about Wine
Researcher, communicator, language lover
Wine Tesseur
I’m Wine, a seasoned researcher, translator and linguist by training, and lover of all things communication.
My love for languages is related to my roots: as a Belgian, I’ve always understood how close language is linked to our identity (and to our politics…). After studying Germanic languages and an MA in Translation, I moved to the UK. For 10 years I worked as an academic qualitative researcher doing research with NGOs on multilingual communication and translation. After another 2 years in Ireland, I returned to Belgium and joined the NGO ranks: I worked as a communications coordinator in the Belgian international NGO Trias for a year. I loved the colleagues and learned tons, but I missed the research… That’s why I decided to launch my consultancy career.
Now, I put my research expertise and skills to use to help a variety of clients communicate better. Organisations hire me for specific projects. These can be short or long assignments, and I work as a freelancer or in-house consultant. My career and skills include a variety of aspects around communication and translation. You can read examples of my work here.
When I’m not trying to find out how we can reach your audience better or tackle your translation issue, I’m at my painting easel, playing cat lady, or taking a long walk outside.
Feel free to get in touch and tell me more about your project to see how I can help you achieve your communications goals!
why work with me?
- I'm a consultant because helping others gives me energy
- I'm a researcher and trainer through +10 years academic experience
- I'm a linguist and English-Dutch translator by training
working with me in keywords...
My ambition is to help others improve their communications
Professionalism for me means combining my expertise with integrity and listening and responding to your needs
I enjoy thinking creatively and strategically about your needs in order to propose the most appropriate solutions
Qualifications & training experience
This list provides an overview of my relevant experiences and qualifications as a linguist, trainer and researcher.
Qualifications
- PhD in Translation Studies (Aston University, 2015)
- MA in Translation, English-Dutch (Lessius University College/KU Leuven, 2008)
- MA in Linguistics & Literature (KU Leuven, 2006)
Certificates
- Professional Skills for Research Leaders (DCU; ILM accredited), 2021
- EU Policy and Implementation: Making Europe work, University of Leiden (Coursera course), 2020
- MEAL DPro: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (Humanitarian Leadership Academy), 2020
Teaching experience
Programme: BA in Applied Linguistics
- English academic writing (BA1 Module)
- English advanced writing skills (academic & persuasive texts) (BA3 Module)
Teaching Fellow on pre-sessional programme
- Providing 1-to-1 student support; covering absences of class teachers; marking students’ work
- Delivering workshops on paraphrasing, writing academic essays, presentation skills
- Exam invigilation and marking of essays and exams
- Programme: BA in Modern Languages & European Studies
- European Case Studies: case study ‘Language policy’. (BA 3 Module)
- Designing course materials, delivery, assessment
- Postgraduate Distance Learning Programme ‘Research Methods in Translation and Interpreting Studies’
- Research Ethics (online module for PhD students & postdocs)
- Tasks: Developing course materials, interacting with students on online platform, providing feedback on student reports.
- Programme: MA in Translation Studies
- Theoretical concepts of Translation Studies (MA Module)
- Preparation and delivery of lectures; stimulating critical reflection by discussing prepared readings in groups.
Teaching collaborations
- Programme: MA in Refugee Integration, DCU
- Course convenor: Prof. Sharon O’Brien
- Preparation & delivery of lectures on translation as empowerment in NGOs (6h)
- Programme: Modern Languages, BA3, University of Reading.
- Contribution: Preparation and delivery of lectures on sociolinguistic theory and methodology. 2016-2017. (6h)
- Course convenor: Prof. Federico Faloppa
- Programme: BSc International Development, Year 1. University of Reading. Jan 2018.
- Lecture on languages & intercultural communication in international development (2h)
- Course convenor: Dr. Joanne Davies
- Programme: BSc International Development
- Module: Research Methods, Year 2
- Lecture on the role of languages & culture in conducting development research (2h)
- Course convenor: Dr. Joanne Davies
- Programme: MA in Translation Studies
- Course convenor: Prof. Sharon O’Brien
- Tasks: Designing marking rubric; marking student essays; providing detailed feedback on students’ selected research methods and rationale for research projects.
course development & marketing
Online course design and curriculum development:
- developing course outline
- selecting up-to-date teaching materials
- uploading to online platform & structuring appropriately
Programme promotion:
- designing promotional material
- programme promotion through academic networks & online communities
Invited speaker
Title: ‘Linguistic inclusion in international NGOs: Multilingual challenges and informal translators’. University of Cardiff. February 2021
‘Translation as empowerment: Languages, sustainable development & academic-NGO collaboration’, with Dr Enida Friel (GOAL). Language and Sustainable Development Webinar Series. Organised by the GCRF research project ‘Bringing the outside in: Merging local language practices to enhance classroom learning and achievement’. 22 July 2020.
Watch this talk here.
‘Submitting successful (post)doctoral grant applications’, webinar. Organised by University of Lisbon, Reception and Translation Studies. 22 April 2020.
‘Language and inclusion: translation as a tool for empowerment in NGOs’ work’.
At: La comunicación multilingüe en contextos de crisis y emergencia: desafíos y necesidades. European Commission, Madrid. 11 November 2019.
‘Translating Development’
At: ‘Translating in Danger Zones, ITI West-Midlands, Aston University, Birmingham. 23 Nov 2017.
selection of conference papers
‘Translation as Empowerment: Translation Policies and Practices in Northern and Southern Civil Society Organisations’. At: British Council Language & Development conference. 24-26 September 2019, Bangkok.
‘Translating development in Kyrgyzstan: the role of language and translation in Central Asian civil society’.
At: 6th IATIS conference: Translation and Cultural Mobility’. Hong Kong Baptist University. 3-6 July 2018.
‘Listening in Development Programmes: What NGOs mean when they say they “Listen”’
At: BISA 42nd Annual Conference, Brighton. Panel ‘Speak and you shall be Heard? Languages, NGOs and International Development’. 14-16 June 2017.
‘Listening in what language? The role of languages in international NGOs’ development programmes’.
At: ‘Language, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Vulnerable Populations’, United Nations Plaza, New York. 11-12 May 2017.
- Paper: Translation as empowerment: the role of
translation in establishing equal partnerships between international and local NGOs - Panel: Living translation when crisis strikes: policy,
training, technology, and ethics - At: 9th EST Congress 2019, 9 – 13 September
at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Guest lectures
Research-related guest lectures to various universities and programmes, including:
- MA in Translation, Module: International Organizations and Translation Policy. University of Graz. 1 June 2021
- MA Translation & Interpreting, Facultad de Filologia, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. 12 November 2019
- MA English Linguistics, in module: ‘Institutional Multilingualism’. Université de Lausanne. 18 April 2019
- MA in Translation, Department of Linguistics and Language Practice, University of the Free State, South Africa. 18 May 2018
- BA in Multilingual Communication, Université de Genève. November 2017 and 2018
- MA Translation, Module Translation Topics. KU Leuven campus Brussels. 17 May 2016.
Funding success
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie & Irish Research Council COFUND
- For the project ‘Translation as Empowerment’
- Project ID: CLNE/2019/295. June 2019.
- I was the principal investigator
- Global Challenges Reserch Fund
- For the project ProLanguage: ‘The protective role of language in global migration and mobility: language policies and practices in refugee settings’.
- Principal investigator: Prof. Theodoros Marinis, University of Reading.
- I was involved in drafting the bid and attracting non-academic partners. Aug 2017.
Early Stage Researcher in the FP7 Integrated Training Network ‘TIME: Translation Research Training: an Integrated and Intersectoral Model for Europe’
- Academic partners: Aston University, KU Leuven, University of Turku, University Rovira i Virgili
- PhD carried out in the framework of the TIME project
- FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN
- Total budget: € 1,228,978
Academic reviewer
External expert referee for research proposals to FWO (Flemish Research Fund), 2017
Academic peer reviews for the journals:
- Across Languages and Cultures
- International Journal of Multilingualism
- Journal of War & Culture Studies
- Journal of Specialised Translation – JoSTrans
- Journal of Translation and Technical Communication Research – TransKom
- Perspectives: Studies in Translation Theory and Practice
- Social Policy & Administration
- Translation Spaces
- Translation Studies