Studying again!

Hello Everyone,

I would like to share my experience at the Norwegian university OsloMet (Oslo Metropolitan University):

This year, I embarked on a one-year program in Interpretation from Norwegian to Italian and vice versa. To elevate and improve my Norwegian proficiency, I believed that pursuing this course would be the most effective approach, as it involves a higher level of language study. Additionally, I recognized the need to advance beyond my current intermediate level in everyday Norwegian.

The program is part-time, allowing me to balance it with my job. We meet at the university once a month for weekend classes and group exercises. We also have weekly chats and a year to develop into proficient interpreters at category 3, which is the intermediate level. This qualification will enable us to work freelance for clients in specific sectors, such as the healthcare and legal systems.

Before starting the program, we were required to take an exam to assess our proficiency in both languages and our interpretation skills. I passed the exam with a category 5 rating, and now I am striving for category 3!

Throughout the course, I have encountered numerous specific words and techniques for becoming a good interpreter. My main concern is whether I will remember everything or most of it. I am determined to do my best, despite the challenge of studying a course in my fifth language.

Sometimes I feel exhausted because Norwegian is neither Spanish nor English, which I am more proficient in. However, I am committed to doing my best because I enjoy studying and learning new words. It is stimulating and trains my brain to work more efficiently and smartly.

I need to find strategies to memorize everything and use the techniques during interpretation exercises to enhance my skills. Interestingly, our interpretation exercises are recorded, allowing us to review and analyze our performance. This helps us identify areas for improvement and ensure we are professional in our work. In my first video, I noticed some mistakes, but it was a valuable learning experience that I can build on.

One aspect I did not particularly enjoy was the competitive nature of one of our chat classes. The teacher asked questions, and everyone typed answers as if it were a race to get the “correct answer” first. This stressed me out initially because it should have been a discussion, not a competition. However, subsequent chats were better, likely because they were managed by another teacher.

An interesting chat class is with our Italian tutor. We are just four people, and we discuss terminology lists in different contexts. We share our experiences and knowledge, making it a pleasant learning experience. My colleagues are wonderful people, and it is always fantastic to meet new people with diverse backgrounds. For instance, one of my colleagues is a Norwegian who lived in Florence for three years and studied languages and literature. He speaks excellent Italian with a charming Tuscan accent. Another colleague is an Italian interpreter who has been in the profession for ten years. She provides valuable insights into professional conduct and appropriate terminology. Lastly, we have an Italian policeman who needs to interpret Italian in his job, making this course beneficial for his professional role.

I feel fortunate and enthusiastic about this profession because I love learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences as well as from books. My curiosity drives me to dig deeper and learn more.

Let’s embark on this journey together!