Hutchie pupils attend Multilingual Debate at Heriot-Watt

A group of Hutchie pupils who are studying Higher and Advanced Higher Modern Languages gained an insight into the work of simultaneous interpreters.

They attended the annual Multilingual Debate at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The motion was: ‘This House believes that meat and dairy products should be taxed to mitigate their impact on the planet’ and it was conducted in five languages: French, German, Spanish, English and British Sign Language (BSL) and also translated into Polish and Italian.

Before the debate began, the pupils took part in a BSL workshop where they learned about the basics of sign language and the different forms it takes throughout the country.

During the debate, the speeches were interpreted by students in their final or master’s year. Pupils from around 15 schools used headsets to tune into the interpreters’ booths and could listen to what was being said in any language. The pupils could then use microphones to ask the panellists questions, and these were also translated.

Mrs Samantha McArthur, Modern Languages teacher, commented.

“They were impressed by the interpreters’ skills but also delighted that their own language knowledge allowed them to understand much of what was being said.”

Afterwards, the pupils toured the campus and met with Heriot-Watt students, some of whom work at the United Nations, European Union and in industry where language and interpreting skills are much in demand. It was an excellent opportunity for our pupils to see interpretation skills in action at a live event and to be part of a topical debate through the medium of different languages.