Semarang, 30 October 2025 – The Applied Foreign Languages Study Program, Vocational School of Diponegoro University, held a Practitioner Lecture titled “Behind Words, There Are Stories: Exploring the World of Translation and Interpreting.” The event invited a professional speaker from the language industry to provide students with real insights into the work of translators and interpreters in today’s global landscape.
The keynote speaker, Dimas Rangga Wicaksono, S.E., M.Li., a professional translator and interpreter as well as the Director of PT Tala Bahasa Global, shared his career journey from working as a freelance translator and subtitle creator to managing his own translation agency. He opened the session with a reflective question, “How far has language taken you?” encouraging students to recognize the wide range of career opportunities that language proficiency can offer.
In his presentation, he emphasized the importance of becoming industry-ready, which includes developing strong technical skills, understanding market demands, and maintaining a continuous learning mindset. He also explained various career paths, such as freelance translator, in-house translator or interpreter, and agency owner, while highlighting strategies for securing one’s first clients through networking and certification. Additionally, he discussed business opportunities in translation and interpreting across academic, corporate, cultural, and religious sectors, stressing the need to understand the market and establish one’s niche. The session concluded with an inspiring reminder: “Translation is the key to the global industry, take pride in your profession and uphold the integrity of our field.”
Student enthusiasm was evident during the interactive Q&A session, which explored job prospects, cross-cultural challenges, and strategies for managing pressure while interpreting. The event provided students with a comprehensive understanding of the profession and encouraged them to continue developing integrity, empathy, and strong communication skills as future language professionals ready to compete globally. <>