Olena Topaloglou
Interpreter
15 Mesologgiou Str., Thessaloniki,Central Macedonia
Summary
Experienced specialist with more than 20 years of experience, including almost 3 years in refugee services. Utilizes excellent collaboration and facilitation skills to solve complex problems and increase company revenue. Capacity to collaboratively engage and bring people along in diverse workforces, geographical distances and cross-cultural settings. Modeler of positive behaviors and values-based practices
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Accommodation Manager, Ukrainian Interpreter
Caritas Hellas
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
06.2023 - 08.2024
- Assisting with coordination of activities and services for migrants and refugees in Thessaloniki. Identifying needs and develop case plans with beneficiaries to ensure that basic needs are met. Informing beneficiaries of services and actively engage them to achieve overall objectives of programs, referring to other organizations for services as needed. Advocating on behalf of beneficiaries with Greek authorities to successfully access legal, medical, immigration, asylum, labor, welfare and housing services. Accompanying beneficiaries to appointments. Collaborated with multiple departments to meet operational deadlines.
- Communicated with beneficiaries of the program to understand interpreting needs and provide best service possible.
- Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
- Supported legal proceedings by delivering accurate courtroom interpretations, ensuring fair representation for all parties involved.
- Used knowledge of accepted ethical guidelines to interpret confidential and sensitive information.
Interpreter / Cultural Mediator
ITM – Interpreti Traduttori Mediatori S.R.L
Thessaloniki, Promakhonas
04.2022 - 05.2023
- Interpreting for Ukrainian refugees in Thessaloniki Asylum center, providing interpreting for border police office in Promakhonas border point, providing support to both parties regarding cultural attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
- Supported legal proceedings by delivering accurate courtroom interpretations, ensuring fair representation for all parties involved.
- Used knowledge of accepted ethical guidelines to interpret confidential and sensitive information.
- Improved access to public services for immigrants by interpreting at community centers and government offices.
Reception Employee, Translator
Ilektra Translations
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
01.2019 - 04.2019
- Call center duties, operating incoming and outgoing mails, organizing meetings.
- Translating documents from Ukrainian to Greek and vice versa.
- Reviewed final work to spot and correct errors in punctuation, grammar and translation.
- Collaborated with fellow translators to ensure consistency in language usage and style across all documents.
- Provided real-time interpretation services during conferences, contributing to seamless communication between speakers and attendees.
- Ensured high-quality translations by rigorously proofreading and editing documents.
- Strengthened diplomatic relations, providing translation services for governmental agencies.
- Maximized quality control of translated documents.
Russian Language Teacher
University of Macedonia
Thessaloniki
10.2014 - 06.2016
- Assessed student progress regularly through quizzes, tests, and oral presentations, providing constructive feedback on areas for improvement.
- Implemented creative teaching methods, such as storytelling and drama, to make complex concepts more accessible to students.
- Improved student retention of vocabulary and grammar rules with engaging games and mnemonic techniques.
- Provided support to fellow teachers by sharing resources, strategies, and best practices for teaching Russian effectively.
- Empowered struggling learners with personalized assistance during office hours, leading to improved academic performance.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations and consistently enforcing rules fairly.
- Used Google class to monitor and record student progress.
Russian Language Teacher
ΙΜΗΑ (Institute for Balkan Studies)
02.2012 - 06.2016
- Increased student participation in class discussions by creating an inclusive atmosphere where all opinions were valued.
- Contributed to school community by participating in extracurricular activities involving Russian language or culture.
- Continuously improved own teaching skills through professional development workshops, conferences, and online courses focused on Russian language education trends.
- Enhanced students'' language skills by incorporating interactive activities and multimedia materials in lessons.
Greek Language Teacher
Mariupol State University of Humanities
Mariupol, Ukraine
09.2002 - 06.2004
- Improved students'' oral and written communication skills through interactive language exercises and group projects.
- Assessed student progress regularly through quizzes, tests, and informal evaluations to ensure they were meeting course objectives.
- Enhanced cultural awareness among students by introducing authentic materials, such as literature, music, films, and current events from target-language countries.
- Developed personalized lesson plans tailored to individual learning needs, resulting in improved comprehension and retention of language concepts.
- Instructed students Greek language, culture and history by assigning reading material, written assignments and hands-on projects.
Secretary of the Greek Language and Translation De
Mariupol State University of Humanities
09.2002 - 05.2003
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining confidentiality when managing personnel files or financial data.
- Prepared professional correspondence, including memos, letters, and emails, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Managed executive calendars, scheduling appointments and meetings to optimize time management.
Education
Master of Arts - Greek Philology`
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece 08.2004 - 10.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Greek Philology
Mariupol State University of Humanities
Mariupol, Ukraine 09.1998 - 06.2003
Skills
Interpersonal communications
Safety Procedures
Teamwork and Collaboration
Computer Skills
Problem-Solving
MS Office
Multitasking Abilities
Adaptability and Flexibility
Languages
Ukrainian, Russian
Native language
Greek
Proficient
C2
English
Proficient
C2
Certification
Interpretation in Asylum context
Timeline
Accommodation Manager, Ukrainian Interpreter
Caritas Hellas
06.2023 - 08.2024
Interpretation in Asylum context
05-2022
Interpreter / Cultural Mediator
ITM – Interpreti Traduttori Mediatori S.R.L
04.2022 - 05.2023
Reception Employee, Translator
Ilektra Translations
01.2019 - 04.2019
Driver license
09-2015
Russian Language Teacher
University of Macedonia
10.2014 - 06.2016
Russian Language Teacher
ΙΜΗΑ (Institute for Balkan Studies)
02.2012 - 06.2016
Master of Arts - Greek Philology`
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
08.2004 - 10.2008
Greek Language Teacher
Mariupol State University of Humanities
09.2002 - 06.2004
Secretary of the Greek Language and Translation De
Mariupol State University of Humanities
09.2002 - 05.2003
Bachelor of Arts - Greek Philology
Mariupol State University of Humanities
09.1998 - 06.2003