Multilingual Debate
Welcome to this year’s Multilingual Debate (MLD)
This is a unique interpreting and translating event offered by Heriot-Watt University to showcase our state-of-the-art interactive language facilities, and how they benefit future interpreting and translating students to progress into successful careers within the industry.
The topic of today's debate:
'This House believes that meat and dairy products should be taxed to mitigate their impact on the planet'
What is the purpose of the debate?
Our annual MLD was created for two purposes – firstly, it gives our final year interpreting students on MA and MSc programmes a taste for live, collaborative interpreting for a genuine and large audience, using professional equipment like what is used in the European Parliament. Secondly, it provides high school students the opportunity to see interpreters at work, and a chance to discover our lovely campus.
What will you gain from this session?
The MLD gives you a unique opportunity to take part in a debate and follow our guests’ interventions in all the languages offered on our programmes. This gives you an insight into one of the many pathways open to our talented language graduates, and a demonstration of the many transferable skills our students develop.
What can you expect during the session?
Upon arrival, you’ll be handed a headset to tune into the spoken language channels: French, German, Spanish, Chinese and English. English British Sign Language interpreting students will be in front of the stage.
Thanks to all of the students providing these live interpretations you will be able to engage with the debate fully – listening in the language of your choice, taking part in the Q&A, and finally voting on this year’s motion at the end of the debate. What you’ll receive is a taster for what it’s like to attend large multilingual events such as those held in European Union institutions, or at the United Nations.
Gavin Darroch
Staff Interpreter for the European Parliament and Heriot-Watt Alumni
What do you think of the Multilingual Debate?
I remember being completely awestruck when I attended the Multilingual Debate at Heriot-Watt with my high school. I then went on to graduate in 2020 with an undergraduate MA (Hons) in Interpreting and Translating (French and Spanish). This qualification from Heriot-Watt meant I was eligible to apply for the EU accreditation test. I then spent two years working as an in-house translator.
How did you find studying at Heriot-Watt University?
I owe an incredible amount of my success to the academic staff at Heriot-Watt – their endless passion, dedication, encouragement, and expert guidance, both during and after my undergraduate degree, were instrumental in helping me to develop the skills I needed to pass the EU accreditation test. The programme itself is excellent – I particularly enjoyed how modern and practical it is, as well as its strong ties to industry.
What career opportunities can graduates expect?
I recently passed the EU accreditation test for freelance conference interpreters. The demand for interpreters with English as their mother tongue has never been higher, so now is the perfect time to set your sights on an international institution like the EU. I look forward to seeing more Heriot-Watt graduates in the English booth in Brussels very soon.
Languages and Intercultural Studies
If you have enjoyed your interpreting and translating experience today, this could be your doorway to a future in studying one of our applied language degrees.
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