10 The Linguist Vol/63 No/2
ciol.org.uk/thelinguist
FEATURES
terminology. Language evolves with developments in
technology, and cultural and political changes, and
maintaining language skills has become a significant
portion of my annual CPD, comprising more than half of
it. It's not only essential for my translation practice but it's
also personally fulfilling.
Different partners for different needs
Encouraged by the benefits of my meetings with Kate,
I have recently embarked on a new peer relationship
with another colleague. Ewa is a Polish conference
interpreter, so although we work in the same language
pair, we provide different services. The focus of our
partnership is on social media presence and marketing.
Even though each of us has an established client base
and online presence, we both felt that we had reached a
plateau. We needed someone to bounce ideas off,
inspire and reassure us. Our sessions offer a space to
discuss goals and reflect on progress. We meet monthly
online as Ewa travels a lot for her work.
In both peer partnerships, we set achievable goals for
the next meeting. Admittedly, we don't always complete
our 'homework' on time. Still, we are understanding and
supportive of each other, and sometimes the idea
behind our little project is enough to motivate and
inspire us, even when time and other commitments work
against us. It keeps the momentum going.
We don't communicate between formal meetings
other than occasionally checking each other's social
media posts and sending a message of appreciation to
encourage one another. This strikes a balance between
maintaining professional connections and respecting the
other person's time and commitments, giving us the
freedom to reflect and make progress on our own terms.
We haven't established a timeframe for these
mentoring relationships; they are ongoing engagements.
Fostering a long-term partnership has made a huge
difference to my professional life. We benefit from
having a constant source of support and guidance. The
flexibility of this approach lets us adapt as our needs
change, allowing for a well-rounded development of
skills over time. Without a fixed endpoint we can
consistently set and monitor goals, and it encourages
open communication about where we see ourselves in
the long run. The sense of community we've formed
goes hand in hand with the idea of lifelong learning. It
has become a foundation for our enduring success in the
translation and interpreting fields.
Thanks to collaborative partnerships we can ensure that
no translator or interpreter guides their journey in isolation.
Freelancing can be a lonely way to work and that's why
cultivating such relationships is crucial. Mentoring is a
two-way street, where mentors and mentees mutually
contribute to each other's growth and development.
Together with experienced individuals and reliable
colleagues, we will not only weather challenges and
nurture growth but also foster a sense of connection in
what can otherwise be a solitary professional endeavour.
If you are interested in mentoring through CIOL,
visit www.ciol.org.uk/mentoring. Get involved at
www.ciol.org.uk/divisions-societies-networks to grow
your informal networks.
FLEXIBLE ACCESS
Mentoring can be in
person (main image)
or online (below),
depending on the
needs and locations
of those involved
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UNSPLASH
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PEXELS
