Meet Jiaqin

Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating

Since graduating with an MA in Translating, I've been working in game localisation for nearly seven years. I have served as an in-house Localisation Manager or Specialist at companies including Elex, Riot Games and Infold.

My work has covered titles such as Love Nikki, League of Legends: Wild Rift and Infinity Nikki. 

Find out more about my course, Translation Studies MA

Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?

As a linguistics student and language enthusiast, I've always been drawn to studying what interests me most. After exploring English language, Linguistics & Sociology, I began thinking seriously about my career path.

I asked myself: what should I study if I want a job in the field that I'm most passionate about? That's when I considered becoming a professional translator or interpreter and discovered Newcastle University's MA Translating course. Its strong focus on professional training and the development of linguistic skills made it the ideal choice for me. 

How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career? 

The most valuable takeaway from my course was the importance of professionalism and taking your work seriously. Beyond that, I truly appreciated the freedom to explore different areas.
During my time on the course, I discovered that I felt more comfortable working with written language than with spoken. I also found myself drawn to creative content, especially through modules like Drama Translation. I also had the opportunity to learn CAT tools, which turned out to be quite useful in the job market.

Although formal localisation courses weren't available at the time, I was lucky to participate in some localisation workshops that sparked my interest in the field. That experience helped me set my sights on pursuing a career in localisation after graduation. 

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GENIE networking event

What did you enjoy most about your time at Newcastle University? 

I really enjoyed attending lectures on topics that I was interested in.

Newcastle is such a lovely city, full of places to explore and things to do. The university buildings reminded me of Hogwarts Castle! It truly felt like a magical time. 

Describe your time at Newcastle in three words 

Explorative. Reflective. Becoming.