Final Master Class from DG SCIC Interpreters for CITS Graduating Students

Yesterday, CITS second-year MA students had the opportunity to test their interpretation skills and get recommendations from our international experts for the last time before their state exams. Rita Nikolajeva and Alessandra Albassini, interpreters of the Directorate-General for Interpretation of the European Commission, gave the final master class in simultaneous interpreting for our students. During the meeting, the experts analyzed the general quality requirements for graduates and potential candidates for the EU accreditation test, the technical specifics of interpreting, particularly in remote interpretation. They gave recommendations concerning the interpreter’s work in far-from-being -ideal technical conditions. In addition, this time the session was focused on simultaneous interpreting: each student received a feedback on the interpretation performed and recommendations for its improvement. This session was especially important for our master students because the opportunity to test their skills one more time and to be assessed by DG SCIC experts is extremely valuable before the final exam, when maximum concentration and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of one’s performance is required. Rita noted the progress of the MA students, but the experts also stressed that there is always room for improvement since, despite their importance, exams are neither the height of perfection nor the endpoint of interpreter training.