Workshops and events

I run literary translation workshops, exploring the craft and practice of translating prose and poetry. My workshops usually focus on contemporary or classic fiction, literary non-fiction, or children’s books. I also run practical workshops helping graduates and emerging translators develop their business and networking skills.

For primary and secondary schools, I also offer creative translation and language discovery workshops, which combine code-breaking and creative writing with a taster of a new language, a new culture and a new perspective on history and geography.

I regularly participate in panel discussions about literature, publishing and translation, and in careers events for students and early-career translators.

Creative translation workshops

  • Stephen Spender Trust: I am one of the five translators selected to collaborate with teachers on Creative Translation in the Classroom 2019/2020, a new iteration of the Translators in Schools programme. I’ll be leading workshops at two primary schools in Buckinghamshire, presenting translation as an exercise in code-breaking, global cultural awareness and creative writing all in one. The one-year programme also involves collaborative planning with teachers to embed translation as a creative classroom practice that can fulfil various aspects of the curriculum
  • Shadow Heroes: I led a series of Arabic taster workshops under the title It’s All Arabic To Me! in October 2019. These workshops gave secondary school students an insight into creative translation, considering the ethical and cultural dimensions of the translation process; full glossary and support materials provided so no prior knowledge necessary of Arabic needed.
  • Warwick Translates: I was the Arabic tutor on this literary and creative translation summer school at Warwick University, 6-10 July 2019
  • Taught Arabic literary translation at Manchester in Translation, February 2019, focusing on texts by female Arabic writers from Palestine and Egypt
  • Cambridge Russian School: I ran a translation workshop on Yulia Yakovleva’s The Raven’s Children, February 2019
  • Translate in the City: I was the Arabic > English translation tutor at this literary translation summer school at City, University of London, 2017 (the precursor to Warwick Translates)
  • Literary translation workshop for MA Advanced Arabic students at IMES department, University of Edinburgh, 2017, 2018 and March 2019

Panel discussions about literary translation and publishing

  • Around the World in 18 Books: An introduction to literary translation in children’s and YA publishing – a seminar I gave at the University of Reading’s Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing is now available online with notes
  • I spoke about World Kid Lit and various kinds of diversity in children’s publishing at this panel at London Book Fair 2019
  • Translation as Collaboration: I chaired this panel discussion with literary translators Nashwa Gowanlock and Jessica West at Anthology Extended, a weekend literary festival hosted by independent bookshop The Suffolk Anthology, 23 March 2019
  • Spoke about challenges of translating nonfiction panel at London Book Fair 2018, focusing especially on translating nonfiction
  • Discussed children’s books in translation, and specifically the three Arabic picture books I translated for Outside in World’s Reading the Way project, at London Book Fair 2016
  • Translating Gay Identities: I spoke about queer literature in translation from Arabic and Russian, at this panel chaired by Jen Calleja at the British Library, 2017

Professional CPD: training events for translators

  • Took part in ITI WRG careers event for early-career freelance translators and translation students at Bath and Bristol universities, Jan 2019
  • Seminar about the practicalities of a career as a literary translator for ITI Western Regional Group (if you are a member of ITI, please see the ITI Bulletin winter 2016 issue for a detailed review of this event)
  • Outlined routes into freelance translation and tips on maintaining a successful portfolio career as a linguist for students at IMES, University of Edinburgh, 2018
  • I’ve talked to students about careers in languages at Newnham College, Cambridge University, the University of Bath and the University of Edinburgh

Language careers: advice for secondary and university students

I’ve curated and hosted lots of fun, practical workshops at secondary and middle schools, aimed at encouraging students to see the practical application of languages and to take a language GCSE at Key Stage 4, or helping broaden language students’ horizons at sixth form.