@Linguist_CIOL
APRIL/MAY The Linguist 31
INSTITUTE MATTERS
I joined the Translating Division Committee
last summer after seeing a call-out for
volunteers. I had only recently joined CIOL,
because it is free while I am doing my MA in
Translation and Interpreting, although I had
been planning to join for several years.
I have been working as a translator for
about seven years, specialising in English to
Spanish legal and medical translation, and
previously worked as an interpreter with the
NHS. My children are five and two, and I am
also doing a Master's, so I am currently
working part-time as a translator, with a bit of
telephone interpreting and Spanish teaching.
Joining the committee seemed like a
good opportunity for me. As a translator, I
wanted to give back to the community;
expand my knowledge of how the
For contact details for CIOL's membership networks (divisions, societies and associations), visit ciol.org.uk/networks-events
To view the calendar of events, see ciol.org.uk/events
MEMBERSHIP NETWORKS
about the industry. Translating Division events
take place three times a year, and there are
around five or six committee meetings.
Volunteers are often needed to help at
specific events, so even if you only have a
few hours, it is worth investing your time.
At the moment, I am fitting in translation
and admin work while my children are in bed,
and when my son naps during the day, and
doing my university work while my son is at
nursery. It is hard because I don't have family
nearby (I'm from Galicia in Spain) and my
husband works full-time. Although I don't have
a lot of time, I do as much as I can for the
Translating Division to the best of my ability.
For more information about the Translating
Division, see www.ciol.org.uk/td or join the
CIOL Translating Division Facebook page.
committee works and how things are shaped
within CIOL; and get to know more people in
the industry and extend my network. I've
learned a lot from experienced translators,
and am currently being supported through
the CIOL Mentoring Scheme, so volunteering
is a good way for me to help others in return.
There were two vacancies at the time. I
submitted a short application with information
about my background and why I was
interested in joining the committee, and I was
selected in September. My first meeting was
in October and I attended by Skype. It was
partly an induction, but we were mainly
preparing for future events. For me, it was a
case of listening and learning at that stage.
Volunteering is great when you're starting
out in your career and want to know more
Student Affiliate Rosa Insua Salguiero on juggling childcare, job assignments, an MA and work on
the Translating Division Committee – and why it's worth investing time in volunteering with CIOL
Investing in your future
