Juliette Bonnet

Sciences Po Paris, a Master in Economic Law, a Master in Conference Interpreting at ISIT: Juliette is piling up the degrees, motivated by her taste for variety, natural curiosity and openness to others. Here’s a woman who knows where she’s headed…

What did you study before entering ISIT?

Before doing the Master in Conference Interpreting at ISIT, I did a five-year program at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris. I spent the first two years in Poitiers, on the Euro-Latino-American campus (the university has several campuses throughout France, each specialized in a different part of the world). I spent my third year in Brazil, in Sao Paulo. Back in Paris, I completed a Master in Economic Law at Sciences Po.

Why become an interpreter?

There are a number of reasons why I’ve been interested in this job for a long time:

• I’ve always been interested in learning languages and discovering new cultures, so it was natural that I gravitated towards this program. Being an interpreter allows you to use languages every day and travel a lot! 

• Change. We’re constantly moving from one environment to another, from one subject to another. This variety corresponds perfectly to my personality and what I want out of life. I’ve never been able to put myself in a box that I couldn’t easily get out of! There are so many things that interest me in the world. Being an interpreter allows me to get a taste of everything and progress in different fields.

• This job is incredibly intellectually stimulating. Every single day, an interpreter calls upon skills that most people don’t use on a regular basis, like memory, analytical skills and concentration. When an interpreter gets into a booth, there’s no way to cheat, no way to “rewind.” In the beginning, this is scary, but there’s also something exciting about it. As an interpreter you feel the adrenaline rush and you either love it or you hate it. I love it!

• Finally, it’s a job that is entirely dedicated to others. We help others communicate and I find that very rewarding.

Why ISIT?

ISIT is known for being one of the best interpretation schools in Europe. To be successful at a job this demanding, you have to be able to count on a quality education.

What are your plans for after ISIT?

My language combination pretty much means I’ll be working in the public sector, probably for a large international organization, so I’ve decided to take the European Union and UN tests this year. I also plan to strengthen one of my languages, English or Portuguese, to make it a B language. I’ll have to spend time abroad to do this.

What is your advice to future students?

• Work hard, because it’s a difficult program, but a rewarding one.

• Believe in yourself, stay curious and remain open to the world.

• Don’t forget to take a break now and then and keep doing activities outside of ISIT like a sport or practicing music—it’s very important to relax. Work hard but don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. I really think that when you’re studying to be an interpreter, you have to be comfortable in your own skin and not be afraid to try new things. It’s an education that puts you in the spotlight a lot, you often feel exposed, so it’s that much more important to have a well-balanced personal life.