Chartered Institute
of Linguists
Midlands Network
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Date & Time: Thursday 23 September 2021, 6:00 pm
People who live abroad, including linguists, become quickly aware of differences in customs, languages (especially metaphors), attitudes, reactions compared to usages, conventions and assumptions in their maternal language or country of origin. These are a source of fascination, occasional bewilderment, and amusement, and they provide rich material for anecdotes and discussion. More than merely lost in translation, it’s as if we see a different world ‘through a glass, darkly’. At times the bewilderment can even take on shades of Alice in Wonderland (‘through the looking glass... (View full event description) |
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Date & Time: Sunday 7 November 2021, 5:00 pm
Join the Midlands Network for the next edition of its popular series of remote film nights. This time, we are watching the award-winning film Wild Tales (dir. Damián Szifron, 2014), a “fantastically scabrous collection of movie tales from the dark heart of Argentina.” Please make sure you have watched the film before the online event. It is available for a small cost on various online platforms including Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube and Apple TV. We’ll then get together on Zoom to discuss the film and its themes. You will receive an email in advance including a... (View full event description) |
The Midlands Network runs a variety of professional development events, benefitting CIOL members and non-members alike. Click an event to see its original listing and, if applicable, event reports and downloadable materials:
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Kinver, Stourbridge, Sunday 4 July 2021
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Coventry, Saturday 9 November 2019
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Coventry, Saturday 28 September 2019
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Yelvertoft, Saturday 20 July 2019
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Northampton, Saturday 11 May 2019
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Nottingham, Saturday 26 January 2019
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Birmingham, Friday 7 December 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 3 November 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 8 September 2018
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Worcestershire, Saturday 16 June 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 7 April 2018
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Coventry, Thursday 18 January 2018
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Birmingham, Friday 24 November 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 9 September 2017
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Alvechurch, Saturday 20 May 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 18 March 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 19 November 2016
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Nottingham, Saturday 22 October 2016
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Birmingham, Thursday 21 July 2016
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Ludlow, Saturday 18 June 2016
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Birmingham, Saturday 16 April 2016
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The Midlands Network was officially formed on Saturday 16 April 2016 and now runs a variety of events aimed at supporting CIOL members who live and work throughout the region.
Committee
The network is managed by a committee which meets informally every month. If you would like to join a meeting to contribute to the discussion about future events and activities please contact the network via the link on the right for committee meeting dates and locations.
Over the last 12 months the network has held a series of varied events including walks, visits and networking opportunities and is now planning the events programme for the current membership year. For an indication of events previously held take a look at the committee’s event reports via the tab above.
Get involved
If you have any suggestions for events or you are interested in lending a hand simply email the committee.
The committee endeavours to hold events throughout the Midlands so please do let them know if there is a place of interest near you or if you know of a speaker that may be able to give as talk of interest.
And finally, don’t forget you can join in the discussion via LinkedIn and Twitter too.
| Role | Bio | |
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Mr Graeme HUNTER BA MA DipTrans MCIL |
Member |
After 25+ years working in I.T. for the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, banking and local government sectors in Australia, France, Belgium and UK, I switched to translation full-time in 2014, several years after being awarded the DipTrans and joining CIOL. Originally from Sydney, I have always been passionate about languages and I work in French, Italian and Polish. I love meeting new people and exploring new places, and the CIOL Midlands Network is a great way to increase my opportunities for networking, make new friends and promote languages as a profession and as a vector for future economic success. |
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Mrs Jane MARTIN BA DipTrans MCIL CL |
Member |
I worked in Spain for several years as an English teacher and fell in love with all things Spanish. I set up Sunflower Spanish in 2001 which provided Spanish lessons in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, teaching all ages and levels of students: my two highlights from this time were teaching my local rugby team, the Northampton Saints, and helping a class of 60-year-olds to pass their Spanish GCSE. I passed the Diploma in Translation in 2011 and now combine teaching and translating, a combination which works well. I have really enjoyed helping to set up the Midlands network and meeting other people who work in this sector. |
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Mr Peter BARON BA CertEd DipTrans MCIL |
Member |
I took early retirement after being a language teacher for 29 years. Then followed a new career of 20+ years, combining fencing coaching with translation. Finding translation work required extra qualifications, including the IOL Dip French and the Dip Trans. I worked mainly from French, specialising in technical fields, with some basic Spanish, German and Italian, having 6th form Spanish and "A" in GCSE German but with a wider knowledge of each of the three. I love learning languages, making the effort to learn something of the language of countries I visit, having managed smatterings of at least 8 others. |
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Mr Stephen DOSWELL MA MCIL CL |
Member |
Steve Doswell is a corporate communication practitioner with extensive experience spanning energy, power engineering, robotics, financial services and higher education. He has also had experience as a translator (French/German-English) and became a CIOL member in the 1990s after completing the Final Diploma in Spanish. He was President of FEIEA, the European Association of Internal Communication 2010-2012 and CEO of the UK’s Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) 2011-2016. Steve took time out aged 50 to complete a Masters in European Politics (University of Birmingham). Steve has a deep affinity with Slovenia and is learning Slovene. A keen club runner, Steve is currently writing a book of his experience of running in all 28 EU countries during 2018-19 for charity. “I’m a Londoner but I’ve lived in Birmingham for almost 30 years and I’m really pleased to be able to support the Midlands Network. We can be both local and international in our outlook and that’s a real strength.” |
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Ms Eleanor BRIDGWOOD-HILL MA DipTrans MCIL CL |
Member |
I am a Spanish-to-English translator based in Birmingham, specialising in business and education and with a particular interest in Latin American varieties of Spanish. I have a BA and an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Sheffield and I learned Spanish after graduating, whilst living in Uruguay for six years. I have been a member of the CIOL since I passed the Diploma in Translation in 2012, and a Chartered Linguist since 2019. I became a member of the CIOL Midlands Network committee when it was set up in 2016, shortly after I returned from living abroad, and it has played a key part in my efforts to develop a professional network in the region, not to mention a group of like-minded friends. |
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Mrs Isabel COBO PALACIOS BA MCIL CL |
Member |
I graduated with a BA in English Philology & Tourism from the Universidad de Jaén, in my hometown. I achieved an online MA in Applied Linguistics in Spanish as a Foreign Language at FUNIBER and the passion I have for my work led me to qualify as a Teacher in Spain and in England. I have taught Spanish in several secondary schools in the UK and at Coventry University as Assistant Lecturer in Spanish. At the moment I am studying for a PhD at the Open University as part of an AHRC-funded project called Language Acts and Worldmaking. My research interests revolve around the role of mediator that foreign language teachers play in the classroom and their personal and professional perceptions and reflections on this process. It is a pleasure for me to be part of CIOL Midlands Network to help to foster the use of foreign languages and support every professional in this field as part of our team. |
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Mrs Astrid Fiess Magister Artium PGCE MCIL |
Member |
Originally from Germany and having spent some time in Ireland, I have lived in the UK since 2005. I graduated with an MA in English, German and Celtic Studies from the University of Freiburg, Germany, I have a Diploma in Celtic Studies from Galway University in Ireland and a PGCE from Aberystwyth University. Having worked as a language teacher for over twenty years in very different settings (university, adult education, secondary school), I set up my own company, Mundo Connect, at the end of 2019, became a CIOL member and now work full-time as a self-employed translator (English – German) and language instructor (German). Additionally, I have worked as a travel writer for over ten years writing guidebooks in German mainly about Ireland and I am currently studying for an MA in Translation with the Open University. Languages fascinate me and I really enjoy learning new ones. Apart from German and English, I speak French and Irish and I have been learning Mandarin for a few years. I am very happy to join the CIOL Midlands Network as I like meeting new people as well as promoting languages and supporting fellow linguists. |
If you are interested in supporting the Midlands Network we'd be delighted to hear from you.
Simply fill in our Online Eligibility Check form and a member of the committee will contact you for a no obligation discussion.
