya Lopatchenko (interpreting from Italian into Russian) and Radoslava Maltseva (interpreting from Russian into Italian) as well as two students of the Bologna University. The virtual class was devoted to one of the most pressing today issues – to the genetically modified organisms, their influence on living organisms, possible consequences of consumption of GMO products and the economic aspect of the GMO use. The virtual class was also interesting because our teachers could assess foreign students’ interpretation into Russian as generally within such lessons students of the European universities prefer interpreting only from Russian into their mother tongue. Having commented on the Italian students’ interpretation, the teachers of the Caspian Higher School of Interpretation and Translation noted a good level of the Russian language proficiency and complimented the students for its study.

The MA students of the Caspian Higher School of Interpretation and Translation who don’t interpret consecutively original speeches are more and more actively involved in virtual classes: this time apart from performing simultaneous interpreting the students had an opportunity to listen to their groupmates’ simultaneous interpretation and to assess it. After the virtual class the MA students commented on each other’s interpretation pointing out main mistakes and shortcomings.

We are very glad that we found a new partner in the name of the School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Interpretation and Translation of the Bologna University and we hope that in the near future we will manage to hold another virtual class with this university adding other language combinations into the lesson agenda.