Linguist story – February

Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, meet Dorina Ndreu, an interpreter working in Albanian.

Tell us about the work you do for TLS.

I interpret for the Albanian community for a variety of services. My role as an interpreter is bridging communication between the professional and the client. Whether is in a medical, social or legal setting, I must ensure people understand and are understood. This could be hospitals, GP practices, schools, workplaces and conferences, which can be face to face but also from the comfort of my own home.

What’s been your favourite project at TLS?

To be honest it is just interpreting for the Albanian community – it’s difficult to choose which is my favourite project as I love my job very much. It’s seeing my community happy, being able to explain and express what they want despite their difficulties in communication.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is travelling into the city when having face to face assignments is that sometimes you are stuck in traffic.

Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?

I have made a big difference to a client who is blind and the mother of five children. All the social workers she has had, as well as the current one, try to book me whenever we can arrange the time, especially when she has conferences and parents’ meetings. This makes me feel not only proud of myself but spiritually fulfilled that my everyday job makes such a difference.

Tell us something interesting about you

Since I was a child I have been a very sociable person. I studied grammar and literature in Albania alongside the English language, which I loved more than my French, which I cannot make any sentences in anymore – haha!

I find myself really happy with my job as an interpreter, compared to what I did in my past. In my long-term future I would like to see myself working as a social worker to be able to help my community more.