About Me 

Learn more about my education, qualifications and achievements

“Translation is not a matter of words only: It is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture.”

Anthony Burgess


Little did I know when graduating from university with a degree in International Law and Foreign Languages, that instead of becoming a lawyer and acting on behalf of people, I would turn into an interpreter and literally become their voice. And I would love it.

Little did I know when arriving to Ireland in 2001, that English I learnt during a year spent in Indiana, USA, as an exchange student, would not even be enough to understand simple directions given to me in county Mayo. And I would later fall in love with the Irish accent.

Little did I know that my love for writing would give me endless inspiration for collaboration with authors representing different cultures. And how many fascinating encounters, adventures and discoveries would be made in the simple role of a translator, connecting people from different parts of the globe, who seem to be so different at a first glance but really are so similar…

All we need is just to start communicating with each other.

Achievements

2019

Joined the Certified Institute of Linguists (CIOL), UK

2018

Joined the Portuguese Association of Translators and Interpreters (APTRAD)

2006

Opened a translation agency in Dublin, Ireland

2006

Joined the Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association (ITIA)

interpreted at over 150 RSI events

birth certificates translated

assisted at over 40 GMP inspections

over 100 days spent in the booth

interpreted at over 100 clinical trials

cups of coffee drunk

Work Experience

Monte Sahaja

CURRENTLY

I work as a certified translator of English<>Russian and a conference interpreter directly with clients or through translation agencies in Europe, UK and remotely.

Monte Sahaja

2016 – 2018

Volunteer-coordinator of a translation department in Monte Sahaja, Portugal. My duties included selecting and training volunteers, organization of glossaries, management of translation projects (including books and subtitling), coordinating the work of the teams at events. We had teams of translators and interpreters in more than 12 languages.

Instant Translation

2006–2016

Owner of the translation agency: Instant Translation at 99 Upper George’s St., Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland. My duties included managing translation and interpreting projects, maintaining the database of translators and interpreters, performing certified translations and conferece interpreting.

DCU

2008-2009

Part time teacher at Dublin City University, Ireland

Teaching practical modules on consecutive interpretation within the Community Interpreting course  

Dorset College

2006-2007

Teacher of English at Dorset College, 66 Dorset St. Lwr., Dublin, Ireland

Conor O Brian

2005

Secretary at Conor O’Briain Solicitors, 16 North King St., Dublin 7, Ireland

Nasha Gazeta

2002-2004

Freelance journalist at Nasha Gazeta, O’Connell St. Lwr., Dublin 1, Ireland

2001-2005

Freelance translator and interpreter working in Ireland through agencies at the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees, Reception and Integration Agency, courts, hospitals, immigration bureau / GNIB, police / Garda Síochána and other organizations

Expo 2000

2000

Stand assistant with knowledge of English and German at the world exhibition EXPO, Hannover, Germany under a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus

Education & Qualifications

2022

Completed an online Literary Translation Summer School at University of Bristol

2020

Completed an advance online course 14 Day Challenge Retrain for Remote Interpreting at Proz.com

2010 - 2011

Completed a Certified Localization Professional course at the Institute of Localization Professionals, 78 Iona Road, Dublin 9, Ireland

Law Society

2003-2005

Preparatory course FE1 for Law Society of Ireland at Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8

lEAVING CERT

1996-2001

Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in International Law and Foreign Languages ​​(English and German) at the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Republic of Belarus

1995-1996

Graduated with honours from Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, USA upon completion of the student exchange program

lEAVING CERT

1995

Graduated with a silver medal from Gymnasium №195 in Minsk, Republic of Belarus

What I Do When I Am Not Translating

©Tatiana Kovalenko 2020

Professional Translator of Russian and English, Conference Interpreter
“Without translation, we would be living in provinces bordering on silence.”
George Steiner
Tatiana Kovalenko