Real-World Interpretation & Translation Competition: “Interpretation Art: The Reality Show”

In the context of today’s deeper integration, foreign language proficiency is seen as a tool for communication, connecting knowledge, culture, and people. Especially in the field of interpretation and translation, besides language skills, learners must also possess quick, sharp thinking, flexible information-processing abilities, and strong resilience under pressure. Applied academic activities that reflect real-world practice are therefore increasingly emphasized by UEF.
 
With that general direction, the Faculty of English organized the competition “Interpretation Art: The Reality Show” on the morning of March 26. This in-depth arena helps English Language students experience the real work of a professional interpreter, while also comprehensively training their professional skills and competence.

Competing teams are students from the Faculty of English at UEF and from HUTECH

Accompanying the students are lecturers and experts with extensive practical experience in interpretation and translation. The judging panel has held roles as interpreters in many large conferences and events, with deep understanding of language and interpreting techniques: Mr./ThS. Le Cong Thien – Head of the Non-English Department, lecturer at the Faculty of English, UEF; ThS. Bui Duc Tien – Lecturer in the Faculty of English, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education; and ThS. Nguyen Dinh Minh Sang – Lecturer in the Faculty of English, UEF.

 The Faculty’s leadership sends thanks to the judging panel.

With a practical perspective and assessment criteria closely aligned with real professional practice, the judges not only “decide fairly” but also provide in-depth feedback—helping contestants clearly identify their strengths and areas for improvement for long-term development.

 Three teams with different styles created a vivid, diverse picture of the contest: The Six Great Mages—creative and flexible; Winnxers—confident and resilient; Syntax Syndicate—standing out with logical thinking and accuracy. Beyond the competitive factor, what remained clearly evident was the spirit of learning and the growth of each contestant through every round.

The competition includes three interpreting rounds with clear developmental goals
The contest sections were designed around three themes with clear meaning for developing interpretation competence. In the “News Interpretation” round, contestants interpret international education news sources—thereby training their ability to grasp information quickly, select key ideas, and convey them accurately. This is also a foundational skill of an interpreter.
 
In the “Conversation Interpretation” round, scenarios centered on travel and culture help contestants approach real-life communication contexts—requiring language flexibility, effective interaction, and the ability to maintain a natural conversation flow between parties.
 
Especially in the final round, “Immediate (On-the-Spot) Interpretation”, based on documentary film content, the competition challenged the teams while also giving them a chance to demonstrate their mettle. This is the most realistic simulated section: contestants hear the material only once and must process information almost immediately. Besides language knowledge, the round also tests listening memory, rapid analysis, and composure under time pressure. These key factors are particularly important in a professional interpretation/translation environment.
 
After these dramatic “head-to-head” confrontations, Winnxers excelled to win First Prize, with stable performance and flexible situational handling. Second Prize went to Syntax Syndicate, and The Six Great Mages received Third Prize. The title “Best Interpreter” was awarded to Truong Truc Quynh (Team Winnxer) for her impressive performance throughout the competition.

 The awards found deserving owners

The competition is a meaningful academic arena for English Language students at UEF and students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH). It contributes to improving training quality closely linked to real practice. Through that, students are inspired to continuously refine their skills, gain confidence in integration, and meet increasingly high requirements in the global labor market.