Assane
Anca
Irene
Alessandro
Balint
Malik
Ajit
Abhi
Aarthav
Please note that participants have been given pseudonyms to protect their privacy and anonymity.
ANCA
This young translator's experience was very stressful because she knew she had to start from 0 to a mastery level in order not to get bullied, Even though she tried really hard not to get attention, she still got picked on in Primary but in her current school she felt less stressed because she had felt more confident within the English language. Her primary language is Romanian and she moved to Great Britain when she was 9 years old. Throughout that process she felt anxious and confused since she had no idea that she'll get picked on for not knowing a language.
IRENE
This young translator's experience was slightly different. When she moved to Great Britain she wans only 4 years old. She was only 6 years old when the bullying began, she felt like its her fault, but she barely knew her own language. She understood the basics of English when she was around 7-9 years old. She had to change her schools because of the bullying and the teachers having no patience for her understanding of the language. In her current school she feels safe because there are a lot of teenagers that understand her struggle.
ALESSANDRO
For this club member, learning English was very hard at first but it got easier by practising. He had been bullied several times for not speaking English properly. He moved to England when he was 10 years old, But when he joined his current school he felt more open to his language and he made lots of friends.
AJIT
This young person spoke about his experience of being fat shamed. He is such a funny boy and since he joined his current school he feels very safe and open to the school. So now he loves to socialize with a lot of people and he is definitely a very good example as a young translator.
ASSANE
This young person enjoyed coming along to the Club as all young people came together and did different kinds of activities each week.
MALIK
This young person speaks two different languages: Spanish and English.
BALINT
This young translator was born in the UK. He speak Polish and English. On one occasion, he had to help his grandfather during a health emergency and called 999 to ask for help. He told us that it was very stressful because they were asking him a lot of questions and he had to translate for his grandfather but eventually he managed to successfully get medical assistance for his grandfather and help him feel better.
AARTHAV
This young translator was born in Bangladesh and speaks four different languages: Bangla, Urdu, and Panjabi and English. Since arriving in the UK he translate for his father during hospital appointments. He likes his country Bangladesh, his family and his new school.
He is always happy to help others by translating for them.
ABHI
This young person was born in Bangladesh and translates Bangla to English. He feels proud when he translate for others. He likes translating for people and he regularly translates for one of his friends. In his current school the teachers are very good and they have helped him learn English.
Frequent questions we get asked...
Who is a 'young translator'?
A young translator is a person who speaks more than one languages and who translates or interprets for others including his family, school peers and community. Translating takes place in different places such as school classroom, the doctors, the supermarket and on one's home.
How often do you translate and why?
I translate mostly for my family and friends because I like to support them during their journey of learning a new language. I know it is not easy and want to help them however I can.
Do you often get made fun of?
Sometimes yes but you should learn that speaking a different language is unique and not everybody can do this.
What makes a 'good' translator?
Listening carefully to others and trying to help out.