Translation References
Let me express my admiration for your work. The book “Days Gone By” is one of the most favourite at UNESCO Tashkent Office where I currently work. – (June 2022, Nargiza in Tashkent)
We have worked with Ms. Ermakova on numerous projects and very much appreciate her dedicated, conscientious approach.’ – Akila Tairova, Former diplomat at the Permanent Delegation of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, June 2020.
‘Carol is an extremely competent translator and was able to translate for us a volume of documents relating to human rights accurately and idiomatically. We appreciated her collaboration.’– Claire Thompson, Director and Senior Translator, DeScribe Language Services Ltd. June 2020.
‘The present book, meticulously and sensitively translated by Carol Ermakova and Dmitry Ermakov, offers a highly readable account of Gelek’s journey.’ – Prof. Charles Ramble, Foreword to Bön in Nepal by Geshe Gelek Jinpa (Heritage Publishers / FPYB, New Delhi-UK, 2013).
‘A good literary translator needs to be endowed with a number of gifts that are not often found together. Translators need a good knowledge of the source language and the ability to write well in the target language; Carol Ermakova has an excellent knowledge of Russian and her English prose is clear and rhythmic. Translators need the ability to enter into cultures and ways of thinking profoundly alien to their own; Carol Ermakova has demonstrated this ability both in her translation of Hamid Ismailov’s The Underground (a translation funded by a grant from the Arts Council) and through her meticulous editing – almost amounting to co-authorship – of a book by her Russian anthropologist husband Dmitry Ermakov, Bo and Bön: Ancient Shamanic Traditions of Tibet and Siberia. Translators also often need to be conscientious researchers; Carol Ermakova has this ability too. In short, I recommend her work wholeheartedly.’ – Robert Chandler (twice winner of the AATSEEL prize for ‘Best Translation of the Year from a Slavonic Language’) 2009.
‘A very professional team. We are very impressed with how they handle tight deadlines and get to grips with all the materials we send them.’ –The Karimov Foundation, August 2020.
‘When I was looking for English translator for my Russian novel ‘The Underground’ Robert Chandler recommended me Carol Ermakova. Carol took on that job and brilliantly translated one of my most challenging works. She lived herself in Russia and therefore is familiar with the former Soviet and nowadays Russian realities. Her English is exquisite, her style of translation is beautiful and loyal to original, her cooperation with an author is friendly and honest. Ever since I have recommended Carol for several translation projects and strongly would recommend her as a first-class translator of Russian and Russian-speaking literature.’ – Hamid Ismailov, winner of EBRD Literature Prize 2019.
‘Carol always does a wonderful job. We would highly recommend her.’ – You Are Not Alone Foundation, March 2020.
Interpreting References
‘Carol was invaluable to me as my Interpreter and Translator. Her language skills in Russian (and German) are superb and this together with her easy manner allowed her to both work and socialise effortlessly with the varied ex-pat community and particularly with the Russians.’ – Michael Greaves, former Representative of the British Petroleum Company, St. Petersburg, 1994.
‘Carol could translate in either direction, catching every nuance and conveying every sense of the discussions.’ – Craig C. Reed, Director, Bank of New York-Intermaritime Bank, Geneva in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1993.
Editing/Proofreading References
“My written English is not bad at all, particularly considering the general level of English language among my compatriots (Spanish), but when confronted with the task of writing a PhD thesis in English, simply there is no way somebody like me writes sentences as accurate, concise, syntactically very ‘English-like’ and lexically rich as Carol does. Indeed, my original thesis was full of jargon several times more baroque with overly extended sentences.
Carol is already a very experienced translator/proofreader, and her experience (and sensitivity) helped infinitely smooth my bizarre textual rendition and convert it into elegant, good English. Also (and not less important!) I appreciated her fine sensibility to cope with some obscure passages, always suggesting brilliant and simple alternatives for me to choose between.” – Francisco Javier Ayllón Piquero, PhD student, Beijing University.
English Language Tuition References
‘Hi Carol! I just wanted to thank you for your presence and our classes. I got excellent grades in English and thanks to your help I was accepted to the business school that I wanted the most!’ – Ismoil, high school leaver in Paris, gets a place at prestigious French business school, July 2022.
‘Carol is a very accomplished teacher. She puts a great deal of time and effort into the preparation of her lessons and has been very popular with all her individual students and groups. She is very sensitive to students’ needs and has a very professional approach to all aspects of her job.’ – Kip Kelland, Director, Keep Talking English Language School, Udine, Italy.
‘I have been asked to act as referee for Ms. Carol Ermakova. I must give her the highest possible recommendation. Her students loved and respected her. Those with whom she worked found her a serious, intelligent, enthusiastic woman with a terrific sense of humour and a strong sense of responsibility to her students not only as students, but to them as human beings as well.’ – Jerome C. Tovey, former Senior English Teacher, TCS School of English, London.
‘Mrs. Ermakova was a great asset to the school, always arriving punctually and well prepared for lessons. She has the ability to think on her feet, present material in an interesting and engaging way and to devise games and strategies to promote student understanding and learning. Mrs. Ermakova’s positive, helpful and happy personality made her popular with both staff and students.’ – Mrs. F. J. Schopf, Head of English, Bales College (London).