Susan Kochs (translator)

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Education advisor with more than forty years of speaking German as part of family and social life. Lived and worked in Germany for almost ten years and used German in a professional capacity.

Professional Qualifications

• Qualified teacher with  a B.ED degree in primary education
• PG Diploma in Primary Education - Teaching in the multi-lingual classroom
• Qualified trainer for the Australian teacher training course ESL in the Mainstream

Skills and Experience

• Numerous years of using German in a variety of situations, including professionally
• Use of English professionally  in various types of written genre
• Wide experience of children’s education and literacy
• Worked collaboratively  with a range of people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• Worked successfully in a freelance capacity .

Employment and Background

I lived in Germany from 1968 until 1977 where I used German professionally as well as socially. After working for a year as an au pair, I initially worked for a German up market  retail company for two years which included interpreting for diplomatic and overseas clientele  Following this, I taught in international  nursery schools where it was necessary for me to  provide lessons/sessions  for the children in German .

On returning to England I worked as a primary school teacher in Grafton Primary School Islington London for thirteen years.  As language coordinator in this school was responsible for choosing and ordering books, including bilingual books.

From 1995 to 2003 I was an advisory teacher for Islington education authority specialising in providing advice and support to primary schools on English language acquisition and developing pupils’ literacy skills for pupils who were learning English as an additional language.  This involved working collaboratively with schools, various services and parents from a diverse range of language and cultural backgrounds. Since 2003 I have worked as a freelance education consultant , this has involved developing and managing projects for local education authorities and link tutoring student teachers at Middlesex University.  In these advisory roles I wrote education guidance handbooks, carried out research and produced education videos for Islington education authority. In addition, I was marker for marking the Key Stage 2 English test papers.

From my background in children’s education, I therefore have an interest in translating children’s books and know the importance of ‘getting the language right’ in the translation of children’s books. However, I am not averse to translating adult books as I am a frequent reader of German books.

 More recently I have done work for a medical research company which involved testing an on line German medical research programme on diabetes medication.

As I was married to a German I have also brought up my children bilingually.

I believe the above mentioned experiences have given me the necessary skills to translate books from German into English,especially children's books, and would welcome the opportunity to do so.

Native language: English
Translates from: German
Translates into: English




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