On February 1, 2019 the Department of Translation Theory and Practice Department held the First Republican Student Contest of Consecutive translation “Til Kazyna" on the theme "Bolashakka bagdar: Rukhani Zhangyru" for students of 5B020700-Translation Studies specialty. This event was held in jointly with the Association of professional translators and translation companies of Kazakhstan with the Participation of the Association of translation teachers (St. Petersburg, Russia) and the translation company "Gala Translations". The Organizing Committee of the contest carried out a lot of preparatory work: correspondence with universities of Kazakhstan, preparation of interesting tasks for participants, development of the program concept. The organizers aimed to move away from traditional forms of competitions and make it more attractive and interesting for future professional translators. Information about the contest in L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University received a very good response in institutions of higher education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 55 students from 8 universities representing such cities of Kazakhstan as Astana (L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, EAHI, KazHLU, Turan-Astana), Kokshetau (Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University), Pavlodar (Toraigyrov Pavlodar State University), Kustanai (A. Baitursynov Kostanai State University), Karaganda (Buketov Karaganda State University) took part in the contest.
The event began with the opening ceremony, where welcoming words to the participants were told by: the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Sholpan Zharkynbekova, the Head of the Department of Translation Theory and Practice Department Manshuk Yeskindirova, Chairman of the Association of Professional Translators and Translation Companies in Kazakhstan Gulshan Aliyeva.
It was noted that the main task of the contest is to increase students' interest in the profession of a translator, as well as to identify the level of their training in English and translation. In addition, this event creates conditions for enhancing contacts between universities, employers and practicing translators. Also, this event contributes to the improvement of educational activities and improve the standards of English language teaching, education of truly educated people in the modern Eurasian world. Students, taking part in the competition, have the opportunity to show their abilities, show their achievements, and teachers can see in competitive conditions the quality of training in the universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The contest consisted of two rounds. The procedure of the contest was as close as possible to the working conditions of interpreters. In the first round, one speech was offered for translation from Russian into English / from Kazakh into English (consecutive translation with recording). In the second round audio-video performance for translation from English into Russian / from English into Kazakh (consecutive translation with record). The contestants had to demonstrate consecutive interpretation skills and appropriate communicative behavior.
The jury consisted of experienced translators-practitioners, translation teachers, representatives of translation companies and native speakers. As a result, 8 prizes were distributed: 2 first, 2 second, 2 third, 1 fourth, 1 fifth posotions. In addition, all participants received certificates of appreciation, and the winners - diplomas and prizes from the organizers/sponsors of the contest. The winners of the English-Russian language pair will take part in the International Student Consecutive Translation Contest Tri-D-Int on March 28-29, 2019 in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia.
