Interpreter Spotlight – Mariusz K.

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Mariusz K. joined LSA’s network as a Polish telephonic interpreter in 2006. Fascinated with language from a very young age, Mariusz began translating at just 15 years old! He went on to become a journalist and then a professional interpreter and translator. We invite you to learn more about Mariusz’s amazing journey in our latest Interpreter Spotlight feature below!

Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

I was first exposed to English at primary school in Warsaw at the age of 12. The language fascinated me and, by the time I was 15, the first seeds of my lifelong love of translation had germinated. Around that same time, family friends introduced me to one of Poland’s leading clinical psychology centers. As it turned out, the center was looking for volunteers to localize a series of American tests. I asked them to give me a chance and, surprisingly, I was quite successful. I really enjoyed the mental games involved in translation; in fact, I still do today. To me, they’re like the ones we play when we’re solving crosswords, but much more multidimensional.

I went on to eventually become a journalist. My initial brief was international politics and then I began covering science and technology, which took me to both Cape Canaveral and Baikonur. My fields then expanded to include business and finance. The very nature of my job meant that I was involved in translating on a daily basis. During this time, I also continued to translate professionally…the second string to my bow.

My first experience with interpreting came when I was posted to London. Occasionally, I was asked to assist visiting dignitaries in their talks with their British counterparts. I started interpreting for larger audiences in the early nineties, mostly at economic conferences. By then, I was already partnering with a number of global language services providers as both a professional translator and interpreter.

I officially joined LSA’s network of linguists in 2006 as a Polish telephonic interpreter, and I’ve been very pleased with my experience so far.

What inspires you to do what you do every day?

Knowing that I’m lending a hand to someone who needs help, sometimes in a highly desperate or dramatic situation, is a very potent motivating factor. I view interpreting as a provision of an emergency service, and I take it very seriously.

Would you be willing to share a special story about how you made a real difference in someone’s life through interpretation?

As a professional interpreter, I’ve performed my role as a conduit during some extremely critical moments in peoples’ lives, such as the birth of a baby and the diagnosis of a serious medical condition.

What do you find most rewarding about your profession?

I truly enjoy helping those that cannot speak English solve their dramas, whether they are small or major. Negotiating the payment of a water bill may seem trivial to some, but it certainly isn’t to the person who’s about to be cut off from services. Some medical interpreting sessions are also very rewarding, particularly when the doctor and the patient tell me at the end of the session that I was very helpful.

Can you name a few things the LSA team might be surprised to know about you?

  • I love the great outdoors.
  • I came very close to qualifying as a member of Poland’s mountain rescue service.
  • I have longed for years to work with my laptop in the middle of nowhere.
  • I just finished work on my DIY wind turbine.