Interpreting At The 2-Day Solidarity School Meeting On 16 And 17 June 2018

BRIEF PRESENTATION

Solidarity schools are alternative educational structures which seek to promote a more democratic and consensual manner of education based on solidarity and self-organisation. Solidarity schools are not a substitute for the public education system. On the contrary, they support public schools by helping to better meet the educational needs of modern society and to address the social challenges in education which arose from the recent financial crisis. A special feature of solidarity schools is their democratic function expressed via decision-making in the form of joint meetings attended by teachers, parents and children. 

More information about the role and work of solidarity schools can be found at the following link: http://meeting.solidarityschools.gr

THE CONFERENCE

On 16-17 June 2018, solidarity schools held an international conference at the Athens School of Fine Arts. Representatives from similar structures in other parts of Europe attended the conference. The purpose of the conference was to map the landscape in the field of solidarity education through constructive discussions, exchanges of experience, proposals and initiatives, from which conclusions were drawn about further promotion and improvement of the work of solidarity schools. The discussions on the second day were also attended by the Minister of Education, Kostas Gavroglou.

THE INTERPRETING

Foreign representatives of solidarity schools from Switzerland, Austria, Turkey and other countries took part in the conference. To ensure problem-free communication it was considered necessary to offer interpreting in the languages of participants. After diligent evaluation of the linguistic needs of foreign representatives and the public, it was decided to provide interpreting in English and French.

Consequently, there were three languages at the conference: Greek, English and French. In practical terms, that meant that each talk had to be interpreted into two other languages. For this reason, it was decided that the most suitable form of interpreting would be simultaneous interpreting.

Two interpreting booths were set up: English and French. I worked in the English booth interpreting primarily from Greek to English since most speakers were Greek, and to a lesser extent from English to Greek when an English speaker took the floor. The relay method was used for French speakers’ presentations in French, during which I was connected to the French booth and listened to the interpreting done by my colleague from French to Greek. Based on the Greek interpreting, I then rendered the words in English. The same procedure was followed for English talks, during which the French booth took a relay from me and relied on my interpreting from English to Greek for its interpreting into French.

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