Could you be overpreparing?
Pre-interpretation jitters and turning anxiety into excitement

About the lecture

That feeling like the world is about to end and the certainty that the event is going to be a disaster...

...which is magically lifted the moment you get into the booth.

Suddenly, all your worries melt away – you're interpreting. And you're wondering why you ever felt that way in the first place. Until there's another event – and the cycle continues.

If you are an experienced interpreter who still suffers from pre-interpretation jitters (PIJ), you know exactly what this is like. I invite you to an intellectual potluck, where we will pool together our best strategies to deal with this anxiety and share practical ways to stay calm. We will also talk about how to reframe your nervous energy and turn anxiety into excitement—using the physiological similarities between the two to your advantage in the booth.

What we will discuss

• Adequate preparation — How can you tell you've prepared adequately?
• Glossary tools — What tools can you use to compile glossaries efficiently?
• AI assistance — How can AI help you prepare rather than lead you astray?
• Psychological strategies — What mental strategies help you stay calm when there is no reason to panic, and what to do if you actually have underprepared.

Who is this for?

Both experienced and novice interpreters who face pre-interpretation anxiety and want to exchange real-world preparation tips, coping mechanisms, and glossary techniques with colleagues.

Lecture details

Pay what you can

Suggested donation: €15–€20 (or equivalent in UAH).

Who's teaching?

Mykhailo 'Meesh' Khokhlovych

Bilingual simultaneous interpreter · English / Ukrainian / Russian

Meesh has over 10 years of interpreting experience and 15 years of language teaching. He brings both the craft and the pedagogy together in a lecture that is as rigorous as it is practical.

BA Linguistics — University College Utrecht, 2016 Cambridge CELTA, 2012 Cambridge DELTA, 2021

Frequently asked questions

• How long will the recording be available?

  You will have access to the video recording for 90 days. You can listen from anywhere in the world at a time that suits you.

• What language is the lecture held in?

  The lecture is held entirely in English.

• Is it interactive?

  Yes. This is an intellectual potluck where we actively pool resources, share strategies, and discuss experiences together.