Xinfei Qin

What did you enjoy most about studying your MA English-Chinese Interpreting with Translation course at Birmingham?  

I really appreciated the course’s progressive structure and professional facilities. We began with introductory consecutive interpreting, then moved on to advanced consecutive and finally simultaneous interpreting. This step-by-step approach helped build strong foundations. The Liaison Interpreting module was particularly valuable because it closely reflects real-world practice. Access to professional simultaneous interpreting booths was also a real highlight. 

How has your Masters degree influenced your career journey? 

This course introduced me to simultaneous interpreting for the first time, which has made me consider specialising in this area alongside my existing consecutive interpreting skills. Modules like Professional Development and Translating for Business also opened my eyes to industry trends and new technologies, which have shaped my career direction. 

What skills did you gain from your course and studying at Birmingham that you still use today? 

The translation and interpreting techniques I learned are skills I rely on every day. A major part of the course focused on working with speakers from different cultural backgrounds and across a wide range of subjects and specialist vocabulary. This not only improved our linguistic agility but also taught us how to handle unexpected situations with confidence.

Whether I’m interpreting at a medical conference or in a business meeting, the ability to adapt quickly to different topics and accents, skills that were reinforced throughout the course, remain essential to my work. 

How did your course prepare you for your career? 

We had great practical experiences. These included interpreting practice at Winterbourne House, guest lectures from industry professionals and hands-on training with professional simultaneous interpreting equipment. These experiences built my confidence and technical competence.