Interview with Elīna Dergača, Graduate of the VUAS Master's Program in ''Applied Text Translation''
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I have always been interested in languages. In high school, I studied English and history. I studied tourism management at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences but realized that it wasn't my thing. At the age of 21, I went to Ireland. In 2008, I successfully completed a course in interpreting at the Lionbridge translation agency in Dublin, which gave me the opportunity to work as an interpreter in Irish courts. At that time, Lionbridge was the only translation agency that officially provided translation services in Irish courts. At the time, I was still working full-time as an executive secretary in a law firm, but I did translation work in courts as a side job. I spent 11 years in Ireland. That is also where I met my husband. We are the parents of three wonderful children. English is our family's everyday language, and our children are bilingual. When I returned to Latvia, I knew that I wanted to continue my studies. In 2021, I completed a written and oral translation program at the Smiltene branch of the Baltic International Academy and obtained a professional bachelor's degree in translation. My motivation has always been my children. I wanted them to be able to proudly say, "My mom is a translator and interpreter!"
How did you choose to study at VUAS?
It happened by chance, because after completing my bachelor's degree, I said, "That's it, I'm never studying again!" But never say never! I rarely use Facebook, but I happened to see a post in the Interpreters and Translators group about master's degree opportunities at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. I thought about it for two weeks. Was I ready to resume my studies? The possibility of distance learning was the deciding factor in my choice of studies, as I would not have been able to travel to Ventspils. And so, I applied to study in the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts."
How did you decide that this program would be right for you?
The translation programs at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have always had a very good reputation and given my previous experience in the field of translation, I knew that this program would undoubtedly improve my knowledge and skills, as well as promote my professional growth in the field of translation.
What were the biggest benefits of your studies and what did you like the most?
All the courses were very useful, but I liked the computerized translation course taught by Aiga Veckalne the most. I learned everything about the latest tools. The guest lectures were also very useful. In my opinion, we were and are a very close-knit class, which also made our studies easier.
Were there any difficulties you had to overcome?
The coursework and master's thesis were the main challenges. They require serious self-discipline - you must be very organized, motivated, and, most importantly, able to plan your time.
Would you recommend young people to study at VUAS and why?
I would recommend studying translation at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to anyone who is good at languages, because the studies are very diverse and interesting, and the knowledge gained is practically useful. Most importantly, all of the lecturers are professionals in their field with many years of experience, who are always ready to give advice and help if needed.
Do you think it is possible to combine studies with work?
I combine my studies with both work and family. Anything is possible if you want it enough. My motto is: the more you do, the more you can achieve!
Please tell us about your master's thesis! Why did you choose such an interesting topic for your research on the translation of culinary texts?
My husband and I are foodies. When we were younger, we travelled a lot in Ireland and other countries - we often went to restaurants and tried different foods. I also cook a lot myself, and my passion is everything to do with food. I am an avid viewer of documentaries about famous chefs and the history and methods of preparing various products. My bookshelf is overflowing with cookbooks! Before applying for my studies, I knew that the master's thesis was the most important part of my studies, and even then, I knew that I would write my thesis on specialized culinary vocabulary. During my bachelor's studies, I translated Vija Ancāne's "Maizes grāmata" (The Bread Book) from Latvian into English. The work was time-consuming but very interesting, and as a result, I started baking bread with my own sourdough starter.
The same thing happened with my master's thesis - it certainly wasn't easy, but I was very interested in the topic. In my opinion, translating culinary texts, especially recipes, is quite a complex task due to the lack of Latvian equivalents for foreign culinary terms. Unfortunately, various websites are overflowing with poor-quality translations of culinary texts - recipes, menus, food descriptions, and perhaps my research work highlighted the relevance of this topic.
What advice would you give to your classmates from the two-year program who are still studying, i.e., currently writing their master's thesis?
Perseverance, because you will need it! Be organized, plan your time, set specific deadlines for each part of your work! Work on your thesis systematically, and you will succeed!
Tell us about a translator's daily routine.
A translator must be motivated, organized, and a good time manager. The daily routine of a translator is very interesting because you must translate different types of texts. When translating, you always must study something in depth, look up definitions of terms, find equivalents, and solve translation problems that arise. The work of a translator keeps your mind sharp!
Will you continue working in the field of translation, and what are your wishes for yourself?
Yes, translation is my main occupation, and I will continue translating. I hope that my dream of translating a cookbook will come true someday!
Share on other platforms
Other news
