To delve into and implement Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, enhance the development of international communication capacity, foster exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and promote building a community of shared future for mankind by harnessing the vigor of youth, the Translation Centre of the College of Foreign Languages at Nankai University organized the CYLC Day themed “Getting Close to Translation and Telling China’s Stories Well” on January 22nd. The Translation Centre invited Zhao Xingmin, a senior translator at the United Nations, to present on the translation work at the United Nations, and to share his work experience and learning methods.
On the evening of 22 January, Zhao Xingmin, a senior UN translator and an 1980 alumnus of the College, was invited to give an online lecture. Entitled “Overview of Translation Work in the United Nations,” Zhao Xingmin discussed in detail the challenges of translation work at the United Nations and the qualifications required to become a translator at the United Nations. The lecture attracted a lot of attention, not only from the teachers and students of foreign language majors but also from students from other majors. The lecture was hosted by Professor Yan Guodong, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages. Professor Yan Guodong welcomed Zhao Xingmin, a donor as well as an alumnus of the college. Zhao Xingmin established the first scholarship sponsored by personal donation in the College of Foreign Languages, the Liangyu Translation Scholarship, which has been awarded to 77 students so far. Zhao Xingmin has been working at the United Nations for 35 years and has extensive experience in translation. His presentation will undoubtedly assist students in comprehending the translation work of the United Nations and in preparing for the United Nations translation exam.
Zhao Xingmin’s lecture was divided into four parts. Firstly, he introduced the meetings, documents, and translation departments of the United Nations. Then, he explained the translation procedure for United Nations documents, including the requirements for quantity and quality. Translators are expected to translate 5.8-6.4 pages per day, following the principles of “completeness, accuracy, fluency, terminology, consistency, and style.” After that, Zhao Xingmin introduced how to become a qualified United Nations translator. This is mainly achieved through extensive reading training, translation skills training, and search skills training to enhance one's abilities. Finally, he shared a reference booklist and links for further study in translation.
During the Q&A session, students asked questions enthusiastically, and Zhao Xingmin shared his opinions and suggestions patiently. He encouraged students to actively prepare for the United Nations Translation and Interpretation Examination and provided practical suggestions for their preparation. All attendees greatly benefited from the discussion in a warm atmosphere.
At last, Yan Guodong thanked Zhao Xingmin again for the lecture and encouraged students to actively register for the United Nations Translation and Interpretation Examination. The online lecture was successfully concluded.
