While visiting Hong Kong, ISIS TEFL Course Director Mark was lucky enough to catch up with the film translator Ed Lam.
ISIS TEFL: How often did you translate films into English at your peak?
Ed Lam: I worked on about one film per month.
IT: Any we might know in the UK?
EL: I did Sideways – a funny film. Also Passion of the Christ which was difficult as Mel Gibson had insisted that the film be translated using the traditional Catholic version of the Bible.
IT: Did you like the job?
EL: I’m into anything to do with language. And that job allows you to find out more about different cultures. But also you sometimes have to bridge the gap between the cultures when translating certain ideas or concepts that may not exist in one society. It can be difficult but you have to create an equilavent dialogue.
IT: And what do you do when you’re not translating films?
EL: I work in the Civil Service as an administrator. I use English every day and there is no way I could do my job without the language. All email communication is via email so it’s really essential – it’s helped me progress in my career because Hong Kong is a bi-lingual city.
IT: You must be fascinated by English to be able to translate films successfully, how did you get into learning and using the language?
EL: Hong Kong used to be a British Colony until July 1st 1997. From Kindergarten onwards learning English and Chinese were major subjects. I’d say I fell in love with the language in Primary School. I just loved the way it sounds. I also liked the grammar, because in English there are clear rules – unlike in Chinese.
IT: Do you have any particularly positive memories of teachers?
I had a favourite teacher who was brilliant at teaching me the rules of English. I still remember exactly how she taught me. It gave me a good foundation for me to build upon. I still use those rules when I sometimes teach English to people privately.
At High School some teachers would make use of other media. Play films or music in the class and learn from the message of the film or the lyrics. This kept things interesting and added variety. I’ve always had a passion for pop music so I would listen and sing along, it helped me speak the language in a natural way that I didn’t find awkward or embarrassing. Some songs may have a good message and that helps with remembering the language.
Bringing real life to students is also important. So actually taking students to a restaurant. Or showing them how to understand and order from a real menu.
We also had some assignments. Students had to go outside to the streets and find real English speakers to interview. Then we would write a report about their answers. The questions often related to cultural differences between their home country and Hong Kong. It really helped with making classes more interactive.
IT: Did you have bad learning experiences with teachers?
EL: Some teachers treat the language as just another subject. They taught grammar in a robotic way – almost in a mechanical way. Not in a productive, creative way. They just get you to memorise the rules without any lively explanation. That would make learning the language boring and frustrating. But in principal it can be taught in a lively way relating to real life.
But mostly I was lucky enough to have interesting teachers who understood their role and responsibility. They would show you how to put the language into practical use.
IT: Do you have any tips to English learners out there?
EL: I would say you need to fall in love with the culture. That’s the basis of mastering a language.
Also paying attention to and being sensitive to your surroundings. For example noticing the details of a slogan in an advertisement. Noticing and remembering every word.
