University of Liege, Belgium

Last month, I got the chance to visit, for the first time, the beautiful Belgian city of Liege, near Brussels, and, in particular, the University of that city, as I was called for interview for the position of Teaching Fellow in French-English Translation Studies. 
The post would involve lecturing in such subjects as French-English practical translation activity (general and applied translating, thus translating texts in a variety of textual and discursive genres, including, presumably, literary and business texts among others); teaching Translation Theory (for me, one of the best general introductions to all aspects of the dynamic and complex discipline of Translation Studies is Jeremy Munday's Introducing Translation Studies - Theories and Applications the third edition of which dates from 2012 and which is accompanied by an excellent website (a companion website), though other excellent texts useful to both students and lecturers alike include Williams' Theories of Translation (2013)); teaching Anglophone contemporary society and civilization; English-French contrastive linguistics, and English to Speakers of Other Languages especially Academic English. 
The Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Liege is in the historic town centre, in a lovely building which is a former Jesuit college. The university celebrates its two hundredth anniversary this year. 
On the day of the interview, I had first to translate from French to English a book review, then give a presentation to faculty on how I would teach the translation of that text, and finally do an interview in French. 
I felt it all went well and I was happy with my performance. They told me it would take a few weeks before a decision would be communicated to candidates. Still waiting to hear. 
I continue to teach English at a private languages school in Dublin, Englishour. As well as teaching General English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at all levels, I also teach Business English and exam preparation English. 
I have two new publications forthcoming in the USA with the Palik Series of the North American Jules Verne Society (NAJVS), both containing translations of Jules and Michel Verne's work from French to English, with notes and introductions. 
I also recently translated a French novel for a private client. 
As for current reading material: am enjoying the French translation of Stephen King's The Shining; Days Without End (2016) by Sebastian Barry; Biographie de la Faim (2003) by Amélie Nothomb and The Handmaid's Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood. 
I also continue to watch the programmes of France 24 and France Infos on line, especially their news bulletins, almost every day, and to read the French press (especially Le Monde but also other sources on line, especially Libération.)