SPS Stories
Student Spotlight
Marianne Yeh
Returning to Your Roots at NYU SPS
Fast Facts
- Worked in the corporate public relations world for 20 years
- Relishes learning opportunities and networking resources outside the classroom at NYU SPS
- Urges future translators to stay on their toes when it comes to future technological innovations
<p><span class="p-body">Born in Shanghai, China, Marianne Yeh started learning English at an early age. Despite having scarce resources, she found every opportunity to read classic and contemporary literature both in English and in Chinese. This tenacity has held strong throughout her life, and is what eventually led her to apply for the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-translation.html" target="_blank">MS in Translation & Interpreting</a> at NYU SPS.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">We were happy to chat with Marianne about her background, why she chose NYU, and what advice she has for the next generation of translators and interpreters.</span></p>
Foundations for Success
<p><span class="p-body">"I remember being a loyal fan of the BBC English-teaching TV program called Follow Me! because it gave me a rare opportunity to learn 'authentic' English from native speakers," Marianne reflects. Like many Translation & Interpreting students, her interest in the field has deep roots in her bilingual childhood. "Being bilingual has given me a unique advantage in helping to build the bridge between the east and the west."</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Marianne first came to the United States as an undergraduate student in 1989, and then went on to work as a broadcaster at Voice of America (VOA), the radio station of the US Information Agency, in Washington, DC. In addition to live radio shows, one of the main functions of her daily job was Chinese/English translation of news, editorial and feature pieces. She says, "I am eternally grateful for this incredibly challenging and rewarding hands-on learning experience." It was this experience that led her to pursue a Master's degree in Public Relations from the University of Maryland at College Park.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">For the next 20 years, Marianne worked in the corporate public relations world. Staying in the DC area, she soon set her sights on a career shift that would set the stage for her decision to come to NYU.</span></p>
A New Chapter
<p><span class="p-body">In 2018, Marianne decided to leave the corporate world behind and start her own consultancy providing language and branding services, hoping to combine her corporate experience with her language skills to facilitate cultural appreciation and exchange. In 2021, Marianna enrolled in NYU's MSTI program to further her education and explore opportunities in the language industry. She shares,</span></p>
This feels like a full circle for me, going through the various stages of my career and coming back to my life-long passion in languages, literature, culture, history, political science, and communications. Now, in my second semester in the MSTI program, I must say that it is one of the best decisions I have made."
<p><span class="p-body">We echo her excitement, as we're glad to have her perspective and decades of experience in the classroom.</span></p>
An Essay from the Heart
<p><span class="p-body">Recently, Marianne translated an essay, <i>Noble as Jade – My Teacher Ms. Wu</i>, written by her childhood friend. After over 30 years, she reconnected with Wang Rong, who is the Director of the China Institute for Educational Finance Research (CIEFR) at Peking University. The essay written by Wang is about the influence that Marianne's mother, his Chinese teacher, had on her during her childhood. It was published on CIEFR's WeChat page and instantly received thousands of hits. "Many of my mother's former students left comments under the article. Moved by Wang's narration and reflection, I asked for her permission to translate the essay into English," she says.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">This is the work that Marianne always hoped for.</span></p>
I am so happy to find myself applying what I've learned from the MSTI program to my translation process. I would like to thank the academic director of the MSTI program, Dr. Annelise Finegan, and my former colleague, Russell Woolard, who provided valuable guidance and editing to help me improve the target text. The translated essay is on my agency's website."
<p><span class="p-body">We are thrilled to share an excerpt from Marianne's translation of <i>Noble as Jade - My Teacher Ms. Xu.</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>At that time, English was a completely foreign concept to us. In my junior high school, Marianne's English was far better than the rest of us. Under such peer influence, I started working hard on my English, too. It was widely known then that Ms. Xu and her family placed great emphasis on learning English. Uncle Zhu insisted on self-studying during the Cultural Revolution, and their son, Jonathan, was studying English and American literature in college.</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>Readers today have little idea how scarce the resources were back then. I remember in a summer during junior high school, my mother borrowed almost every single novel in their agency's library, hoping I would spend my time reading instead of hanging out with friends. That summer, I read more than twenty novels popular at the time, such as Red Crag and Bitter Cauliflower. It wasn't until high school that I began to find books such as War and Peace and The Tale of Genji on the book stalls in front of our school. </i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>I started my own collection of classic literature from those stalls. Later, I realized that it was all the reading and explication in Ms. Xu's classes that opened our eyes beyond the mundane life and the mandatory curriculum so we could appreciate the vastness of the world and the beauty of the Chinese language.</i></span></p>
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Words of Wisdom
<p><span class="p-body">Throughout her career and now into her latest academic sprint, Marianna has gained valuable insight on why translation has always drawn her. "I've always been fascinated with languages. When I see something beautiful, I have the urge to share with as many people as possible. I enjoy the creative process of translation and find it satisfying to be able to contribute to the mutual understanding and appreciation among people who speak different languages and live in different cultures," she shares.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Since beginning the MSTI program, she has enjoyed the program's structure and the ample opportunities to get involved at NYU SPS. </span></p>
I also appreciate all the learning opportunities and networking resources outside the classrooms, including student memberships in ATA and other professional organizations, student subscriptions to Wall Street Journal and New York Times, student-sponsored organizations such as OWLS, the MSTI Winter Speaker Series, the ALC Bridge series, and the guest speakers who come to our classes to offer professional guidance and connections. Not to mention the Wasserman Center and the NYU Violet Network!"
<p><span class="p-body">Her advice for translators and prospective students is to be on their toes when it comes to future technological innovations. "The MSTI program is the perfect platform to help us do that," she asserts. Even as the world becomes increasingly digital, Marianne says "It's a great time to be a language professional, and I am looking forward to continued learning and discovery!" We couldn't agree more.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">A translation and interpreting degree can help you to take charge of your career, whether you are new to the field or already working in the language professions. <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-translation.html" target="_blank">Apply for NYU SPS's MS in Translation & Interpreting, a fully online, 36-credit graduate program</a>.</span></p>
