Workshops by the European Parliament for Translation Students of Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University

In March and April 2025, students from the Bachelor’s and Master’s translation programmes at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University took part in a series of professional workshops organised by the European Parliament. The events were held within the framework of a European Parliament’s grant project implemented under the Master’s programme “Translation from English and a Second Foreign Language into Ukrainian.”

The first workshop focused on retour interpreting. Top European interpreters shared practical insights on how to “sound like a native speaker,” how to avoid phonetic pitfalls, and how to work with intonation. They also offered a range of professional tips. Over 270 participants from various countries attended the event.

The second workshop, “Resilience and Wellbeing Strategies for Future Conference Interpreters,” addressed mental health and coping strategies in the interpreting profession. Speakers discussed the role of mindfulness in interpreters’ work and shared exercises for staying focused and self-regulated under stress.

The third session was delivered exclusively for ONU students by Ms Anastasiia Koka – the only staff Ukrainian-language interpreter at the European Parliament. She spoke about her professional journey in EU institutions, the specifics of interpreting in the Ukrainian booth, the challenges of working in a multilingual environment, and the growing demand for interpreters working with Ukrainian.

These workshops offered students a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the professional realities of working as a translator and interpreter within EU institutions, providing both inspiration and motivation for their future careers in the field.

Photo by @ep_interpreters