Group photo of instructors and students
To further promote the collaboration between the University of Macau (UM) and local secondary schools in Macau, the Department of English at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) hosted the Interpreting Experience Programme for Secondary School Students on April 12-13, 2025, for the Pui Va Middle School. The programme aimed to provide high school students with insights into the interpreting profession, offer academic and career planning guidance, and strengthen the ties between UM and Pui Va Middle School. During the programme, the participating students from Pui Va were taught to use the state-of-the-art interpreting system available at the FAH and demonstrated aptitude for interpreting through a blend of theoretical learning and practical exercises.
This activity was organized and led by Chan Chi Weng Keith, a master’s student in translation from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Macau, with support from Professor Victoria Lei as the programme advisor. Additionally, one postgraduate student from the MA in Chinese-English Translation Programme—Lo Chi Leng was invited to serve as teaching assistants. The instructor team integrated theory with practice, providing students with an accessible yet comprehensive learning experience that helped them grasp the core skills of interpreting and develop strategies to tackle its challenges.
As the programme planner and instructor, Chan expressed his hope that this initiative would allow high school students to move beyond traditional classroom settings, experience the university learning environment, and gain a deeper understanding of interpreting studies and the interpreting profession.
Students mastering the use of simultaneous interpreting equipment
Students attending an interpreting theory course
Theoretical Foundation and Skills Enhancement
On the first day, the focus was on introducing interpreting theories, immersive interpreting experiences, and offering a university overview session. Through theoretical lessons, students learned about the essential skills and qualities required of interpreters, including language proficiency, content analysis, real-time responsiveness, and mental resilience. Interactive activities such as the “Memory Challenge,” sight translation, and shadowing exercises were included to enhance students’ listening and response abilities. To foster a realistic understanding of interpreting work, the instructors brought the students to the simultaneous interpreting (SI) booths, where they were introduced to interpreting equipment and participated in simulated interpreting practice. The day concluded with an introduction to UM, including its unique residential college system, providing students with a deeper insight of university life and studies at UM.
SI Lab Tour
Engaging Discussion sessions
Practical Exercises and Demonstration
The second day of the programme centred on hands-on interpreting practice and simulated simultaneous interpreting exercises. With the instructors’ guidance, the students practiced interpreting scenarios such as simulated business dialogues, focusing on accurately conveying meaning while maintaining fluency. Further practice in the simultaneous interpreting booths allowed students to experience the work environment of professional interpreters first-hand. During the final simulated simultaneous interpreting session, students applied what they had learned over the two days, showcasing impressive learning outcomes and professional potential.
Observing Peers and Sharing Experiences
As an important exchange activity between the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Macau and local secondary schools, this event provided students from Pui Va Middle School with an unforgettable university experience and an introduction to the interpreting profession. It not only sparked their interest in language learning and cross-linguistic communication but also injected new inspiration and motivation into their future growth and development. The students’ active participation demonstrated the enthusiasm and potential of the younger generation for language and cultural exchange.
Keith Chan, the event organizer, expressed his expectation that similar activities could be organized in the future to offer more secondary school students with learning and experiential opportunities. He also hopes to collaborate with more local secondary schools in the future, further promoting educational exchanges and cooperation between the University of Macau and local schools. Through these efforts, the University of Macau has not only strengthened its friendly ties with local secondary schools, but also demonstrated its active role in nurturing outstanding language talents and advancing local education development, injecting greater vitality and opportunities into Macao’s educational and cultural exchanges.