Lost in Idioms: Top EN Pitfalls for ZH

Mandarin and English are worlds apart, so how do we interpret effectively between the two? Drawing on 12 years of experience training Mandarin interpreters at the Glendon Master of Conference Interpreting Program, the speakers will share their observations on the most common English mistakes.

Sian (Xiang) Gu is a conference interpreter and interpreter trainer based in Vancouver, Canada. She loves splitting her time between interpreting, teaching, practicing, and organizing meetings. After graduating with a master's degree in conference interpreting from Glendon, York University, she joined the instructor roster under the mentorship of Andrew Clifford. She is passionate about helping Mandarin students improve their English performance while staying true to the spirit of the source language. She is accredited as an interpreter (English, French, and Mandarin) by the government of Canada and a member of AIIC.

Dr. Andrew Clifford is a former staff interpreter with the Government of Canada and remains active as a freelance interpreter. He holds a doctorate in Translation Studies and a Master of Conference Interpreting, both from the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on interpreting in all its forms, including the ethics of medical interpreting and how to assess and train interpreters. In 2012, he launched the Master of Conference Interpreting at Glendon. He is also an accredited life coach. His passion is helping others find their way in the demanding yet rewarding world of professional interpreting.