Videoconference with the DG-INTE, the European Parliament

On June 8 a long-awaited videoconference with the DG-INTE, the European Parliament, took place at the School. The DG-INTE was represented by interpreters and the School’s friends Natalja Malychina and Ilga Berzina, with Ekaterina Dara-Leopura acting as an expert and assessor. On the School’s part, Deputy Director Angelique Antonova, trainer Alexey Pago and all the trainees attended the event. Four students took turns to interpret consecutively their virtual partners’ speeches, each interpretation being followed by a brief assessment session. The benevolent atmosphere of the discussions encouraged the students, and the international audience, albeit virtual, was instrumental in overcoming the stress of public speaking. Videoconferences are a unique tool to create a real-life working environment for an interpreter-in-training, and the students appreciate this format which has become a part and parcel of the training process at the School.