My name is Hazem El-Zatma. I’m 27, and I’m from Rafah in the wor-torn Gaza Strip. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English and a diploma in administrative sciences.

As an alternative way of getting the most of the language and utilizing it, I have been doing freelance English/Arabic translation work since 2008, always delivering my work quickly and meeting deadlines on time.

I would like to travel abroad and study at Swansea University. I believe this would provide me with various unique advantages in terms of location and capabilities. Gaza has been under siege for 10 years and this has severely restricted my possibilities. The siege has had an extremely harmful effect on all aspects of my life including my intellectual potential. My entire focus must be concentrated on obtaining everyday necessities.

I have done my best to study English from home. The Internet has been very helpful for me, but it can’t compare with an immersion experience. The restrictions imposed on us create difficult circumstances. There is no way for me to schedule chats with friends, for instance, because a restriction on building materials means that our power stations are not sufficient for the population. The power goes out randomly, throughout the day, usually for several hours. Additionally, many necessities, even pencils and books, are severely restricted. The number of calories allowed into the Strip is also carefully monitored and restricted. This means that I do not have the means to spend my time studying because I have to spend my time trying to find enough food to stay alive. There are many reasons that I want to become more fluent in the English language. The biggest is that I want to be an advocate for my people. I would like to be able to speak with people using their idioms and their references so they can understand what is happening to us on a personal level. I believe that the world’s problems can be solved, and our greatest weapon in that fight is the ability to communicate with people all over the world. Even if we disagree, wouldn’t it be better if we could discuss the issues on equal terms, without language difficulties getting in the way? We need to see the humanity in each other, and communication is the first step. The Master’s program in Translation & Interpretation will grant me a wealth of skills, not only in my advocacy, but also professionally. Translation is a fast growing industry, and the more I learn, the better I will be able to support myself through this work. I would be able to use these skills to be at the forefront of my career. I would put all my education and all my time abroad to good use. It will benefit me personally, and hopefully my family and friends as well. In my current situation, I have no hope of gaining access to this high level of expertise.

The course specification covers the building blocks for becoming a translator who is able to work in any given work circumstance and more importantly matches the current translation market needs and can meet higher customer satisfaction.

Translation is a very unique process and it is similar in implementation to the chef’s job in a hotel kitchen where the translator tastes the suitability of the words to a certain context.

The more advanced tools you have, the more you will be successful and able to expand. Studying for the MA in Swansea University will arm me with the latest techniques including using CAT tools (Computer Assisted Translation) like SDL Trados, MemoQ and Wordfast, - skills which I would really be very happy to acquire.

Furthermore - being in the environment of the English language will fuel my motivation to move forward with my own career goals.

How will studying at Swansea University benefit me?

The diverse culture of students, safety and flexibility in the graduation project are all attractive points for me. I am excited by the fact that I will be taught by professional professors who will make my study at Swansea university a distinctive and rich experience.

What goals I can build after studying at Swansea?

I have so many ambitions that cause me to seek this degree, the most important is to be viewed as a certified translator rather than merely being able to show my current highest degree which is a Bachelor’s degree in teaching English. I can exchange valuable experiences with my fellow students during the study period as well. As part of the courses modules, I will be trained on sample and specific case translations that will help me to engage easily in the work market post graduation.

Why do I need this master’s degree?

After spending time learning English abroad, I will add an important credential to my resume, and I will gain legitimacy as a person who has had an immersion experience, and is therefore on the way to fluency. I need to study this MA in order to increase competitiveness with other colleagues in the same field. I am keen to get to know the very detail of every part of the translation process as a whole.Furthermore it shows my commitment to my career, in that I aim to develop every aspect of it to deliver the best outcome possible with all the finer details that makes my translation work distinct and rich in meaning and effect.

What about the commitment about UK rules and laws?

I am aware that the UK has firm and consistently changing immigration and visa laws regarding the increasingly growing number of people coming to the UK, I pledge to obey all laws and take these laws into consideration. My only goals in studying abroad are to further my career, and to further the reach of my voice in the international community.