Sirpa Seppälä
Humanist of the day

Sirpa Seppälä

Sirpa Seppälä is a language industry entrepreneur who translates, interprets, teaches and guides. Ideally, she would spend her whole day as a court interpreter, but language professionals need many strings to their bow to earn a living. Seppälä emphasises the importance of cultural knowledge alongside language skills. For that, arts graduates are needed in every walk of life.

Sirpa Seppälä

Sirpa Kristiina Seppälä
Born April 3, 1962, Helsinki

Bachelor of Arts, 1996 (Western and Southern Slavic Languages and Cultures), University of Helsinki
Travel guide foundation course 1994, Käpylä Night School
Conference interpretation trainer course 2004, University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education, European Commission interpretation service SCIC.

Several short interpretation courses organised by various organisations
Several courses for travel industry professionals organised by various organisations in Finland and the Czech Republic

Language industry entrepreneur 2004– Sirpukka
Worked as a freelancer in different positions in the language industry 1990–2004

Board member of Helsinki Tourist Guides 1995–1996
Board member of the Finn-Czech Society 2004–2014
Member of the MaPa project

Photo: Kimmo Eskola
Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by
Matthew Billington

My dreams all relate to my every day, ordinary life. I dream that I will still have my wits about me when I am 90 years old. My politically incorrect dream is never to have to retire.

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