By Alex Myatt

'The click' 

Curiosity is something shared by all linguists. The decision to study other languages and cultures is often a product of this curiosity, but not always. Speaking personally, I know that there was a specific moment that gave me ‘the click’, and ever since, I’ve known that I wanted to follow the path of language study.

A few years ago, I was on holiday in a country where I didn’t speak the language, and, as luck would have it, I needed to see a doctor part-way through the trip. Thanks to the services of an interpreter, I was able to be treated properly and quickly.

And while I am, of course, very grateful for the medical care I received, the only thing that I could think about after the appointment was just how cool it was that the interpreter was able to switch between two languages, and the idea got lodged in my mind that being a translator or an interpreter who could help people like me in that situation had to be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.

Choosing Liverpool 

That’s why choosing to study the MA Translation course at the University of Liverpool was a no-brainer. I’d be able to study the medical public service interpreting that I wanted to, but the course also offered the traditional translation practices that I needed exposure to.

The vibrancy within the language department was another huge draw, with there being options to study several languages at any level.

The department also regularly offers extra-curricular events and opportunities, such as the annual Translation Careers Day, which give students great insights into the industry.

Translation Careers Day

For me, one of the most special things about this year’s Translation Careers Day was getting to hear from interesting people in diverse sectors of the language services industry. Having speakers, including John Worne fom CIOL and Fiona Gray from ITI (pictured above) tell us about all of the different applications of language was fascinating and made all the students who attended reflect on the huge amount of opportunities that translation can open up to you.

National security, publishing, marketing localisation and other career paths were all represented, and the day showed the value that translation brings in each. What struck me was the breadth of jobs that the same set of linguistic skills and knowledge could be applied to, but also the depth of knowledge and specialisation that was expected in each branch.

Linguists really care!

And beyond all the tangible and concrete information and advice we received, there was one more stand-out highlight that I came away with: people working in and around the language services industry really care. They care about what they do, they care that there are still people choosing to follow in their footsteps, and they care that there is a path for them to follow.

Curiosity and passion

Attending the 2026 Translation Careers Day has made me reflect further on what I want out of a career in translation.

I’ve learnt that the practising translator’s greatest asset, if not their curiosity, is their passion, and that’s why I’m especially looking forward to putting the skills I’ve developed to use in literary and medical translation.

Following on from the event, I am more motivated than ever to continue medical interpreting studies by doing a DPSI, and one day, using it, I hope to perhaps inspire the next generation of translation and interpreting students just like how that one experience of being helped by an interpreter did for me.

Alex Myatt is a CIOL Student Affiliate and is studying for an MA in Translation at the University of Liverpool 

Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.