John TAKU ALEMANJI
Addis Ababa P.O.Box 3243,Ethiopia
Summary
Dynamic conference interpreter and translator with extensive experience at the African Union Commission, excelling in simultaneous interpretation and multilingual communication. Proven ability to develop glossaries and manage client relationships, ensuring clarity and precision in high-stakes environments. Recognized for exceptional stress management and cultural sensitivity, delivering impactful results across diverse international platforms.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
conference interpreter translator reviser
Freelancer
United States, MD
02.2024 - Current
- Remote and on-site simultaneous interpretation for major international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission, the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the World Health Organization, the African Union Anti Corruption Board, the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations, and Development Reimagined.
Freelance Interpreter
Self-employeed
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
06.2022 - 02.2024
- Provision of over 200 hours of interpretation services for the following events and organizations: Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) for the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPPSS) under the auspices of the African Export Bank (Afreximbank); RSI for A Refresher Training on the Risk Management Policies & Procedures (RMPP) under the auspices of Afreximbank; Simultaneous interpretation for an in person retreats of the staff of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Arusha, Tanzania; Meeting of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), Mount Meru Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania; Fourth Meeting of the Regional Committee for Africa Region of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ninth Session of the Governing Body, International Treaty on Plant Genetic for Food & Agriculture, under the auspices of the FAO, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA); Harmonized Calculation Method for Africa (HCM4A) Agreement, Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Africa Health Economics & Financing Capacity Forum, Hilton Hotel Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspices of Africa CDC, AMREF & SPARC; Remote and on the spot interpretation for the African Union Commission, Pan African Parliament, African Union Board against Corruption, European Union.
Staff interpreter
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
10.2011 - 06.2022
- Provision of interpretation services during African Union Commission-organized meetings on a wide range of themes: social, economic, political, agricultural, environmental, peace, security, trade, education, science, and technology, including events organized by African Union organs such as The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Pan African Parliament, the African Peer Review Mechanism, etc.
- Mentoring of interns and younger colleagues.
- Assessment and grading of French interpreters.
- Member of the Editorial Board of 'The Bridge,' a quarterly publication of the Directorate of Conference Management and Publications.
Official Interpreter-Translator for the Chair
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
01.2009 - 10.2011
- Provision of interpretation services during meetings organized by the AUC Chair and Deputy Chair, including Heads of State Summit meetings and self-revised translation of documents in the Office of the AUC Chair.
Head, Interpretation and Translation Unit
National Elections Observatory
Yaoundé, Cameroon
01.2002 - 01.2008
- Coordinator of the Unit's activities, self-revised translation, and revision of translation submitted by colleagues of the Unit, drafting of activity reports and minutes of meetings, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation.
Senior Translator Interpreter
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
Yaoundé, Cameroon
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Provisided interpretation services.
- Collaborated with military personnel to understand context and terminology requirements.
- Reviewed and edited translations for accuracy and compliance with defense standards.
- Developed glossaries of specialized terms for consistent communication across projects.
- Maintained translation databases and resources for efficient access to materials.
- Translated official documents for the Ministry of Defence to ensure clarity and precision.
Part-Time Teacher and Head of French Department
Mevick Bilingual College
Yaoundé, Cameroon
01.1993 - 01.2000
- Taught French language, literature and translation to 9th and 10th Grade
- Encouraged critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies among students.
- Implemented behavior management strategies to maintain classroom discipline.
- Assessed student performance through tests, quizzes and other assessments.
- Engaged students through lecture and discussion, increasing classroom interaction to build inclusive learning environment.
- Participated in workshops, trainings and conferences to improve educational skills.
- Remained calm and patient in student interactions to support individual growth and development.
- Prepared and graded subject tests for students.
- Evaluated students on monthly basis and adjusted lessons accordingly to incorporate improvements.
Education
Post-Graduate Diploma in Interpretation -
ASTI, University of Buea
Cameroon01.2007
Interpretation -
University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI)
Cameroon01.2001
Translation -
University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI)
Cameroon01.1989
Master of Arts - Translation
ASTI, University of Buea
Cameroon01.1989
University of Yaounde - Bilingual Letters (English, French)
University of Yaounde
Cameroon01.1986
Bachelor of Arts - Bilingual Letters (French/English)
University of Yaoundé
Cameroon01.1986
Baccalaureat A4 -
Lycee De Dschang, College Alfred Saker Douala
Cameroon10-1983
Skills
- On-site simultaneous interpretation
- Remote simultaneous interpretation
- Consecutive interpretation
- Chuchotage interpreting
- Sight translation
- Glossary development
- Cross-cultural communication
- Professional ethics
- Interpretation equipment use
- Interpersonal communication
- Terminology management
- Written document translation
- Linguistic validation
- Text editing and revision
- Audio translations
- Diplomatic communication
- Medical translation
- Personnel supervision
Refresher Courses
- 06/17/13 - 06/21/13, Training of Interpretation Trainers, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- 07/21/14 - 07/25/14, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 02/09/15 - 02/13/15, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 07/21/21 - 07/25/21, Online
- 08/02/21 - 08/06/21, Online
Research And Publications
- 1989, L'impact de la compréhension du texte sur la traduction (The impact of Understanding a Text on Translation), M.A. dissertation
- 2016, Garbage in Garbage Out (GIGO) in Interpretation and Translation, Article published in The Bridge, Directorate of Conference's Information Quarterly
- 2016, Du bon usage de la typographie en français (Some good use of upper and lower case in French)
- 2019, Regards croisés sur la traduction à Addis Abeba (Insights on the Translation Trade in Addis Ababa), Unpublished
- 2020, L'interprétation de conférence à l'épreuve de la COVID19 (Conference Interpreting in time of COVID19), Article published in The Bridge, Directorate of Conference's Information Quarterly
Membership In Associations
- Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters of Cameroon (APTIC), Founding member
- International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC), Member
Place Of Birth
Fontem, Cameroon
Profession
Senior Conference Interpreter/Translator
Working Languages
A - excellent, B - very good
Addresses
- 2209 Saint Joseph's Drive, Bowie, MD, 20721, United States, +1 (240) 392 5548
- P.O.Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, +251910368604
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 06/20/62
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Cameroonian
References
- Mr. Chrysantus AYANGAFAC, Senior Transition Advisor, UNDP Chad, chrysantus.ayangafac@undp.org
- Mr. FUATY Valentine AKA, Senior Translator/Reviser/Conference Interpreter, +251 902462130, fuatyval@gmail.com
Certificates Obtained
- 2007, Post-Graduate Diploma in Interpretation, ASTI, University of Buea, Cameroon
- 1989, Master of Arts in Translation, ASTI, University of Buea, Cameroon
- 1986, Certificate of proficiency in English language, letters and translation, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
- 1986, Bachelor of Arts in Bilingual Letters (French/English), University of Yaoundé, Cameroon
- 1983, Baccalauréat A4 (Equivalent of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level)
- 1982, Probatoire A4 (Promotion Examination from Lower Sixth to Upper Sixth Form)
- 1979, BEPC (Equivalent of the GCE Ordinary Level)
- 1975, CEPE (Equivalent of the First School Leaving Certificate)
Education Background
1967 - 1975, Ecole catholique de Bafang, Ebolowa, Ecole publique de Djoum, Edéa, Ecole Francophone de Victoria, Cameroon, 1975 - 1983, Collège des Nations, Collège Alfred Saker (Douala), Lycée de Dschang, Cameroon, 1983 - 1986, University of Yaounde, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, Bilingual Letters (English, French), Cameroon, 1987 - 1989, Translation, University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI), Cameroon, 2000 - 2001, Interpretation, University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI), Cameroon
Timeline
conference interpreter translator reviser
Freelancer
02.2024 - Current
Freelance Interpreter
Self-employeed
06.2022 - 02.2024
Staff interpreter
African Union Commission
10.2011 - 06.2022
Official Interpreter-Translator for the Chair
African Union Commission
01.2009 - 10.2011
Head, Interpretation and Translation Unit
National Elections Observatory
01.2002 - 01.2008
Senior Translator Interpreter
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
01.1999 - 01.2000
Part-Time Teacher and Head of French Department
Mevick Bilingual College
01.1993 - 01.2000
Post-Graduate Diploma in Interpretation -
ASTI, University of Buea
Interpretation -
University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI)
Translation -
University of Buea, Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI)
Master of Arts - Translation
ASTI, University of Buea
University of Yaounde - Bilingual Letters (English, French)
University of Yaounde
Bachelor of Arts - Bilingual Letters (French/English)
University of Yaoundé
Baccalaureat A4 -
Lycee De Dschang, College Alfred Saker Douala
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