Tumkur University

We visited Tumkur University’s beautiful campus on a lovely monsoon afternoon. Our final visit of this phase, it was a wonderful closing session. The students’ enthusiasm was immediately palpable and we were overjoyed to receive a large group despite the college not making attendance for the session mandatory.

The activities began with the Tourist-Translator-Local exercise followed by the Just-A-Minute Activity. Students were able to think on their feet and be spontaneous while also listening carefully. One particularly encouraging sight was students taking notes while another team was performing. They observed closely, reflected on what worked and what did not, and attempted to prepare for their own turn. A collaborative, peer-learning of this kind was truly motivating.

Considering that this was our last session, it was only apt (not to mention, pleasant surprise!) that students took the session into their own hands by asking and discussing important questions pertaining to the translation. Some of the questions they posed were: What makes a good translation? Is translation about accuracy or meaning? Why do we translate? Can every idea truly be translated from one language to another?

We were pleased to veer the session from exploring these ideas at a surface level through these exercises to collectively delving into the very practice and nitty-gritties of translation. The students’ curiosity shaped the direction of the discussion, turning it into a meaningful exchange rather than a one-way lesson.

Our visit to Tumkur University’s campus on that beautiful monsoon morning left us content and looking forward to the next time we visit such spaces of curiosity and conversation.