On 28 November 2022, three members of the Language Service at the European Central Bank (ECB) visited the ZTW. In the first part of the session, Pauline Pitcher, Markku Haverinen, and Peter Wilkinson explained to students what it is like to work as a translator or editor in the ECB’s Language Service, covering the typical profile of its linguists, the varied day-to-day tasks and texts they work on, their focus on editing, how they learn on the job and the tools of the trade. They also provided information about traineeships, as well as tips on how to apply and prepare for the selection process.

The second part of the session consisted of an English editing workshop, during which students could see first hand what editing for the ECB entails. The presenters discussed the different types of errors editors need to be mindful of, as well as other important aspects such as clear writing, foreign language interference and editing for social media. Students were also able to try their hand at editing in English during the many practical exercises and examples presented throughout the workshop.