Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
A day in the life of: Juanli Theron
Author: Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking
Published: 25/05/2022

As head of the Interpreting Service at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Language Centre, Juanli Theron and her team play a key part in promoting and facilitating multilingualism at our university.

As we commemorate Workers' Day in May, we dedicate this series of articles to our staff and their important contribution to the University. Read on for our interview with Juanli.

What does your role at SU entail?

I head up the Interpreting Service at the SU Language Centre. In 2011, I was seconded to SU from NWU and tasked with implementing an educational interpreting project in the Faculty of Engineering. I was then appointed to SU in 2013 on a contract basis to coordinate the expansion of the project and became the coordinator of the Interpreting Service when it was established in 2014. My current position and role at the SU Language Centre grew from there. The Interpreting Service is responsible for educational and conference interpreting in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa and South African Sign Language. We also provide audio translations of lecture recordings and other verbal language services – currently mostly online due to Covid, but we're gradually transitioning back to in-person activities.

What does a typical day at work look like?

My work usually entails day-to-day management of my team, troubleshooting solutions when interpreting-related technical or logistical challenges arise, meetings, emails, and more emails. I also do some interpreting along with my team, and I am always on standby to help. I have an incredible team of competent portfolio coordinators, whom I supervise as needed.

How did your education or past experience prepare you for this job? 

While in my first year of Languages and Literature studies at North-West University, I became involved with interpreting on campus. I balanced my studies and involvement in campus culture by interpreting several lectures per day. 

I loved every minute, and when I graduated, I obtained a formal position to continue interpreting on a larger scale. When North-West University dispatched me to Stellenbosch to launch the project here, something immediately 'clicked'. Being involved with building the Interpreting Service from the ground up means that my role has evolved significantly over the past decade, and it has been a privilege seeing my team grow into what we are today.

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?

Knowing that what we do makes a difference – to multilingualism, to campus culture, and to the education of the students we get to help – is truly satisfying. Every time we receive a thank you or a compliment, no matter how small, it's life-affirming for me and my whole team.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that few people would expect?

When I'm not working, or parenting my two children, I write and express my creativity on social media. My first book, Meer As Net 'n Ma, which I co-authored with my friends from Die Naguilklub, was published by NB Boeke in November 2021. Sharing the trials and tribulations of our imperfect family and life in an inspiring/entertaining way is my favourite hobby.

Photographer: Stefan Els​