Hands-on

Exciting news from Annabel in November 2025: "I'm delighted to announce that I have started a job as an English Editor at MDPI UK!"

Annabel Garner studied French and German for A-level at Ponteland High School where I had worked for 2 years as foreign language assistant. She was keen to enter into the translation industry and contacted 4 Translations to find out whether she could do some work experience in July 2021 – just after the first wave of Covid restrictions had been lifted, but social distancing was still recommended.   

Annabel gave some feedback after the placement: "I found this experience really valuable as I was not only exposed to different genres of texts, but I could also compare my own translations with the official translations and see the difficulties that translators face when working. I also found it really interesting talking to Änne about her own experiences working as a translator and interpreter. This was a great opportunity that Änne offered me and I really valued the chance to look at real-life translations."

Annabel went on to to study Modern Languages with Translation at the University of Nottingham. After finishing her exams in 2022, she went to Germany and France working for 5 months in the Wuppertal office of KERN Global Language Services and then doing an internship at RAPTRAD IMAGINE in Paris. What a fantastic way of practicing your languages and gaining practical experience in your chosen career!

Annabel graduated from the University of Nottingham with a 1st in Modern Languages with Translation and a Distinction in spoken German. The title of her prize winning dissertation was: "Does research support the theory that children who are bilingual, or foreign language learners, gain a cognitive advantage regarding inhibition?" She completed her studies with a Masters in Translation and Professional Language Skills (French and German) at the University of Bath.

Sadly, University of Nottingham, a Russell Group institution, has now suspended all Modern Languages programmes. The Guardian wrote on 18 November: "More than 15,000 students, staff, alumni and leading academics have signed a petition warning against making “reckless” cuts to modern foreign languages that would damage Nottingham’s reputation as well as closing one of the UK’s most prestigious language centres offering German, Chinese and others."

And Annabel's reaction: "The years I spent studying translation at the University of Nottingham were incredible and the university was well renowned for its variety of high-quality courses. A real shame that language courses are seen as disposable when they offer students the opportunity to experience other cultures and gain many transferable skills, not to mention the chance to speak another language - a talent that is being increasingly regarded as unnecessary in the world of AI."

A few years later, Emily, who also studied German at Ponteland High School, completed a placement at 4 Translations. She was the only student at the school taking A-level German.

Annabel at 4 Translations in July 2021 

Emily at The Sill – checking our work for Northumberland National Park Authority