Tomáš, tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I am ordinary working man but I never forget to wear a smile on my face.
How did you learn that Alison was looking for translators for its coronavirus course?
I received an email with the information from Alison.
What was your experience of Alison before volunteering to translate? Had you studied with Alison before?
I did the GDPR course, which was very important for my job.
Why did you offer to translate our coronavirus course?
I thought it would be very useful and that it could help other people.
Why is it important that everyone has access to important information on coronavirus?
In my opinion, if everyone has access to the correct information then it should help little bit with calming down the panic about coronavirus, and also with slowing down the transmission of the virus.
Tell us a little about your method when translating.
Alison sent me the course text in some very well organised spreadsheets, which was easy to translate. But sometimes a direct translation was inadequate because our language is very difficult. In the Czech language, we have lots of different word endings and so for precise translations we need to provide more context.
Why is free learning so important and why is it important to translate it into many languages?
Free learning is a necessary step for all people to have access to education. With regards the question of translation, I am of the opinion that ignorance of English should not be a handicap.
Have you been learning through Alison during the pandemic? How has the lockdown been for you?
I tried to but I had a lot of other tasks because in the lockdown I was very busy. What struck me most was that the gyms were closed. But, fortunately, life goes on.
What would you say to people who might be interested in translating for Alison?
It’s a very good opportunity to help other people. Don’t worry if you feel that you are not fully prepared for the task of translating. God does not seek the fully prepared, but primarily the willing.
If you’d like to play your part in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic by helping Alison give people access to the information necessary to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, please get in touch.
