I grew up in a bilingual family, which inspired me to embrace a career as a conference interpreter and translator. Being able to switch between languages multiple times in the middle of a conversation at home was the norm for me. As this came very naturally to me and other languages as well as cultural areas roused my curiosity, I decided to study interpreting and translation at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv after obtaining my general qualifications for university entrance with advanced German instruction from a high-tier secondary school. Afterwards, I took up the opportunity to spend an exchange semester at the Heidelberg School of Translation and Interpreting with a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service, soon after which I was able to complete my first interpreting assignments in Kyiv for delegations from partner universities.

Thanks to my subsequent work at the Austrian Embassy in Kyiv for many years, I was able to familiarise myself with Austrian German and Austrian particularities. I was not only able to gain insights into diplomatic protocol, but also to acquire experience at interpreting assignments for high-level Austrian delegations. This inspired me to take my next step; a master's programme in conference interpreting at the FTSK Germersheim, which I passed with first-class marks (1,4 - very good). As with my semester abroad, I was able to finance this postgraduate course with a master's scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service.

I have now been working as a freelance conference interpreter and translator for Russian, Ukrainian, German and English since 2014 and was awarded sworn interpreter status for the Russian and Ukrainian languages for judicial and notarial matters in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate by the Zweibrücken Higher Regional Court in 2016.

You never stop learning, and because of this, I also continue my further training after my postgraduate course by participating in seminars and continuous training courses offered by the German Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators among others. In addition, I not only follow the most recent developments in the field of interpreting and translation, but also in my specialist areas. Staying on the ball in terms of specialisms and language is extremely important to me, so that I can offer my customers optimum interpreting and translation services.

In consecutive interpreting, the original speaker talks in segments and pauses regularly for the interpreter, who then renders the original speaker's spoken word into the other language. Consecutive interpreting is particularly suited to interactive workshops and training sessions. As the interpreter always speaks after the original speaker, more time needs to be planned in, meaning that the event will take longer.

In simultaneous interpreting, a pair of conference interpreters work in a soundproof booth, listening to the speeches to be interpreted via headphones and interpreting these at the same time. Interpreting takes place using a microphone and is received by the event participants via a receiver. Simultaneous interpreting requires a high degree of concentration, so the interpreters need to swap every 30 minutes to ensure the high quality of their interpreting.

In chuchotage, interpreters do not work in an interpreting booth, but rather whisper the interpreted speech to the customer in the middle of the action. Chuchotage is only suitable for small groups (up to three people), as the conference participants would otherwise be unable to hear and understand the interpreter and the background noise would disturb the other participants.

In liaison interpreting, the interpreter interprets statements from both liaising parties into the respective language. This interpreting mode is principally employed during discussions regarding contracts, projects, etc.

Escort interpreting is similar to simultaneous interpreting and is employed using a tour guide system at plant visits, trade fairs and city tours, amongst others.