ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University the MFA of Russia

Центр АСЕАН при МГИМО

Second All-Russian “Contest in the field of professional communication (socio-political translation)” in the Vietnamese language

Second All-Russian “Contest in the field of professional communication (socio-political translation)” in the Vietnamese language

11.03.2023

On March 11th, MGIMO hosted the Second All-Russian Contest of Translation in the field of professional communication (social and political translation) in Vietnamese language.

The event was aimed to improve the students’ knowledge and practical skills in the field of Vietnamese language and socio-political translation. The contest is also intended to promote information about Vietnam, its foreign policy and Russia-Vietnam relations, as well as to encourage contacts between Russian universities, where Vietnamese language is taught. The event traditionally consisted of two parts: tests for the participants and the round table titled "Diplomatic History of Russia - Vietnam relations".

At the opening ceremony Dr. Olga Maslovets, the Head of the Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai Languages, Associate Professor, welcomed the contest participants and told about the traditions of teaching Vietnamese language at the Department. She also emphasized the importance of Vietnam as Russia’s strategic partner and announced that there two new student groups studying Vietnamese at MGIMO School of International relations and School of International Economic relations. H.E. Andrey Tatarinov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2001-2004), welcomed the guests and noted that holding the competition for the second time becomes a good tradition that demonstrates the importance of Russia-Vietnam relations. Ms. Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, First Secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam in Russia, expressed the Embassy's support and stressed the significance of holding this event. Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, Director of the ASEAN Centre, Dr. Petr Tsvetov, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Board of the Russian-Vietnamese Friendship Society, and Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Traditions and Friendship Fund also delivered their welcoming remarks.

The contest was attended by such distinguished guests as Ms. Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam in Russia, and Ms. Nguyen Bic Hanh, the Second Secretary of the Embassy.

The expert jury was represented by Mr. Alexey Popov, Deputy Director of the Personnel Department of the MFA of Russia, Ms. Ekaterina Bakeeva, Minister-Counselor of the Russian Federation Embassy in Vietnam, Dr. Elena Tyumeneva, Professor at the Department of Oriental Languages of Higher Language Training Courses of the MFA of Russia, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of Traditions and Friendship Fund, Mr. Pham Thanh Xuan, member of the Vietnamese Citizens Association in Russia, interpreter. H.E. Andrey Tatarinov chaired the jury.

Students from MGIMO, Moscow State Linguistic University, IAAS Moscow State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg State University and Kazan Federal University took part in the first (written) round of the contest. Sixteen BA and five MA students participated in the second (oral) part of the contest.

The winners among BA students were:
1st place – Mr. Evgeny Moiseev (Moscow, Faculty of Humanities, National Research University Higher School of Economics);
2nd place – Ms. Naina Taibova (Moscow, Translation Department of Moscow State Linguistic University);
3rd place – Mr. Ilya Trukhin (Moscow, School of International Relations, MGIMO University).

The winners among MA students were:
1st place – Ms. Anastasia Bobylkina (St. Petersburg, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Saint Petersburg State University);
2nd place – Mr. Konstantin Chudaykin (Moscow, Translation Department of Moscow State Linguistic University);
3rd place – Mr. Alexander Serdyukov (Moscow, Translation Department of MSLU).

Individual contestants were awarded in the following categories:
"Best Pronunciation" – Ms. Anastasia Mirgorodova (Moscow, Faculty of Humanities, National Research University Higher School of Economics),
"Best Tempo of Translation" – Ms. Polina Vershinina (Moscow, Translation Department, Moscow State Linguistic University),
"Most Accurate Translation" – Mr. Daniil Medvedev (Moscow, School of International Relations, MGIMO MFA of Russia).

Separately, the winner of "Best Pace of Interpretation" nomination, Mr. Polina Vershinina (Moscow, Translation Department, Moscow State Linguistic University of Linguistics) was awarded the Audience Favorite Prize.

Among the round table speakers on "Diplomatic History of the Russian-Vietnamese Relations" were H.E. Alexei Tatarinov, Ambassador of Russia in Vietnam (2001-2004), Dr. Petr Tsvetov, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Board of the Russian-Vietnamese Friendship Association and Ms. Ekaterina Bakeeva, Minister-Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam. The speakers told the history of diplomatic relations between Russia (USSR) and Vietnam, shared their experience of working in Vietnam in diplomatic and translation fields, gave valuable advice to the young specialists and answered the questions.

In addition, a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of friendship and cooperation between Russia and Vietnam was organized on the sidelines of the event. The materials were kindly provided by the contest partners - the Russian-Vietnamese Friendship Society, as well as by the jury members – H.E. Andrey Tatarinov and Ms. Ekaterina Bakeeva.

ASEAN Centre, Russian-Vietnamese Friendship Society (VRS), “Traditions and Friendship” Fund were the contest partners. “Traditions and Friendship” Fund was also the contest’s sponsor.

The Contest Organizing Committee included: Dr. Olga Maslovets, Head of the Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian Languages, Ms. Svetlana Glazunova, Senior lecturer of the Department, Ms. Daria Borisova, Lecturer of the Department, Dr. Valeria Vershinina and Ms. Kira Tabunova, Experts of the ASEAN Centre. The contest was moderated by Ms. Nguyen Thao Mi, a 2nd year student of the School of International Economic relations, and Mr. Alexander Chursin, a 1st year student of the School of International Relations.

The contest received a wide coverage in the Vietnamese media. Newspapers such as Nhan Dan newspaper, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Plus and others published news items about the contest: Nhan dan, Vov, Vietnam+, Bao Tin Tuc, Bao Quoc Te, Sputnik.

Congratulations to the winners and all participants of the contest!

Photos: Nhan Dan, Voice of Vietnam
Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai Languages
ASEAN Centre