YEREVAN, Armenia — Alumni of the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Graduate Certificate in Translation (CTr) are leaving a mark on the local interpretation industry. Kristine Goroyan (CTr. ’16), Sona Hayrapetyan (CTr. ’18), and Arevik Simonyan (CTr. ’14) all decided to enter this competitive field after receiving their certificates from AUA. Unfettered by the reluctance of established interpreters to accept younger newcomers, these three women have made a name for themselves in the industry.
We asked Goroyan, Hayrapetyan, and Simonyan to each share about their journey through the CTr program and their current work in interpretation.
What inspired you to apply for the CTr program?
Goroyan: I had some limited experience in translation/interpretation since the year 2011. Then, in 2012, I decided to apply for the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language program at AUA because, apparently, back then I had not yet realized that translation was the career I wanted to pursue. I never regretted the choice I made in 2012 because, although I later decided that teaching was not the job that allowed me to realize my potential to the fullest, these two years were an invaluable learning experience for me. Following my graduation from the MATEFL program, I worked at a private school in Yerevan for a year. There, I realized that, as rewarding as a teacher’s job is, it was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Something was missing. I firmly believe that teaching is a calling, and if you do not feel you have a given calling, then you had better stay away from that job. It was immediately following this realization that I was offered the job of an interpreter and translator within the framework of an international project. Throughout the course of my assignment, I felt that I needed to acquire further knowledge and skills to better do my job. And because of the fantastic learning experience I had previously had at AUA, I did not consider any other option than to return to AUA.
Hayrapetyan: One day, I heard of a man who was a highly sought-after interpreter working with state bodies, celebrities, politicians, and others. I was touched by his remarkable career and, after enjoying my undergraduate studies at Brusov University, I found myself determined to keep chasing my wish-dream of becoming a successful interpreter. On my way to pursuing this goal, an open house event appeared that helped me understand that I needed nothing but AUA’s CTr program, where I would have the chance to study the art of translation and the mysterious world of interpretation. “I need neither the TEFL nor the MBA,” I said with a sparkle in my eyes and enthusiasm in my heart, and to this day, I feel the lasting impact of that life-changing decision.
Simonyan: I applied to the CTr program in 2013 when I was at the dawn of my career as a translator and interpreter. What the CTr program offered was unique to Armenia, in the sense that it promised to provide in-depth knowledge of translation theory and the basics of interpretation in practice.
Can you please share about your experience in the CTr program?
Goroyan: My positive experience in the CTr program is inextricably linked with the person who made the program a reality, CTr Coordinator Dr. Shushan Avagyan. I think we often overuse the word “inspiration” in our daily discourse, but I do want to use it here to do justice to her dedication to the job and the love for the profession she instills in every student. I am so grateful to Dr. Avagyan and adjunct lecturer Davit Isajanyan for their dedication, their contagious integrity, and grace. What I liked best about the CTr program was the organic academic environment, where we would read and discuss and share our insights, rather than listen to lectures. I loved the feeling of being an active agent in the learning process.
Hayrapetyan: The CTr program taught me that translation ethics and theoretical knowledge are at the top of the list, and one needs to adhere to them to avoid problems down the line, such as starting the interpretation of a speaker’s thoughts with “ասումա” or “he/she says.” Even though it may seem funny to you now, it shows nothing but a lack of respect for your profession.
Today, young people can take a couple of courses over a short period of time and, voila, they acquire a certificate in a new specialty. This is not the case with the CTr program. CTr students know what it means to acquire dozens of pages of theoretical knowledge, and theoretical framework is what goes hand in hand with practice and yields positive results.
In fact, this interview is a perfect chance to express many words of thanks to our professors, Dr. Avagyan and Isajanyan. Thank you, dear professors, for going the extra mile and paving the smoothest way to the translation and interpretation market! Thanks to your high standards and commitment, we find ourselves endlessly challenged to ensure growth and betterment, and that’s exactly what we need in this rapidly-changing era!
Simonyan: What I received by the end of the program exceeded my expectations. In addition to equipping me with knowledge and awareness of the nuances of translation and interpretation, as well as building my capacity to be meticulous and attentive to detail in any undertaking, in fact, the program gave me the confidence and determination to pursue my passion despite the challenges of the profession and obstacles to self-actualization in the market. It was due to the dedication and professionalism of my inspiring professors, Dr. Avagyan and Assistant Professor Rafik Santrosyan, that I firmly stood on this path and never deviated from it.
How did the CTr program prepare you for your current career in interpretation?
Goroyan: You know, what I remember most vividly from my studies is not the technical skills I acquired, but rather our insightful philosophical discussions with Dr. Avagyan and Isajanyan on different aspects of translation, including ethical considerations. I think the most important thing AUA has given me is the ability to adopt an academic approach in every aspect of your career, consulting literature and research. But I also cannot underestimate the practical knowledge and skills I acquired there. I remember how they would book the main hall at AUA so that we could practice and build our simultaneous interpretation skills. Frankly, I was a total failure in the beginning, but look at where I stand now. I am so grateful for this opportunity to enter the job market sufficiently prepared and continue my lifelong education based on the solid foundation that the program provided.
Hayrapetyan: The courses I took at AUA helped me be emotionally stable, neutral, and secretive about the conversation I am interpreting. It is certainly not easy, but it will eventually come with practice. Next to the surgeon, you should behave in a self-possessed manner. When someone belittles your country or your compatriots, you must bottle up your feelings, and keep your mouth shut if you hear important strategic information concerning your country, namely its security and foreign relations. Suppose you sit next to two business magnates, and the one from Europe utters the phrase “to take a bath.” Of course, he’s not talking about taking a shower in the bathroom, though it might be the first thing to come to mind, but about suffering a heavy financial loss. And here comes the most common question: “What do you do when you come across an unfamiliar word?” My answer will most probably be, “God knows!” However, it’s safe to say that focusing on a word can make you totally lose your train of thoughts.
Additionally, my studies at AUA exposed me to the vibe of entering the booth of simultaneous interpretation, which is unfortunately not a realistic possibility at other universities. I remember being the first one who dared to do the first simultaneous interpretation, since I wished to wait no longer to start practicing it and be corrected and guided by the instructor.
Simonyan: I can confidently state that the CTr program was pivotal in building my career. However, it should be noted that the profession of a translator and interpreter is a lifelong journey where you learn on a daily basis. Much depends on consistent self-education, but without the solid foundation provided by the CTr program, this would be much harder to attain.
Can you please share about your current work as an interpreter?
Goroyan: Currently, I mostly work as an interpreter, since I have very limited time to do written translation, for which reason I try to only undertake written translation assignments that are intellectually rewarding and challenging. The market demand in Armenia and elsewhere is mostly for simultaneous interpretation. It is no secret that it is one of the best-paid jobs in Armenia, as a result of which there is a lot of competition in the market. Unfortunately, it is not always healthy competition. The areas I work in are human rights, international law, political science and international relations, media, and gender, as well as technical fields like mental health, environment, agriculture, hydraulic engineering, and so on. It is important to try to expand your field of expertise, but this should be done very carefully and step by step to avoid excessive dilettantism.
Hayrapetyan: Once, during the second year of my undergraduate degree, I met a senior student majoring in teaching, and here is what she told me: “An interpreter is always a mediator, an in-between person that serves as a bridge for two sides and doesn’t have an own voice; instead, he or she has to repeat what has been uttered by others, so there is no point in being the shadow of someone else…” Well, I was not discouraged, and you know what? These words made me even stronger in my convictions, and deep in my heart, I multiplied my efforts to make my wish come true and prove that interpreters do play an important role, at least before artificial intelligence knocks at the door!
Since 2018, I have faced various situations in the hospital, theater, scientific centers, investigation offices, universities, factories, business centers, NGOs, and international organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). From life-saving topics to workshops, from an interrogation to a negotiation, from a conference to a round-table discussion, the “shadow-interpreter” clarifies misunderstandings, builds trust, ensures effective communication, and one by one, defines all principal details of a project implementation. And whenever I am exposed to a new setting, I gain knowledge and experience in a new field. At AUA, I learned to be ready to study endlessly, since a small mistake can ruin my career in a second. In order not to feel a cloud over my head or in order to receive kind words or a handshake from the president of the Republic, I am always ready to study hard!
Simonyan: In the middle of the one-year program, I was offered the role of translator and interpreter in one of the international companies operating in Armenia, where I honed my translation skills, built solid vocabulary in a wide range of fields, and practiced interpretation on a daily basis for five years before entering the vast ocean of conference interpretation. Currently, I work as a freelance translator and conference interpreter. Since the market is largely based on networks, it took me a while before I could build trust and reputation among clients. Now, I have a significant number of loyal clients, including national and international NGOs, state agencies, and UN entities, such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. My clients also include the Japan International Cooperation Agency; The Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency; the National Democratic Institute; Canada’s Parliamentary Centre; the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia; Freedom House; the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia (RA); the Office of the RA President; the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia; and many others, as well as a number of EU-funded projects such as the GOPA PACE “Support to CEPA monitoring, implementation and communication” project and “Hazardous Waste Management” project. This list keeps growing, despite the competitiveness of the market, for which I am beyond grateful.
What kind of impact do you hope to have on the field of interpretation in Armenia?
Goroyan: One problem I encounter in Armenia is some interpreters’ disregard for the international standards in simultaneous interpreting. This factor leads to unequal competition. And I want to be frank here. When I had just entered the market, I also used to break these “rules,” but I did not do so on purpose; I simply was not aware of the rules and standards. One of the reasons I was not aware of them may have been the reluctance of the older generation of interpreters to share their experience and knowledge with the new generation of interpreters. Therefore, apart from doing my best to ensure high quality interpretation services, I also hope to have a positive impact in terms of contributing to the adherence to integrity-based ethical codes, international standards, and practice. I also hope to contribute to healthier competition among professionals in the field. Last but not least, I hope to have as many opportunities as possible to share my knowledge and skills with the newcomers, to support the creation of an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect based on commonly agreed upon and stipulated principles. Let quality and integrity win.
Hayrapetyan: To be honest, I’m not sure that my role as an interpreter will leave an impact on the field of interpretation. Nonetheless, I do my best to make people accept the importance of what we do. To make it happen, I keep the following in mind: if you do not know your own value, then do not expect someone else to calculate it for you.
Simonyan: In addition to my own work as a freelance translator and conference interpreter, I am the co-founder of Verba Translation and Interpretation Agency. Verba is a for-profit organization with a mission to collect a pool of promising translators and build their capacities, to consolidate the community of interpreters, to give aspiring interpreters an opportunity to exercise their potential upon meeting certain quality criteria, and to promote a uniform code of conduct and standards in the field of interpretation. At Verba, we believe that it is only through healthy competition that the sector can grow and become more equitable.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.