Habemus victorem! Maruška Schenk has joined twenty-eight other students from all over Europe for winning the 2016-2017 translation contest for secondary schools ‘Juvenes Translatores’! Besides, another student from the DCG, Matija Šprogar, received a special mention for his translation. They both translated from German to Slovene and agreed that Latin, which they have been learning now for the third year, contributed to the excellency and accuracy of their work. Mirjam Lindič, the teacher of German at the DCG, is their mentor. This year The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium has competed for the third time in a row and won the competition twice! Well done indeed!

The Commissioner Günther Oettinger, responsible for Budget and Human Resources at the European Commission congratulated the winners, parents and teachers, pointing out that »languages open minds and break down barriers. They help us understand other peoples and cultures. Congratulations for showing creativity and flair in all 24 EU languages.« The aim of the contest is to promote language learning in schools and give young people a taste of what it is like to be a translator.

The Contest in numbers

For the 10th time since 2007, over 3000 students from across the European Union translated texts, this time on the subjects of languages and translation. They could choose from any of the 552 possible combinations between any two of the EU’s 24 official languages. Students used 152 language combinations. All winners chose to translate into their strongest language or mother tongue, as the official translators in EU Institutions do.

The Slovene Context of Juvenes Translatores

On the national level, there were 35 students competing from eight Slovene high schools. There were five contestants from the DCG, translating from English, German and Spanish. Peter Jakša, Language Officer from the Representation of European Commission in Slovenia, congratulated warmly the students, mentors and the headmaster Simon Feštanj on the outstanding success of the school. In terms of languae learning at the DCG, Latin and English are compulsory and all students have to choose a third foreign language from German, French, Spanish or Russian. Classical Greek is optional.

Maruška will travel to Brussels to collect her award for the most accurate translation of Slovenia on 6 April 2017. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/