After the Workshop

Photo credit: Glenda Hydler

Thank you for attending the translation and multilingual writing workshop! I hope you had a great time. If you’ve continued writing after class, leveraged any of the resources, or just want to stay in touch, feel free to contact me.

Prompts to continue writing 

Prompt 1

Rewrite the passage using the voice, speech patterns, or expressions of someone in your family. (What happens in the story stays the same, but it can be expressed differently.) How would your grandmother, uncle, or best friend tell this story?

After the party, they walked to the pizza place on Flatbush Avenue. It was past midnight. They slid into the chairs, still in their party clothes. The silky fabrics contrasted with the dullness of the tables. The pizza arrived oily and hot. They all sat quietly, reflecting on the last few hours. 

Prompt 2

Rewrite this passage while preserving its core meaning but filtering it through your unique voice and linguistic background. Rewrite the passage in another language you know (or mix English with another language). 

Sam sits at the kitchen table, staring at the envelope. She hasn’t opened it. She hasn’t moved. Her hands feel heavy. The kitchen is quiet except for the hum of the fridge and the sound of Sam’s breath. The window trembles when a car drives by, bass thumping. Sam hears someone in the hallway yell, a door slams. She doesn’t look away from the envelope. She wants to move, to crumple or tear open the envelope or throw it away, but can’t. 

Prompt 3

Write a paragraph about how your parents or family members (this can be real or fictional) chose your name. Write this paragraph using mostly English and including several words or sentences in another language. 

Alternative option: Write the paragraph in English in the distinct voice and tone of a family member. E.g. How would a parent, aunt, or other person tell the story of how you got your name?

Books referenced in the workshop

Here is the list of books referenced in the workshop:

Podcasts on translation

Resource organizations

Stay in touch