

Over 14 years of experience as a community interpreter and translator, currently studying for the Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting - Health. My experience includes working in hospitals, clinics, mental health settings, schools and other public sectors.

As a Safeguarding Instructor certified by NUCO training, I can teach Level 1 Safeguarding Awareness and Level 3 Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults. This training is designed for any professional who works in the community (e.g. interpreter).
I am a qualified Romanian and TEFL teacher with QTS, and I can provide bilingual support to Romanian pupils and families in school settings, as well as online English classes for adults via Teams with a focus on improving speaking skills and fluency in English.

I vividly remember my first interpreting assignment, which was over 14 years ago, when I, like everybody else, believed that an interpreter only needed to speak two languages.
Despite my lack of experience, the appointment went very well, and one thing that I'm mostly proud of is that I respected impartiality. I could see and understand the point of both parties involved, and I conveyed the message between them as accurately as I could without adding or changing anything while remaining completely neutral.
Many workshops and CPDs later, I got hooked. So much so that I have stayed on the job for nearly 14 years, culminating in my enrolment in the Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting, the highest qualification for this profession.
Now I can argue that to be an interpreter requires more than speaking two languages fluently; it’s about knowing specialised terminology in various fields, understanding nuances of the languages, being a quick thinker, and adhering to a strict code of conduct.
Here are some examples of assignments I undertook over the years:
Translation requires attention to detail, research skills and meticulousness. What I like about it is that I can research terminology and get a sense of its use in both languages before committing to translating it. Even when the deadlines are tight, I always reserve at least a day for proofreading. This ensures the text reads naturally in the target language.
I primarily accept translations in my native language (Romanian), but when the target language is English, I send the text to a native speaker for proofreading. I am a grammar fanatic, and I always make sure that grammar and punctuation are spot on.
Here are some examples of documents I have translated through the years:
As a qualified Romanian teacher with a BA in Romanian Language and Literature, I obtained my QTS and have been working in schools in Devon for 10 years, supporting mainly Romanian-speaking pupils and families, and occasionally other EAL pupils with their basic communication in English. I am also a qualified TEFL teacher at level 5, the highest qualification for this Diploma.
How can I help your EAL and Romanian pupils?
How can I help Romanian pupils of all ages?
How can I help Romanian families?


One thing I noticed from my interpreting assignments is that many non-English speakers can read and sometimes write in English; they understand the language, but they struggle to speak it. While this is a normal stage in language acquisition, many learners confess that they avoid human interaction and often take night shifts so they don't have to be in a position where they have to communicate. Studies show that adults are more aware of their accents and errors than children, which prevents them from practising their speaking and fluency. I once was one of these learners, so now, as a qualified TEFL teacher, I aim to build up learners' confidence and self-esteem and practice speaking in real-life scenarios.
If you are interested in relaxed, critique-free and realistically targeted lessons, get in touch today. You can book me via FirstTutors, or you can contact me directly here. I will reply to you the same day.
In all job roles I have held over the last 15 years, safeguarding has been an important part. Whether working in schools or in the community, I always had to keep up to date with the legislation and reporting procedures. Gaining this important knowledge led me to train as a Safeguarding Instructor, enabling me to teach Level 1 in Safeguarding Awareness and Level 3 in Safeguarding Children, Young People, and Vulnerable Adults.
If you are an interpreter or other professional working with children and vulnerable adults, please get in touch and book a Safeguarding course. Packed with real-life examples and different scenarios, the courses cover legislation, types of abuse, reporting procedures, and your role and responsibilities.
Both Level 1 and Level 3 courses are nationally recognised and regulated by Ofqual.
“I must say that training was well organised and the instructor, seasoned and experienced, has done an excellent job in conducting a very comprehensive course. Glad that I had a chance to be one of the attendees.”
"I would like to thank the trainer, Teodora, for her help and for covering all aspects of the subject. The session was clear and informative."
2hr | £45 | Teams
This training is designed for Interpreters and Advocates as a CPD session running twice a month, and it is tailored to these professions. No assessment is required, and you will get a Certificate of Attendance upon completion. Get in touch to book your place today and receive your Teams link.

5hr | £150 | Teams
This training is designed for interpreters, advocates, admin staff in education and healthcare and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults. The course runs twice a month via Teams. You will need to pass an assessment and get a valid certificate that you can use towards your CPD or enhance your CV.

8hr | £250 | Teams
This training is designed for healthcare and education professionals, social care and local authority staff, police and emergency services personnel, sports coaches and community group leaders. The course runs once a month over 2 days, and you will receive a valid certificate upon completing the assessment.
I have been living in the beautiful county of Devon for 20 years, and I am proud to call this place my home. I relocated from Romania, where I was working as a teacher, without knowing the path ahead of me. I have been passionate about languages and other cultures for as long as I can remember, and I am an avid reader with an inquisitive and creative mind. Improving my English was always a priority, so I took the FCE and CAE exams and completed a Copywriting course, earning a Diploma in Copywriting. This was back in 2009! Since then, I immersed myself in the culture, reading magazines and books, taking part in cultural events, watching my favourite TV programmes, and "going back to school" as a Bilingual Support Teacher. Now I can confidently say that my level of English is near native.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Dora on multiple occasions as she has supported one of my families with interpretation. Dora is consistently punctual, professional, and very polite not only towards my self but towards families. Dora ensures that all information is translated accurately and thoroughly. Dora takes the initiative to ask for clarification when needed, which helps provide accurate communication. Dora goes the extra mile to translate not just spoken words but also the tone between parents and children when interacting. This level of detail is incredibly valuable in our observation when working and children and families." (Health Visitor)
"Dora was the best interpreter I have come across. Friendly and clear, great with the patient and the clinician." (Physiotherapist)
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