Language success gained in translation

Lindisfarne College student Kadin Good with embassy of Spain deputy head Vincente Mas Taladriz

Lindisfarne College student Kadin Good has been awarded a prestigious prize in a national translation competition.

The year 11 student was awarded the special prize for At Peace, a translation into English from the Spanish of Amado Nervo, as part of the annual Moving Words Secondary Schools translation awards.

Held at Victoria University of Wellington, the award, in its second year, saw five students from across the country recognised with special prizes in Chinese to English, French to English, and Spanish to English.

The keen Spanish student said he was pleased with the outcome, after his teacher suggested he enter the competition.

"I received three books from the European Union Delegation on how the EU works and what it is," Mr Good said.

Students were required to submit a translation into either English, te reo Maori, or New Zealand Sign Language, of a piece of prose or poetry, which was originally published in a different language.

Kadin hopes to pursue Spanish once he leaves school and said the poem was quite simple, yet had a nice message.

"I used a Spanish to English dictionary to decipher the text."

Chris Wilson, Senior Communications Adviser, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Education at Victoria University of Wellington, said the award is a great achievement for secondary school students.

"The purpose is to celebrate literature, languages and culture in secondary school and to inspire and reward excellence in translation."

Prize winners, teachers and parents, as well as people who donated prizes and representatives from the Embassy of Spain were in attendance, among others at the ceremony.

Campbell Howlett, Deputy Rector at Lindisfarne College said the school is very proud of Kadin's efforts.

"It is recognition for all the hard work and dedication that he has put in."