A Community of Practice for Interpreting: the missing link

- " Is anyone going to the CIOL membership day tomorrow?" -  "Me!" This was a conversation I picked up on my phone as I was on my way to Borough market this morning. Students on the MA Conference Interpreting at London Met were chatting on their Facebook group and trying to figure out who intended to attend the event, who they could meet there.  I am sure this has happened to you too. You feel like attending a networking event for interpreters but you worry: who will be there? What if I don't know anyone there? How do I engage in conversations with professionals when I am only an interpreting student? However, find someone that comes with you and all fear then disappears. You can't wait to go, you know it will be fun and fruitful. You suddenly believe in yourself and are open to a new adventure. How do we transfer the safety of a 'friend' accompanying us to an event, to any opportunity that allows us to connect and engage in a landsca...

Photo from European Commission Interpreters (Facebook) O n the 26th and 27th of March,  I was privileged to attend the annual DG Interpretation University Conference.The Directorate General Interpretation (European Commission), also known as DG SCIC works closely with universities that provide conference interpreting training to ensure quality. Every year, university representatives are invited to come together and reflect on interpreting studies and the interpreting profession with DG SCIC at the European Commission in Brussels. You can still watch the conference  on line. During the conference, a very relevant question was asked: Photo from European Commission Interpreters (Facebook) "Is one year enough to train conference interpreters at University?" I would like to use this post to expand on the contribution I made on that day. First of all, one year may be enough for some interpreting students but not for others....