Jumpstart your English retour with an intensive week of technique work!
8th - 12th September 2025
SOLD OUT Full members €500 |Auditors €300
Are you looking for a flexible online short course to improve your English retour?
With this webinar-style week-long programme taught by an experienced trainer, you can improve your interpreting technique and confidence and become more marketable.
English enhancement sessions
[Indicative timetable, all times London time]
All the recordings will be available on a dedicated website for you to watch again at leisure.
PLEASE NOTE: because of the interactive nature of this workshop (lots of exercises alone and in pairs, breakout rooms, etc.) it is best to attend live.
INDICATIVE TIMETABLE
- Monday, 8th September, 10-12 am UK time: reformulation
- Tuesday, 9th September, 10-12 am: anticipation
- Wednesday, 10th September, 10-12 am: salami technique
- Thursday, 11th September, 10-12 am: being concise
- Friday, 12th September, 10-12 am: avoiding interference
- Bonus session: using intonation strategically
WHY CHOOSE THE 2025 AUTUMN BOOsTCAMP?
High quality retour training can be difficult to access, and/or expensive.
I'm often asked about short courses for interpreters wishing to improve their English retour. They do exist, but they are in short supply in Europe, and they tend to run in August. Many people can't attend for reasons to do with time or affordability. Yet a strong retour can open new markets for you.
That's why I offer this week-long short course, run entirely digitally. The focus will be on exercises to help you improve your retour technique, rather than interpreting, although there will be opportunities to work into English and get some feedback.
You can choose to register EITHER as a full member, OR an auditor.
BOTH of these options include:
- Sessions focused on interpreting technique and devised by an experienced interpreting coach who is a native speaker of English
- teaching materials tailor-made for interpreters, with an emphasis on retour skills
In addition, full members will have a daily practice session, where they can interpret 'live' and receive feedback on their work.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
What is included in the 2025 Autumn booStcamp (full members €500)?
- all the sessions and materials available to auditors (see box to the right), PLUS
- one daily group class, in which you can interpret into English and receive feedback on your performance (max. 12 participants)
- if the combination of A languages allows, break-out rooms where you can practise with other retourists who share your A language
What is included in the 2025 Autumn booStcamp (auditors €300)?
- 5 retour technique sessions, delivered online using Zoom
- Exercises designed specifically for interpreters
- An opportunity to comment, ask questions, and try out the interactive materials during live sessions.
- certificate of registration for 10 CPD hours
AUTUMN BOOsTCAMP IS FOR YOU IF...
You are:
- an interpreting student with English B, as long as you already have strong interpreting skills (you will not be taught note-taking, simultaneous or any other interpreting skills on this course)
- a professional interpreter hoping to turn an English C into a B
- an interpreter with an existing retour into English, wanting to improve or refresh your skills
You want:
- to improve your English enough to turn it into a B, so as to get more work, or
- to maintain your existing retour skills and avoid going rusty
- to gain confidence if you don't use your retour very often
- to identify and correct persistent issues with your retour technique
- to get motivated to practise your retour regularly
You are looking for:
- an online course that you can attend from your own office
- guidance about improving your skills
- high quality teaching materials tailor-made for English retourists
- a community of fellow retourists
Here's what participants liked...
Please note: these are comments from previous editions of the Spring BooStcamp, since this is the first edition of the Autumn BooStcamp so I can't share any feedback yet!
“Sophie's wisdom, Sophie's way of explaining things, she gives more than useful tips for stressful situations in an interpreter's life, her strategies are on-hand and easy to implement, the material she provides is great, I recommend it to every interpreter in the beginning years, as well as a refresher after a couple of years of experience."
- Michaela L.
"I think it has brought me more confidence that I am "good enough" to continue working with retour, and also showed me my mistakes. Great teacher and very nice colleagues, extremely pleasant and collaborative atmosphere, which make the camp even more enjoyable."
- Francesca G.
"It is specific for interpreters, and there's an opportunity for live feedback. It's difficult to find something I didn't like, but I also appreciated the enhancement sessions with comments and feeling of a native speaker, since it is easy to find "grammar" online, but not in such a "live" way, debating nuances and meanings, and having feedback on how the things we say "sound" to a native audience."
- Laura B.
MEET THE INTERPRETING COACH
Hi!
I'm Sophie Llewellyn Smith, aka The Interpreting Coach.
I'm an EU-accredited conference interpreter and member of AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters) with over 22 years' experience as an interpreter trainer and Trainer of Trainers.
I'm a specialist retour trainer, and have trained interpreters from organisations such as the African Union, the European Parliament, and the UN. I also organise retour courses for groups of interpreters on request.
Much of my time now is spent coaching English retourists one-to-one, usually with a view to taking an accreditation test for an international organisation (EU, UN).
I have a French retour myself, so I know what it's like trying to develop and maintain a strong retour! Over the years, I've given a lot of thought to what techniques work best.
I love working with talented, motivated colleagues who are keen to improve their interpreting skills with a tailor-made approach.
Look forward to hearing from you soon,
FAQs
How is this different from the Spring BooStcamp?
The Autumn BooStcamp focuses on those aspects of interpreting technique that are most likely to improve your output, whereas the Spring BooStcamp focuses more on linguistic aspects (widening vocabulary, discussing grammar, etc.)
How much does it cost?
The price for attending Autumn booStcamp as a full member is €500. If you wish to attend as an auditor and have access to all the English enhancement sessions, but not the live classes with feedback on your interpreting, the cost is €300.
That sounds expensive...
Let's be honest, it's definitely an investment. It represents the cost of my expertise, my time during the booStcamp, my preparation time for all the tailor-made materials, etc.
Autumn BooStcamp is considerably less costly than an in-person retour or language enhancement course, especially if you factor in travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs.
The online format also gives you greater flexibility; you will be able to watch some of the sessions later, and access materials on the members' portal.
Who is Autumn BooStcamp NOT suitable for?
If what you want is to interpret all day and receive feedback on your English, you will not be satisfied with the Autumn BooStcamp, and you would be better off attending a short course in person, in the UK or elsewhere.
If you have a slow Internet connection and you don't have a desktop or laptop computer, the online format won't suit you! You will not be able to appear on screen to perform live during group sessions, and you are likely to have problems with sound or image during the Zoom sessions.
Autumn BooStcamp is not suitable for beginners. The assumption is that you already have solid interpreting skills (listening & analysis, note-taking, simultaneous). The aim of the programme is to help you improve your retour, not to teach you to interpret from scratch.
What is your refund policy?
If you cancel more than 4 weeks before the beginning of Spring booStcamp, I will offer you a full refund. If you cancel between 2 and 4 weeks before the course, you will receive a 50% refund. After this, the fee is payable in full.
How much personal feedback will I receive?
If you register as a full member, you will be able to attend one group practice session daily. This will give you an opportunity to interpret 'live' for the rest of the group. I will give you detailed feedback about your performance. Numbers will be limited so I can listen to every participant once during each session.
During the retour technique sessions, whether you are a full member or an auditor, there will be opportunities to ask questions and comment (using the chat box some of the time).
Are the live sessions compulsory?
Nothing is compulsory! You will get out of membership what you put into it. If you attend live interpreting classes, you will have a chance to work in the presence of other retourists and get some feedback. If you come to the live retour technique sessions, you can try out the interactive materials, do exercises, ask me questions, and possibly answer questions or perform in front of the group. But if you're not available for some of the sessions, you can watch the recordings later. The experience will be less interactive, but still valuable.
When will the live sessions take place? What if I can't make it?
The sessions will take place during working hours (GMT time zone). Sessions generally take place between 10 am and 4 pm, with technique sessions in the morning, and interpreting practice (for full members) in the afternoon.
What A languages do you cover?
Interpreters with any A language are welcome to join. The feedback I give to participants on their output into English during live classes is useful even if I don't understand the source material.
If there are several registrants with the same A language, I may arrange a session specifically on common mistakes and interpreting challenges relating to that language. We may also be able to arrange break-out sessions, if you'd like to practise with someone who shares your A language.
How will it all work in practice?
Good question!
As a registrant, you will have access to a members' portal. I'll put any materials and recordings on there, so you have access to them.
In practice, during the weeks of 8th-12th September, I'll set up several Zoom sessions for you to attend. There will be a timetable, just like during an in-person course. You'll be able to see and hear me on your computer screen, and I'll be able to see and hear you. You can also ask questions (in the chat box, or out loud).
Please note: you'll need a fast Internet connection to get the most out of the course!
Should I go for full membership, or attend as an auditor?
I'll keep it simple: registering as an auditor is cheaper, but you won't have any opportunity to receive feedback on your interpreting into English.
© 2025 Sophie Llewellyn Smith