Cooperation of ASU with INALCO: French Students Studying at the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation

The Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation maintains partnership relations with numerous foreign educational institutions and hosts students from different countries on a regular basis. In this semester, MA students of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) (Paris, France), one of the most prestigious language schools in France, founded in 1795, are studying at ASU under the exchange programme.
Lison Duru, Hugo Malfait and Polina Ryazantseva, who undertake the programme “Translation and Editing” at INALCO, are now studying together with our MA students at the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation in the first year of the programme “Translation Theory. Intercultural and Interlingual Communication”, working with Russian, French and English. The INALCO students share impressions on their stay and studies in Astrakhan:
Lison: “I’m very happy to spend a semester in Astrakhan. I like the city very much: it is quiet and calm, and it is nice to live here. By the way, ASU provides its students with a lot of different services: for example, I go to the swimming pool located in the main building of the university. Although it was difficult for me at first, since I study translation in France and here in ASU – interpreting, and I also have to work with two foreign languages – English and Russian, but at the same time it is very interesting to learn new translation and interpreting techniques. It is an opportunity to get one step closer to professional life. Our group mates and teachers are very considerate. They are always ready to help, and, in my opinion, it is very valuable.”
Hugo: “In INALCO, we have a major in translation, for that reason I had some concerns in the beginning, because I had to join a group of future interpreters who have already been well-trained. However, I like classes, especially mock conferences. The interpreting classrooms are well equipped. Our master programme in INALCO also follows a practice-oriented approach in training, and I like this similarity of approaches. Russia is not a completely unknown country for me: I have already had a chance to visit both major cities and provincial towns. I love Astrakhan for its colour palette and calm atmosphere beyond the main roads, far from the bustle of Paris. I don’t think that walks along the Volga embankment will bore me very soon!”
Polina: “I’m from the Volgograd region, and I have already visited Astrakhan. The city charmed me at the very first view. So, when I found out that our institute cooperated with ASU and there was a chance to spend a semester undertaking a prestigious programme, I had no doubts about this trip. A little more than a month has passed since our arrival, but it seems half a year! Student life here is very eventful – a lot of study activities, different conferences and meetings and, of course, leisure time with group mates. I would say that compared with the INALCO training approach, the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation focuses more on fundamental knowledge and erudition of future interpreters and translators. I’m sure that knowledge and skills obtained during this study course will be very useful in my future career!”