United Nations’ St. Jerome Translation Contest: a winner among ISIT students!
ISIT is proud to present the winner of the English to French Translation Prize (student category) of the United Nations’ 15th St. Jerome Translation Contest: Valentine Clauer-Rossi, Intercultural Communication and Translation Master’s degree student.
A demanding but rewarding competition
Established in 2005 by the English Translation Service at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, this annual contest honours International Translation Day. It aims to promote multilingualism in the United Nations and to highlight the role of linguists in today’s multilateral system.
For each target language, a jury of two or three judges evaluate the translations. The judges pay particular attention to the accuracy of the translation and also to the way in which the style and nuances of the source text are rendered.
This competition is a perfect introduction to the world of institutional translation and its requirements. For ISIT students, it can also be :
- a professional stepping-stone (the winners of the contest win an internship at the United Nations)
- a way to discover how translating for a prestigious international organization works.
In 2019, Valentine translated a New York Times article about Tina Turner into French. She was rewarded for her quality work, and we send her our most sincere congratulations for this achievement !
You can read her translation here!
ISIT and the United Nations, a partnership
In 2010, ISIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations, which promotes access to language careers in the UN. As a result, the relationship between the United Nations and ISIT is not only close but also fruitful. Responding as closely as possible to UN requirements and the internal culture of the organisation, our students are trained in the six official UN languages :
- English
- German
- French
- Chinese
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Russian
They have unparalleled intercultural expertise and training.
Read the testimony of a graduate student, now working as a UN translator (IN FRENCH)
Another side of this fruitful partnership is the creation and success of our own student association centered around the UN: International Careers and more specifically its UNISIT branch, which promotes UN values.
This association, through workshops, conferences and MUNs (Model United Nations), allows students wishing to work at the UN to gain international expertise and learn more about the organization and its operations.
Moreover, UNISIT has established privileged contacts with the French Association of the United Nations and is a member of the Inter-University Committee of the United Nations in Paris.