Amazing Interpreting event in Leeds as students get to experience Mock Multilingual Conference

In Celebration of United Nations Chinese Language Day 2025, Students Experience a Fascinating Mock Multilingual Conference

In celebration of United Nations Chinese Language Day 2025, students from the University of Leeds and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) came together for an inspiring and dynamic Mock Multilingual Conference—a collaborative event that brought to life the vital role of interpretation in international diplomacy.

Hosted in partnership with interpreting students from UIBE in Beijing and mandarin language students from the University of Leeds, the event offered a rare, hands-on opportunity to explore the world of professional interpretation at a global level. Held in a hybrid format, the conference simulated a real-world multilingual setting (such as the UN or EU), showcasing simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and intercultural communication in action.

The day began with a warm welcome and an insightful introduction to the importance of interpreting by Professor Hu Rong, Director of the BCI and a senior interpreter with over two decades of experience.

Speeches in English by Leeds students Harry Thursby-Pelham and Pollie Akehurst, titled "Tea, TikTok and Tradition – How British Everyday Culture Is Rebranded Online” and "The Global Importance of Shakespeare", were simultaneously interpreted into Mandarin.

UIBE students Chengxi Hong, Peng Hanchi, and Ding Huang also delivered speeches in Mandarin—"Reviving Ancient Culture in Modern Times," "TikTok: Inspiring Global Cultural Creativity," and "New Rhymes of Poetry", respectively—which were simultaneously interpreted into English.

Each speech was followed by a lively Q&A session conducted in both English and Mandarin. Questions and answers were consecutively interpreted into the respective opposite language. Active participants including Leeds Interpreting Masters Students Feng Ye and Tianjun Zeng, who had the exciting opportunity to take centre stage, putting their language skills to the test by interpreting during the session—supported throughout by experienced mentors and language instructors. This interactive component gave students real insight into the demands and rewards of live interpretation in a professional setting.

This was a valuable experience for all participants, allowing them to develop practical skills in a globalised, multilingual environment. It not only enhanced their cross-cultural communication abilities but also significantly boosted their employability. The event provided concrete examples students can now draw on for competency-based interview questions, particularly those relating to teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in international or multilingual contexts. For anyone considering a career in diplomacy, translation, interpreting, or global business, this was an ideal opportunity to build confidence and capability.

A number of observers joined online, gaining valuable exposure to the logistics of multilingual communication and witnessing first-hand how interpretation helps bridge language barriers and facilitates global understanding.

Thank you to everyone who participated, observed, and supported this event—your enthusiasm made it a true success! We look forward to future collaborations that continue to bring people together through language and culture.

If you want to watch the event, we have uploaded it onto our YouTube account, and you can so here - Amazing Interpreting Event in Leeds as students get to experience Mock Multilingual Conference!