The joys of video-conferencing in the search for a language job

I am about to be introduced to the joys of Skype video-conferencing, as I have been shortlisted for an interview for the post of French lecturer in a University situated in a galaxy far, far away, and so, they are kindly allowing me to save on inordinate travel expenses by interviewing me either by phone or video-link. I think that the latter method of communication would be preferable, as it is in my view better to try to replicate as closely as possible the conditions of an actual face-to-face job interview. In short, it's nice to see the people you are speaking with, to be able to read body language, including facial expressions, and for them to see you. A colleague of mine here in DCU is going to help me get set up for SKYPE.

Being shortlisted, and getting the experience of another academic interview, is encouraging in the current difficult climate for job-seekers in all professions. It's interesting to read up on other universities worldwide, and look at their courses, student and faculty profiles, research profiles, and so on.

One thing that is also encouraging is that there seems to be at least a couple of academic jobs in my areas (French and Translation Studies) advertised each week on the http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ website. I feel that it is essential to try to apply for any post in academia that might possible be relevant. The application process tends to be detailed but informative. Applying for university posts - whether or not one is ultimately successful - is an important learning curve for new graduates. And I feel that the more effort and persistence one shows with job applications, the greater the likelihood of eventual job offers. Persistence pays off.

As a poster here in DCU reminds us: 'Consider the postage stamp. Its usefulness consists in its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.'

Competition Result: competition number 2.

And so, Kirk has done it again! Within a few minutes of the second competition being posted to this blog, earlier this afternoon, our last winner, Countdown champion Kirk Bevins, 23 year old maths teacher from York, immediately and correctly spotted the ten anagrams and emailed me the answers, which are as follows:

1. TRANSLATE
2. RENDERING
3. EMBELLISH
4. EXPLICATE
5. NORMATIVE
6. CAUSATION
7. CAUSALITY
8. INTERPRET
9. MODIFYING
10. REDUCTION (but, as Kirk pointed out, an alternative answer would be INTRODUCTION, but he opted for REDUCTION given that I was looking for a Translation Theory term, and he got it right, though I would have accepted INTRODUCTION also). But how might I propose a link between 'introduction' and Translation?

Congratulations, Kirk. Can he make it a hat trick when I post the next anagram competition in a few week's time? Another copy of Around the World in Eighty Days shall be winging its way to York this week, except this time - gasp - it's a translation by Jacqueline Rogers. I'm sure Kirk can't wait. Tell you what - next time I shall try to vary the competition format, as i've previously promised on this blog, i.e. I will include literary quiz questions and numbers games.

Competition number 2!

Today's posting deals with the second of my anagram competitions for readers of this blog. The last competition dealt with words connected to the writings of Jules Verne, and you may remember that the winner was Mr Kirk Bevins of York, U.K. This new competition is open to anybody to enter, but it may be of particular interest to fellow Translation Studies scholars, as you shall see...

Please unscramble the following jumbled words, to come up with ten words which are all terms in Translation Studies. No clues are provided this time round, as i'm deliberately seeking to up the ante. The prize for the first set of completely correct answers e-mailed to me at the address in the next paragraph, will be the 1994 revised translation of Around the World in Eighty Days by Jacqueline Rogers.

Solutions, with your name and postal address, should be e-mailed to me at kieran.odriscoll3@mail.dcu.ie before the closing date of 12 noon on Monday, 3rd May, 2010.

1. A R T E S A T L N
2. E N I E R N D R G
3. H E M I E L B S L
4. L A X E E C I P T
5. V A N I R E T O M
6. T A U S A C N O I
7. C I S A U T L A Y
8. P E N T I E R R T
9. G O Y M I D F I N
10. D U R E C T I O N

I look forward to receiving the entries and to announcing the winner in a couple of weeks time. So come on, Translation scholars: can you get there before Kirk Bevins?!!