TraTra | Translation Summer School

Who is it for?

It’s for teenagers (born between 2006 and 2008) who:

• Are interested in languages (even if they don’t study them formally), and who are strong users of Maltese and English
• Want to discover how translation works, and if it's something they want to do more of
• Want to acquire new skills that will help them further on in life, including at uni and at work

When, where, what time?

• When: 8–11 July 2025
• Where: Europe House, 254, St Paul Street, Valletta
• What time: 10:00–15:00 (with a break)

Why is it called TraTra?

TraTra is made up of the first three letters of the Maltese and English words for “translation”, since these are the two languages we will be using during the summer school.

How does it work?

First, you apply here: [registration]

Then, from the 8th to the 11th of July, we'll be meeting at Europe House at 10am.

We will start off the morning with a presentation by a professional translator about these different types of translation:

• General translation (such as the translations carried out for the EU)
• Prose
• Poetry
• Audiovisual translation

We will also do some exercises focusing on skills relating to translation.

Then, you will have time to translate a piece of text on your own, with the assistance of the tutors, who will be ready to discuss your ideas with you and give you suggestions or advice.

This all takes place in an informal, respectful setting, where everyone is welcome to discuss and to ask questions. The language of the course will be Maltese, and this will be the language we translate into.

Why translation?

The interconnected world we live in today would be unimaginable without translation, and we depend on it for information, global trade, travel, entertainment, and so much more. In a multilingual society such as Malta’s, translation is a part of our everyday life, and a useful skill in many situations, including at work and school.

Translation encourages — or even forces us — to be better readers and writers, to think critically and analytically about what we read, to research what we don’t understand, and to understand where the blind spots in our knowledge may be. These skills are useful beyond translation.

Who’s organising it?

TraTra is organised by the Malta office of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). DGT is the largest translation service of its kind in the world, and translates around 2.5 million pages a year to and from the EU's 24 official languages (and a few more).

TraTra is one of the European Day of Languages activities organised throughout Europe, celebrating the continent's rich linguistic heritage.

It is coordinated by David Schembri, who you can contact at: DGT-VALLETTAec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DGT-VALLETTA[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

How much does it cos?

It's free of charge. You will need to apply by June 30th, though.

Where is it taking place?

Europe House is home to the European Commission's and the European Parliament's offices in Malta.

It is also a short walk away from the Gozo Fast Ferry Terminal and the Valletta Bus Terminus, and it's air-conditioned. 

Location