Translating the pandemics: Social practices in translation during a translator's education project

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were challenged to learn how to face a new virus and the severe disease it potentially caused. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of researchers around the globe, much was discovered about the disease in a short period of time. Initially, however, we faced uncertainties, a lack of reliable information, and significant fear. In this early context of the pandemic, we, the faculty of the Letters course at the Federal University of Bahia, created the extension project Voluntary Translation of Informative Materials Related to COVID-19. The main objective of this project was to translate scientific research on COVID-19 conducted in Brazil into English for free, thereby helping to disseminate local knowledge to the world while developing a pedagogical translation project that connected students with the real challenges faced by society. This article describes the development of the project, some of the results achieved, and the lessons learned. We discuss the importance of a critical translation pedagogy that addresses the needs and challenges of the local social context and is based on collaborative, interactive, and dialogical work. The project involved volunteer students who, under the guidance of faculty members, translated 35 academic texts and informative materials about COVID-19. The experience provided an opportunity for critical, practical, and socially engaged learning, highlighting the importance of the university in scientific production and dissemination and demonstrating the vital role of translation in spreading scientific information during global crises.