Jessica’s success comes after winning the South West Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators in May for her translation of Italian prose. The competition, inspired by the life and work of the great translator Anthea Bell, was launched during the Autumn Term in 2020 in a bid to promote language learning across the UK and inspire creativity in classrooms.
Over 14,000 students from 260 schools participated in the competition this year, with the team judging over 3,200 entries to the prize. “Congratulations to all winning and commended entries!” Holly from Queen's College, Oxford, said.
Commenting on her participation, Jessica said: "Taking part in the competition was a great opportunity, and I never expected to win the regional round, let alone be successful in the national competition.”
Jessica had to translate an Italian passage from the novel ‘Borgo Sud’ into English.
“The challenge was to be eloquent and creative whilst also accurately conveying the meaning of the original text. It was not always easy but encouraged me to consider different interpretations of the text and reflect on how to best convey its original meaning.”
She highly recommends other students take part in academic competitions such as the Anthea Bell Prize.
“There are lots on offer in many different subjects, and it is a way to explore your passions and challenge yourself outside of the classroom. “Academic prizes are a great addition to any UCAS statement, a great way to develop extra knowledge and understanding of a subject and, most importantly, are so enjoyable and rewarding!
“I hope this will encourage other students at JCG to grasp these opportunities when they arise because it’s so rewarding to enter, and a bonus when you do well!"