On May 17, 2024, as part of YarFest, a practicing translator, guru of simultaneous translation Maksym Kozub from Kyiv, currently in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and standing in defense of our Motherland, visited the University. The students of the first (bachelor's) and second (master's) levels of higher education of Faculty of Foreign Philology of the EP "Language and Literature (German/English/French). Translation" and "Applied Linguistics. Translation and Computational Linguistics" attended the meeting with the master of simultaneous translation together with scholars and educators of the faculty teaching translation courses or interested in translation. The conversation took place in a relaxed atmosphere.
Maksym Kozub shared stories from his own experience, talked about the requirements for consecutive and simultaneous translation. The speaker also emphasized the expediency of specialisation in certain areas and emphasized the importance of not only oral but also written translation which should not be abandoned, because this is how vocabulary is expanded and certain clichés and structures are remembered. As for oral translation, each of its types, such as consecutive, whispered, simultaneous, has its own characteristics and clear rules must be followed. In addition, any oral translation involves preparation for it. That is, the knowledge of the topic of a meeting or report is a necessary condition for successful translation.
When asked how long one should study to become a successful simultaneous interpreter, the speaker replied: “There is no single recipe or answer. I am constantly learning. It is very important to approach studying or working in a systematic way and have a conscientious attitude towards the fulfillment of assigned tasks, because translation requires an understanding of the field in question."
The students and colleagues actively asked questions, the time flew by quickly. We sincerely thank Maksym Kozub for the fact that, despite his busy schedule, he agreed and found time to share his professional experience with us and the students. The practical advice and recommendations are an invaluable treasure for us!
Liudmyla PASYK,
Head of Department of German Philology,
Candidate of Philological Sciences, Assistant Professor
