Nice to meet you!
I am a profesional conference interpreter (M.A.) for French, English, and Spanish. I also provide interpreting services by arrangement for Slovak. Below, you can find out how I got into foreign languages and what else I do.
Even as a child, I dreamed of speaking several languages and becoming an interpreter. Slovak—my first foreign language—should actually have been my second mother tongue, because my mother comes from Slovakia. But at home in Berlin, we only spoke German. During vacations with relatives in Slovakia, I picked up my first bits of Slovak—and learned more with every visit—my interest in languages was awakened!
And that was just the beginning. At school, I added English and French to my repertoire. After school, I spent several periods abroad. My career path took me on a few detours across Europe. Today, I am passionate about my job, where I appreciate the variety of topics and the opportunity to meet a wide range of people. I am certified and authorized to work in English, French, and Spanish, and I work primarily in courts and prisons.
After several years working full-time ‘in court and behind bars’, I plucked up all my courage and auditioned for the Ernst Busch drama school - with success. Since 2023, I've been fulfilling another dream and studying for a degree in puppetry. While as an interpreter I am required to remain neutral and in the background at all times, on stage I can convey my own content and sometimes go over the top.
And my adventure is far from being over yet: as part of my studies, besides animating puppets, I am learning to use my own body on stage as a means of expression. Doing so, I am ever more working with choreographic elements. Also the travelling continues: during study visits abroad, I was not only able to learn new puppetry techniques, but also further improve my language skills. I learn something new every day and am very grateful to be able to continue growing professionally, artistically and personally.
Important milestones of my career:
2025 Exchange semester (Erasmus) at ESNAM, Charleville, France
2024 Study visit at Centro del Títere, Madrid, Spain
2023 Study visit at Sandglass Theater, Vermont, USA
2023 Starting my new degree in puppetry at drama school HfS Ernst Busch
2022 Private stay in Fortaleza, improvement of Portuguese language skills, Brazil
2021 Interpreting for Taca Theatre, Kassel, Périgueux, Paris
2019 Freelance interpreting in Berlin justice system
2019 Participation in nordjobb, exchange program, Stockholm, Sweden
2019 Graduation from university, M.A. conference interpreting, Universität Leipzig
2018 Research semester, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
2017 Scholarship from Svenska Institut, summer school, Tjörn, Sweden
2017 Internship abroad, Europäisches Architekturhaus Oberrhein, Strasbourg, France
2015 Museum guide at Zeitgeschichtliches Forum, Leipzig
2015 Graduation from university, B.A. translation, Universität Leipzig
2013 Exchange semester, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Spain
2012 Romance Languages and Literature Studies, Freie Universität Berlin
2011 Scandinavian Studies, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin
2011 Service Civique Européen, Paris, France
2010 European Voluntary Service, Nitra, Slovakia
2010 A-levels at Katholische Schule Salvator, Berlin
By the way: interpreting and translating runs in my family. My mother has also worked as a translator and interpreter for many years. You can find more information about her specialisations and languages at www.zuzanafinger.de.
This page will be continuously updated. Further information will follow.