I'm Laura Morwood-van Tongeren, a native Dutch speaker. Originally from the Netherlands, I have lived in Northern Ireland for more than half of my life.
I have a Diploma in Translations from the Institute of Linguists, London, a Bachelors degree in journalism and a diploma in marketing. I have worked in both marketing and journalism in the Netherlands and the UK and I have experience in translating and interpreting since 2007.
I am creative, inquisitive and an avid reader of literature in both languages.

Work experience

• Translator/interpreter
LMVT, Hillsborough
- Translate English/Dutch and Dutch/English texts.
- Some interpreting for solicitors and PSNI (police).
- Telephone interpreting for LLE (Washington DC) and LSA (USA).
- Telephone interpreting for TBW
- Teaching assistant at Masters of Translation, Queens University, Belfast - Beginners Dutch course (Delftse methode) at Queens University, Belfast

• Administrator
Netherlands Consulate, Belfast
1998 – 2007

• Customer services representative
Polaroid, Glasgow
Help set up Dutch section of new international call centre; handle incoming calls from Dutch and Belgian customers.
March – Dec 1997

• PR & Marketing assistant
CableTel, Glasgow
Responsible for internal communications for the local office with 500 staff, assisting with PR & Marketing
1996 – Feb 1997

• Customer service representative
CableTel Glasgow
Handle incoming calls from business customers, set up complaints handling system.
Sept 1994 – 1995

• Administrator
Welzorg Warenhuis, Amsterdam
Jan – Aug 1994

• Reporter, editor and graphic designer
Mediaburo Heida, Hoorn
Writing and producing in-house magazines for large companies
1991 – 1992

• Newspaper Reporter
Dagblad voor West-Friesland, Hoorn
1989 – 1990

Education and Qualifications

Diploma in Translation (DipTrans)
Chartered Institute of Languages, London
May 2010

Nima A Diploma
Nima A marketing, Amsterdam
1991

Bachelors of Art, Journalism
Fontys Hogescholen, Tilburg
Graduated in 1989

Propedeuse history and Dutch
Teacher training college, Amsterdam
1985

Other
City & Guilds Creative Studies part 1 Patchwork & Quilting, Belfast, 2001
City & Guilds Creative skills certificate Embroidery, Belfast, 2002


On a more personal note, I grew up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After grammar school I worked for my father for a year who is an interior designer. I then tried to get into journalism but had to go to teacher training college for a year. The following year I got lucky and moved to Tilburg, where I lived and studied for 3 years. After that, it was quickly back to Amsterdam for me! I worked for a newspaper in nearby Hoorn for a year and slightly changed my career in journalism by adding a marketing diploma to it. I then focussed on internal communications and wrote, produced and DTP-ed several company magazines.

At the age of 25 I got restless and decided to go travel the world. Australia and New Zealand were planned, but as I met a friendly man from Northern Ireland, we continued together to Hong Kong, China, Nepal and Tibet. After a year we settled in Amsterdam, or so I thought. Dutch turned out to be a difficult language and we moved to Glasgow, where I worked in call centres and worked my way up to internal communications and PR at CableTel. After the birth of our first daughter we moved to Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Between bringing up 3 girls I had a part time job working for the Dutch Consulate in Belfast. And I also started doing translation for a local agency.

Moving into translations seemed a logical thing to do. It has a lot of skills in common with both journalism and marketing. And I just love doing it!
I'm a good translator who's always trying to get better. Between getting to know the industry, learning new software and keeping abreast of developments in online marketing and SEO, there is always something new to learn. Not to mention keeping up with news and reading lots of books in both languages!