Anna Spence

Languages (Interpreting and Translating), 2018

What made you choose to study at Heriot-Watt?
I was looking for a university with a great languages department and the opportunity to move away from home. Upon my visit to the Edinburgh campus for the open day, I saw the language labs in Henry Prais and knew this was the uni for me. Heriot-Watt is also the only university in Scotland to offer the degree in British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreting and Translation, which was a real draw for me.

Why did you choose to study Languages (Interpreting and Translating) in particular?
I have always had an affinity for studying languages and I knew I wanted to hone my skills in this area. I also wanted to step out of my comfort zone and push myself, which is why I chose to study BSL (which I had no experience in prior to university) alongside German. interpreting and translation seemed like a natural progression for me from my school German studies and I was excited by the prospect of a future in the profession.

What's your favourite memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt student?
Far too many to choose! My favourite memories are from the times spent with friends who I met during my time at uni. From halls to graduation, I had the chance to meet and share my journey with some of the most incredible people from all walks of life. In terms of my degree, one day which stands out in my memory is the multilingual debate in my fourth year of studies. I was afforded the opportunity to interpret from and into both of my language specialisms in front of a live audience which was incredibly exciting.

Tell us about your career since graduating from Heriot-Watt in 2018.
I have been working as a freelance BSL/English interpreter in and around Edinburgh for the last two and a half years now. It has been a whirlwind, a huge learning curve and an all-round incredible experience.

How has your Heriot-Watt University education contributed to your success?
The skills I learned during my time at Heriot-Watt have prepared me for my work today. Every day I reflect on my work using the frameworks and materials I studied and I use not only my BSL skills but my broader interpreting and translation skills from across both languages. I wouldn't be able to do my job had I not had the chance to learn from some of the top academics and experts in my profession - and I had the pleasure of learning the language of BSL from day one, which made me swiftly change my career plans and led me down the path I am now on.

What advice do you have for current students?
Enjoy and cherish every moment of your student career. Make the most of the advice and expertise on offer to you. Make connections with your professional community – it's all about who you know. Take risks and don't be afraid to make mistakes – I made many. Try not to stress about the future because it'll soon be the past and don't take for granted that once you graduate, you'll still be learning and growing every day.

What is your lasting impression of Heriot-Watt University?
It truly is a global university and you only have to look at the languages department to see the evidence of that fact. Heriot-Watt will always hold a dear place in my heart because it was where my ambition and confidence was fostered and allowed to grow. The University is warm, open and always striving to be better.

What are your aspirations for the future?
(a) For your career?
To continue on a path of growth and development and to always keep bettering my work. To dip my toe into as many new domains as possible and to keep my creativity flowing. I hope to work more with my German skills in the future and who knows – maybe another language or more too.
(b) For your local and wider community?
I hope young people are given the opportunity to study as many languages as possible. I hope they are shown the value of what learning a language holds and just how many doors can be opened when you broaden your horizons.