12. Zoom

‘Translation consists in learning about a subject and trying to deepen your knowledge of it’

min
 

Name and surname(s): Marta Camus-Heras
Place and date of birth: Barcelona, 1975
Education: Short degree in Nursing from the University of Barcelona (1997) and bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting from UPF (2019)
Interests: Reading, cinema and travel

Marta’s academic life is unusual. Twenty-five years went by between when she enrolled on the programme in Nursing at the University of Barcelona and when she finished her Translation and Interpreting degree at UPF. Twenty-five years that spanned an era of revolutionary changes at universities: the massive introduction of the use of computers and the implementation of the first computer rooms, the arrival of the Internet on campus, the adoption of the Bologna Plan and the change of curricula, etc. She has been an exceptional witness to how the university system has evolved.

As a European resident in the United Kingdom, she is also experiencing the Brexit affair first hand. Indeed, it was key to her decision to finish her studies at UPF.

What is your academic and professional background?

In 1997, I earned a three-year degree in Nursing and then worked as a nurse for about two years. Since I spoke English fluently and I had studied German at the Official Language School (EOI) for three years, I decided to pursue what was then the long-degree programme in Translation and Interpreting at UPF. I enrolled in September 1999 with German as my first foreign language and English as my second. I thought English would be too easy and that German would give me more opportunities to find work.

The first year was great: I would go to class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and, from there, to the EOI twice a week until 9 p.m., to further improve my German and my French. Sometimes, I would go back to the library at night to review my lessons until 1 in the morning, when it closed. It was hard work, but I liked it a lot. 

Marta Camus

The second year was very different. I found the classes much harder. I hadn’t rested over the summer, since I had got a job as soon as I finished my exams. I really struggled with certain subjects, especially German. At the end of the second year, I went to Germany for a three-month exchange, which was part of the curriculum. Initially, I’d planned to stay for five months to try to improve my German. But in the end, I decided to take a year off and I ended up staying for 15.

Once I was back in Barcelona, I started my third year and, again, I had a lot of fun; it was a very good time for me. Nevertheless, at the end of that year, I began to worry about the degree final project. Also, even though my German comprehension was great, I felt like my oral and written expression were not good enough. I was especially stressed, particularly since some of the topics were about reverse translation from Spanish and Catalan into German.

  • Why did you decide to stop studying?

    • In the second term of my third year, I almost let myself go. I was very discouraged. Then, I guess I was very lucky to get a job at the Alimentaria trade show for a few days. I met an English person there and we began a relationship. I decided to quit my translation studies and move to England, to work as a nurse and start a family. I had two children, who are now 10 and 13.

      Marta Camus

      After having my first child, I decided to stop working as a nurse. But when my eldest began his formal education, I got a job at the school, first, as part of the cleaning staff, then as a cafeteria supervisor. In 2013, I decided I wanted to be a teaching assistant. I went to Lowestoft College and attended night classes once a week for nine months. I got a job as a teaching assistant, which is what I have been doing ever since. In parallel to my work experience at the children’s school, I was writing a lot of essays in English. It was a tough and challenging time, but I really enjoyed the experience. 

      I decided to quit my translation studies and move to England, to work as a nurse and start a family. I had two children, who are now 10 and 13.

      I also had to prove that my mathematics and English skills were at the level of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in the United Kingdom. And that made me think about finishing my Translation and Interpreting degree.

  • How was your return to UPF?

    • The thing is, I didn’t think about my studies again until Brexit. Then I realized that if I didn’t try to finish them before it happened, I would have lost five years of my life. After all, the level of English I acquired at UPF allowed me to work as a trade show hostess and move to England to work as a nurse without too many language barriers.

      Pull quote: The level of English I acquired at UPF allowed me to work as a trade show hostess and move to England to work as a nurse without too many language barriers.

      The year I decided to re-enrol at the university, I lost a good friend, Kate Woodruff. She was my mentor during my training as a teaching assistant, my boss and my champion. She believed in me and she supported me at difficult personal and professional moments. So, I also wanted to finish my studies as a tribute to her, since she could no longer enjoy her family, her life and her work as a teacher.

      I thought about changing universities and I inquired at the Open University (OU) and at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), but they would only recognize 10% of my credits. Then I reached out to UPF again. Whilst I could re-enrol at the university, I couldn’t change languages, and I still felt that German was a problem. However, with the new curriculum, only one of the total of eleven topics was in German.

      Marta Camus

      I started working towards my degree in Translation and Interpreting again in 2017. I received support from the school where I was working, which let me cut back my hours to have the necessary free time to sit the exams. I wanted to finish in a year and do 48 credits. Everything was going fine until I came up against the degree final project. I froze up again and felt very stressed. So I decided to leave the final project for the following year.

      This year, 2019, has not been easy, but I have persevered, and, after presenting my oral defence of my final project, I earned my degree in Translation and Interpreting from UPF.

  • You just finished defending your final project. Tell us what it was about.

    • My final project was called ‘Analysis of extralinguistic cultural references in Roma’. Given my fondness of film, I wanted to look at the subtitles from the film Roma that referred to people, places, institutions, customs and foods specific to a given culture, in this case, Mexico City. I still use subtitles daily to access television programmes and also to socialize with my British family. Since Roma is a Mexican film, I wanted to shed light on the different ways the film was perceived depending on which version the audience was watching.

      Pull quote: Since Roma is a Mexican film, I wanted to shed light on the different ways the film was perceived depending on which version the audience was watching.

  • Where do you think your interest in being a translator came from?

    • First, from my love of languages and, second, from the fact that, with my nursing background, I could specialize in medical translation. I don’t feel sure of myself creating my own texts, but I feel more confident recreating texts written by other people, and that is what I like most about the translation process. 

  • What changes have you experienced between when you started your Translation and Interpreting studies, in 2000, and now?

    • Twenty years ago, technology and language sciences were important, but today they are indispensable. Some students, and even some teachers, were quite reluctant to use any type of technology. I wasn’t like that. Obviously, the current generation has grown up with the Internet and new technologies are an essential part of their lives. Also, today people are encouraged to use new technologies much more, for example, to communicate with their tutors or access the content of the subject syllabus via Aula Global. In fact, I don’t think I would have been able to finish my studies living in England; new technologies are what allowed me to do that.

      Pull quote: I don’t think I would have been able to finish my studies living in England; new technologies are what allowed me to do that.

      The implementation of the Bologna Plan was also a major change from my early years at UPF. And with the changes in the curriculum for the degree, English has become the main language, whilst German has been pushed to the background.

  • Back in the day, you participated in an Erasmus exchange. What do you think about this training opportunity?

    • With the Erasmus programme, I went to Germany. I did a three-month exchange at the University of Freiburg as part of a compulsory internship. It was excellent, especially because it forces you to leave your comfort zone and helps you grow. That is something that struck me as very positive, especially in relation to translation: cultural immersion and the adoption of new experiences. And that goes for any student seeking to grow up.

      It was excellent. It forces you to leave your comfort zone and helps you grow. It is very positive, especially in relation to translation: cultural immersion and the adoption of new experiences.

      I can see that my daughter and, then, my son will leave home when they are 18. I do not know what percentage of Spanish students live with their parents whilst studying their degree, but I would bet that it is well below the European average.

  • What do you think of the translation and interpreting profession today?

    • I think it is as hard as it was twenty years ago. Out of all my colleagues, only one works exclusively for an international translation company and earns a good salary. She was an excellent student and a very hard worker. I think most Translation and Interpreting graduates dream of becoming translators with good pay. Obviously, the ability to access different cultures through language training means that translators can have a lot of work, but not always with the recognition they deserve.

      The ability to access different cultures through language training means that translators can have a lot of work

  • What did your time at UPF give you?

    • I am happy to have earned my degree and I think UPF is a good university. In these last two years, I have gained in self-confidence and pushed myself to try new things. I love learning new things, and translation consists in learning about a topic and then trying to deepen your knowledge of it. I am very grateful for the support that I have received, especially for the guidance and encouragement I have received from the lecturers Victòria Alsina and Elisenda Bernal.

  • What are your plans for the future?

    • I have two options. I could continue in the field of education, either as a private Spanish tutor or as a teacher. Or I could continue to work as a teaching assistant and combine that with translations and interpreting.

Photo gallery

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