MISTI and RosNOU start collaborating

On the 3 of July the Russian New University hosted a delegation of “Moscow International School of Translation And Interpreting”. The delegation came to discuss a preliminary agreement on strategic partnership between RosNOU and MISTI.

— Vladimir A. Minaev, vice-rector for academic issues said:”A new Centre of professional interpreters training is to be established in RosNOU. Simultaneous translation will become a new line of students training programs at our university. We hope lecturers and teachers of “Chernyakovskaya School” famous for their high standards of vocational training will share their experience with us”.

The two universities discussed the prospects of an agreement to arrange exchange programs of professors and students as well as to make good use of material and technical basis of both educational institutions.

Representatives of the famous School — Anna Nikol’skaya, a simultaneous interpreter, and Denis Mukhortov, a sequential translator, were interviewed by RosNOU site reporters:

— Q. - What makes MISTI different from other educational institutions?

— An. -A.N.: The “Moscow International School of Translation And Interpreting” was founded in 1991 by Geliy Chernov, an outstanding linguist and well-known interpreter. He headed the Interpreters Service of the United Nations Organization in New-York for 10 years. As there were no such educational institutions in the USSR, a school to provide high quality vocational interpreters training was established.

— Q. - Who can study in your School and what is the curriculum like?

— An. - D.M.: Expert UN interpreters or those who work for big corporations like, for example, “Lukoil” are able to upgrade their professional skills in our School. Lectures are delivered by practicing interpreters who provide our students with translation fundamentals. Afterwards every interpreter will adapt his or her knowledge to his or her own working style. The interpreter translates ideas and notions, not words, that’s the main thing that our staff tries to put into every student’s mind. The interpreter is expected to be a person of encyclopaedic learning — he covers a lot of spheres but should not necessarily go deep into details. It takes a person 1,5 — 2 years to become a good interpreter provided he or she has acquired fundamental knowledge.

— Q. And what is the essence of interpretation? How do you do it?

— An. -A.N.: When people watch a conference on TV, some of them are sure that simultaneous interpreters are reading off the creeping line or using a text translated beforehand, others think that the translations are done by a computer. But interpreters hear the text they are to cope with for the first time right at the moment when a speech is being delivered. Every interpreter usually prepares himself or herself for the coming event studying the topic of the meeting in advance. It takes a skilled interpreter only a few days to get acquainted with a field of knowledge well enough to make an adequate translation. It is very useful if you compile a glossary where you can find some terms, or information. It can help you in your work during the conference. When I just started my career as an interpreter, such a glossary covered only 10% of the conference vocabulary, now it reaches almost 80%. It comes as you are growing wise with experience.

— Q. - What are the main qualities of a good interpreter?

— An. - D.M.: An interpreter should be an expert in grammar, make good use of logic, have good memory, quick reaction, and be proof against any stresses. If you can’t recollect a word when you hear it more than once, this means that you don’t know this word. Do not make fuss about it. Just drop it for the time being. But you need to enrich your vocabulary every day. You need also to make good use of your working time.

— Q. - What can you wish young interpreters?

— An. - D.M.: People don’t become interpreters by accident. Before one starts studying one should answer some questions: Is interpreting the vocation for you? Would you like to devote your life to it? What is the field you would prefer to work in? Do you know how to become a good interpreter and make a successful career? Then you should follow the track you have chosen.

— An. - A.N.: You should study a lot, every day improve your technique of interpretation and not only into a foreign language. You should never stop mastering your mother tongue. You should read a lot, including reading aloud, both Russian and foreign fiction.