Student translates for international conference
Tracy Yip, left, of Xiamen University, gets ready to go over a script with Tina Collins in a Chinese recording studio. Collins, a Southern Wesleyan University senior majoring in China Studies, translated documents while at Xiamen University. Her translating and interpreting experience led to further work at a recent international conference in Puerto Rico.
A Southern Wesleyan University student’s love of the Chinese people and culture led to an opportunity to work as a translator at a conference attended by oceanographic scientists from around the world.
Tina Collins, a senior China Studies major from Liberty, S.C., studied at Xiamen University for the Fall 2010 semester as part of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities’ Best Semester Program, offered through Southern Wesleyan University.
While at Xiamen University, Collins began translating and interpreting documents for their Aquatic Sciences and Marine Biology Division. She translated from Chinese to English and also from English to Chinese.
Because of this experience, Collins began working for Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research as a Chinese interpreter and staff member at the Aquatics, Sciences, Limnology and Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting Feb. 13-18, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The gathering was devoted to global climate change and its impact on the ocean environment.
Collins plans a return to China in August. One of her future projects may involve interpreting for Show Hope, an outreach to orphans started by Christian recording artist Stephen Curtis Chapman. She also hopes to do more translation for China’s television and movie industry.
“While I was there experiencing all of these cultures and communicating with the Puerto Ricans, I couldn’t believe I was involved in something so amazing at 24 years old,” Collins said. “To be able to experience this is truly the Lord’s hand at work. I’m truly passionate about something that the Lord has prepared me and uniquely gifted and talented me for.”