During the last weekend in September, a group of women gathered in the small city of Ivanić Grad, about 40 minutes’ drive from Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Ana Gašparović, director of the local tourist board, a passionate tourism and heritage professional, found two farm owners willing to host us, the participants of the IE training Module for Interpretative Host.

This module is perfect for people working in tourism and the hospitality sector close to natural or cultural heritage, as it supports those who want to create meaningful connections between their products and service and heritage phenomenon. We were joined by small tourism businesses, farmers, shop owners, craftsmen, wine and cheese producers and others working with heritage, surrounded by heritage or making products and services inspired by heritage.

We started our training module at the local farm Samo ljuto, which means ‘Only spicy’ where Martina and Slaven, with a little help from their two daughters, grow different sort of peppers and paprikas to make sauces, spicy, sweet and chili, and the most delicious ajvar, a sauce made of smashed grilled red bell peppers and eggplants. Perfect to match with grilled meat.

After tasting the sauces, we moved to the donkey farm Magareće mlijeko or ‘Donkey Milk’, where our host Neven welcomed us and showed around. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to taste any donkey milk though.

The first day we spent mostly outside on the farms. We invited the owners to do some exercises with us. We were their guests and getting to know our guests and their values is important in thinking how to interpret the heritage they cherish and link it with the product they offer. The end result of their work is a product they want to sell to guests but it is the process of making it that broadens our horizons, connects us with each other and our heritage. We were all searching for deeper meaning and trying to offer different paths to it. The method of the interpretive triangle helped us to shape our thoughts and match them to the talk.

Our trainer ensured that we had different activities and worksheets to implement the four qualities of the IE training programme.

We were happy to see our hosts join in on activities and commenting afterwards that it was interesting, inspiring and useful. They expressed the wish to participate in a similar workshop or training.

Our second day of the training was spent in Zagreb, at my place in Doremiza, where we continued to work on interpretive techniques, group activities, discussions, constructive peer evaluation and exchange of ideas.

Each of us brought some home-made product on which we had to make an interpretive talk and text.

During these two days discussing and sharing experiences, we learned from each other and the heritage we brought with us. We let heritage connect us, embrace us and make us more mindful to each other. And we had so much fun in doing it! I was happy to host another IE trainer and heritage interpretation fellows in my home in Zagreb.

‘Til we interpret again!

Special thanks to:

Tourist Board City of Ivanić Grad https://www.tz-ig.com/

OPG Magareće mlijeko, https://magare.hr/

OPG Samo ljuto, https://opgbarisec.hr/

Ivana Jagić Boljat for organising

Janja Sivec for delivering the training

Iva Caleta Plesa is a tourist guide for Zagreb, a French and Russian language teacher, museologist and heritage interpreter. She is an IE Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified Trainer. Together with her husband, she runs Doremiza (www.doremiza.com), a small creative space for workshops, photo sessions, lectures and meetings. She can be contacted at: ivacaleta@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Plesa Caleta, Iva (2023) ‘Interpreting red hot chilli peppers and a donkey farm‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.8.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

In September an IE Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course was held in Trollhättan in western Sweden. Participants from the region of Västra Götaland were the hosts and a number different locations were available to us for the course. Most prominent were the Trollhätte canal with a number of old and newer locks, the museum of the car manufacturer Saab, industrial workshops from the 20th century, and the geological park and natural reserve of Halleberg and Hunneberg.

This was the first CIW course to be held in Sweden. Several of the participants were from the region of Västra Götaland, with others from the middle of Sweden, Stockholm, Uppsala and Norway. Some were experienced interpreters and had taken the Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) and Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) courses before, and some were beginners.

A platform for good team building were short exercises of creative writing at the start of each day, and the exercises were also important for the participants to get started with more colorful and elaborate texts.

The network of locks in the Trollhätte canal and the society derived around them, became a reuccuring phenomenon for the exercises, from the first introductory work to our final signs on the fifth day.

The limited amount of text and/or audio allowed was a challenge at first, but day by day the really short format awoke new ways to write in a more dense way to provoke, reveal and relate. The exercises in creative writing contributed greatly to that.

One day the course travelled to the plateau mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg and a museum dedicated to the hunting of elk. The nature, the museum and the tent in which some work took place was a nice contrast to the city. There we also shifted focus from written signs to audio interpretation. In a short time all participants were able to produce interesting short guides.

The new knowledge will in the future be used at hiking trails in Västra Götaland, in the region of Bergslagen and in the east of Sweden and in Norway. A really creative group enjoyed a really intensive week. And a final tip for other courses: By starting a google docs presentation or document, all the exercises and the signs produced during the week can be shared within the group.

Lennart Spetz is a former archaeologist and has spent many years as a newspaper journalist and communicator. He has lately specialised in science and sustainability. He can be contacted at: lennart.spetz@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Spetz, Lennart (2023) ‘The first swedish CIW course – a really creative one‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.9.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

In the hushed allure of December’s frosty embrace, my mother’s birthday unfolds as a lyrical chapter in the ancestral tale of transhumance – a saga woven into the very fabric of our family’s history. With a twinkle in her eye, she recounts the mystery shrouding the details of her birth on December 9, a date intertwined with the rhythmic journey of cattle – a nomadic ballet that choreographed her arrival amidst the southern pastures of Albania that beckoned with promise.

Generations back, my grandfather and great-grandfather, both shepherds, scripted their verses in the pastoral ballet of transhumance. They were the architects of a craft that resonates through the hills, carried by the hoofbeats of cattle navigating landscapes in pursuit of greener pastures – a timeless legacy that spans across the ages.

Amidst the echoes of our family’s nomadic roots, a recent revelation adds a global resonance. On 7 December 2023, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage gathered in Botswana at the 18th conference and voted to include transhumance (livestock migration) in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This decision not only draws a connection between our familial narrative and a national legacy but also spotlights the profound role of transhumance in preserving natural resources.

Born eons ago, transhumance now carries the weight of a sacred duty – to uphold the delicate equilibrium of nature’s symphony. It emerges as a guardian of balance, ensuring the flourishing of meadows, the well-being of herds, and the rejuvenation of the earth. Beyond a migratory practice, transhumance embodies a commitment to a harmonious relationship among people, cattle, and the fertile meadows that sustain them.

As we navigate the currents of modernity, transhumance faces challenges, yet it adapts and endures, becoming a tale of resilience – a living saga that fuses the wisdom of the past with the demands of the present.

In conclusion, my mother’s December birth serves as more than a personal milestone. It symbolises a connection to a heritage of transhumance – a living, breathing ode to nature. It is a celebration of the delicate balance maintained by generations past and a call to action for those entrusted with preserving this ageless dance for the generations yet to come.

Daniela Ruçi works as a grants coordinator for Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT). She has many years’ experience as an environmental expert and previously worked as a manager for the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. Daniela is IE’s Design Officer, and she can be contacted at: daniela.ruci@interpret-europe.net

To cite this article: Ruçi, Daniela (2023) ‘Transhumance‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.17.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

Inspired by the topic of childhood and the complexity of social life today, but also witnessing that childhood can be lost for many others, we chose to address this topic in the spirit of historical reflection.

‘The Toy Stories’ is related with the connection of memories, feelings and experiences proposed through interpretation of heritage. As our childhood is part of our aging, the emotional feelings, memories and comparison with childhood is inevitable, but it differs in individuals. Based on emotional connection and storytelling we wanted to provoke the deeper feelings of our audience.

How many children during the war in Ukraine, who could not enjoy the games of their time, and who were in danger of their lives, recreated for themselves in the basements of their homes, or returned to the memories of their parents’ games to fill the emptiness of the day?

Have we kept the games of our childhood, and how are they practiced and enjoyed by children now when technology is so prevalent in our lives? Would today’s children know how to recreate memories for themselves in difficult conditions?

Through ‘The Toy Stories – and the forgotten childhood’, a project was supported by the Balkan Museum Network, MuZEH Lab created an exhibition wall display which tells the stories of toys and exhibits them, starting from prehistory to the 21st century. Through an engaging approach with the visitor, the exhibition and animated videos brings back elements from our intangible heritage, conveying education through emotions, participation and nostalgia. The exhibition contributes to re-using the games of the past to inspire us to be creative today and keeps memories and our heritage alive.

Dorina Xheraj Subashi and Inesa Sulaj are both founders of MuZEH Lab, a non-profit organisation and community centre located in Durres, Albania. Dorina is IE’s Country Coordinator Albania and can be contacted at: dorina.subashi@interpret-europe.net. Inesa is IE’s Office Manager and can be contacted at: inesa.sulaj@interpret-europe.net.

To cite this article: Subashi Xheraj, Dorina & Sulaj, Inesa (2023) ‘Toy Stories‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.16.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

This thought-provoking experience welcomed over 20 participants from 13 European countries, uniting them in the community of interpretive trainers. Organised by Vanessa Vaio, IE’s Country Coordinator Italy, the course unfolded between November 21-25 and was led by trainers Valya Stergioti from Greece and Thorsten Ludwig from Germany.

Capturing the essence of the transformative three-day CIT course, followed by a two-day upgrade for Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) course, the event was further enriched with a Certified Interpretive Writer Trainer (CIWT) upgrade for a select group of trainers.

Nestled in the embrace of the towering peaks of the Alps, the mountains themselves seemed to elevate the participants’ spirits, despite the inherent humility each participant brought. The bond formed amongst the future trainers was akin to the resilient roots of the pine trees adorning the paths of Viola Valley – a testament to the universal language of the shared passion by all future interpretive trainers.

This remarkable experience was filled with opportunities to learn how to become better interpretive trainers. It included heart-fluttering exercises, insightful presentations, and the warm camaraderie of willing, friendly, and supportive fellow participants from all over Europe.

Barbara Gołębiowska, IE’s Country Coordinator Poland, captured this shared experience, rarely found elsewhere:

“The atmosphere that accompanies Interpret Europe interpretation courses is something extraordinary. Nowhere, never and at any training or workshop have I experienced such joy from learning together and closeness based on a community of passions and values, while appreciating the diversity of our languages, cultures and experiences. This was a place where you can feel the value of the European community at its deepest level.”

The intensity of the week was palpable, from the profound insights shared during presentations to the emotional resonance of the feedback sessions that illuminated the collective journey. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Italian Alps, participants not only honed their interpretive skills but also kindled a shared vision for a more connected and sustainable world.

The training was a sensory feast, nourishing both mind and soul. Beyond Interpret Europe’s overarching goal of shaping the future of our common heritage, the programme inspired a more profound commitment to crafting a sustainable present and future. It ignited a collective desire to enhance individual contributions, stirring the very spirit of humanity.

Amidst the pristine white landscape, the course unfolded in a symphony of vibrant colours, mirroring the richness of the content. Although English wasn’t the native language for any participant, it proved to be no barrier. Instead, it became a catalyst for forging strong connections, much like the sturdy pines revealing themselves along the valley trails.

Iva Silla, author of Secret Zagreb and already an experienced Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Trainer, took part in the CIWT (Certified Interpretive Writers Trainer) upgrade:

“I enjoyed every step of the process. As always in the IE courses, vivid discussions and meaningful reflections were encouraged by our trainer. I have worked as a CIG trainer for years, and joining a new trainers’ upgrade was a perfect chance for me to work closely with other trainers, get to know their perspectives, and understand our responsibility and the power of facilitation even better. Interpret Europe’s training is skilfully crafted, and highly standardised, but every trainer has their own personal touch, and that could be one of the most precious add-ons. Spending time with my fellow-trainees was eye-opening in many ways.”

Aspiring to make a transformative impact, the upcoming cohort of Interpret Europe trainers seeks to redefine the art of heritage interpretation. Their mission is to cultivate contemplation and dialogue, fostering connections between audiences and heritage through a shared, value-driven approach. This endeavour aims to infuse fresh significance into Europe’s natural, cultural, and intangible heritage, empowering all who inspire meaningful connections. It is through these direct and meaningful experiences that we collectively shape our common future.

Vasilka Dimitrovska is Interpret Europe’s Country Coordinator North Macedonia. She is the director of HAEMUS – Center for Scientific Research and promotion of Culture (www.haemus.org.mk) and the owner of Storytelling Skopje (www.storytelling-skopje.com). She can be contacted at: dimitrovska@haemus.org.mk

Daniela Ruçi works as a grants coordinator for Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT). She has many years’ experience as an environmental expert and previously worked as a manager for the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. Daniela is IE’s Design Officer, and she can be contacted at: Daniela.ruci@interpret-europe.net

To cite this article: Dimitrovska, Vasilka & Ruçi, Daniela (2023) ‘The training of trainers‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.12-13.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

Our experience at the Wadden Sea in three words? Windy, awe and sustainability.

It is certain that it was a special week in September. Not only because it was a very pleasant collaboration between Interpret Europe Belgium and two Dutch Interpret Europe members: the Wadden Association and the Seal Centre Pieterburen. But mainly because of the unique location.

The Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Heritage) and its tidal forces (the largest in the world) kept us spellbound. A group of 14 heritage professionals from all over Europe worked together for a whole week on an interpretive plan for the new Wadden World Heritage Center.

Stories, themes, experiences

What stories are there? What stories do we want to tell? What themes connect those different stories? How do we ensure that visitors can really connect with the place? How do we give them a meaningful experience? That was the challenge of the week.

We had a very special experience, a sense of place activity, at the beginning of the week: a mud walk on the mudflats.

 “To share a mudflatwalk with participants from all over Europe who have never set a foot on the mud is an experience in itself! It needed so much explanation that we just said nothing and just… experienced. How do I walk, what is this, the smell, the views. Pure heritage interpretation to see and feel and look at the horizon. After a walk in silence, we looked for species and wondered about their adaptations so that they can live at all in these ever changing circumstances. A great experience on such a small patch of the Waddensea!” acknowledges our guide, Renate.

Creating an interpretive plan

This experience gave the group the perfect state of mind for the assignment of the week: creating an interpretive plan for the new visitor center.

We visited the old fishing port and museum, we spoke to fishermen, biologists and the managers of the new visitor center. These multi-perspective views gave us insight into the complex interests of people, animals and nature. How can people, animals and nature live in harmony and balance in this place? How can nature’s assets be played out and strengthened in this place? How can we facilitate personal experiences and reflections?

Three different planning proposals were presented at the end of the week.

It was a very interesting knowledge exchange, in which we were able to apply the principles of ‘interpretive planning’ to a real case!

Welcome in 2025

The new visitor center in Lauwersoog will open in 2025. The Wadden Experience Centre (WEC) will invite its visitors to discover what the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea means to them.

“The WEC believes people are part of nature. We want to share that view with our visitors, provoke them to relate themselves to the natural heritage around them and consider what that means for their relation with the Wadden Sea and in fact, the world” says Sander.

We cordially invite you to come and discover it!

Laila De Bruyne is impact manager and community builder at Revive, a company that transforms (industrial heritage) buildings into new lively neighbourhoods. She uses interpretive planning as a way to connect and reconnect communities in and around the heritage sites. She is freelancing as a heritage consultant and is Interpret Europe’s Country Coordinator Belgium. You can contact her at: Laila.debruyne@interpret-europe.net

Sander van Dijk is Head Programming & Content at Seal Centre Pieterburen & project coordinator of the Wadden Experience Centre Lauwersoog. Sander trained as a marine biologist, but pursued a career in science communication and education. For the last ten years he has worked on the content development of the Sealcentre in Pieterburen, as well as the newly developed Wadden Experience Centre in Lauwersoog. You can contact him at: sander.dijk@zeehondencentrum.nl

 Renate de Backere has been involved in the protection of the Wadden Sea for 17 years. She mainly works as a trainer for promoting the Wadden Sea and educating guides, entrepreneurs, visitor centre employees and other stakeholders in learning about the natural values of this unique World Heritage Site. You can contact her at: Backere@waddenvereniging.nl

To cite this article: De Bruyne, Laila & Van Dijk, Sander & De Backere, Renate (2023) ‘The Wadden Sea, an unknown gem in The Netherlands‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.10-11.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

Our conference team is working away to ensure that we are ready to welcome you to Slovenia for our next conference, Sustainability: Challenging mindsets through heritage interpretation, on 21-24 March 2024.

Slovenia is described as a ‘green jewel in the heart of Europe’, ‘green heaven’, ‘Europe in miniature’, and other similarly poetic expressions. Although it is not located in the geographical centre of the continent, it lies at the intersection of cultures: Latin, German, Slavic and Hungarian worlds. Consequently, its culture and language is a product from this melting pot of all these influences that shaped a unique cultural mixture, resulting in an enormous variety of cultural expressions and dialects in a tiny territory.

The country’s former tourism slogan, ‘On the sunny side of Alps’, revealed its climate and geography. Whereas the current tourism slogan, ‘I feel SLOVEnia’, suggests that you will, too, fall in love with the place. But, away from this romantic poetry, Slovenia can boast about many things: vast areas (64% of its land) covered in forest and one of the most progressive forest management systems, with a fair number of European beasts that have been successfully reintroduced in nature; culinary delights, as diverse as its landscape; high responsibility and respect towards nature and traditional practices; and plenty of heritage jewels along off-the-beaten-track paths that we’ll visit during study visits.

During iecon24 in March, we’ll explore places that can offer the best interpretive experiences in the region. Not only in Slovenia, but also in its neighbours – Croatia and Italy.
Check out our range of interesting study visits: https://www.interpreteuropeconference.net/study-visits/

Travel to and from the conference can be an opportunity to add extra inspiration by connecting further with colleagues, whilst also seeing some of the more well-known and crowded tourist spots. You may join us for an additional tour before or after the conference and joining us for a visit of the capital Ljubljana at your arrival and driving together to Venice on the way home is a good option to experience these two places. However, we’ll not be staying on the usual tourist routes. Our hosts will reveal another side of the story and also talk about sustainability of the places. Find out more here:

https://www.interpreteuropeconference.net/pre-conference-tour/

https://www.interpreteuropeconference.net/post-conference-tour/

We have received a number of very promising abstracts for sessions and workshops that will open discussions at all layers of the conference theme. We will hear about local projects and research findings and discuss successful approaches as well as open questions and challenges. Together, maybe we will find some solutions.

Finally, we are extremely excited about the renowned speakers that will provoke our thoughts each day with their opening keynotes. David Uzzel, a deserving professor and researcher of heritage interpretation has dedicated his latest works to sustainability psychology and will be happy to exchange views with us regarding the potentials and limitations of heritage interpretation in fostering sustainability mindsets. Whereas Lluis Bonet from the University of Barcelona and Špela Spanžel from the Cultural Heritage Directorate Slovenia will highlight our joint endeavors from other angles.

You can find out more about our keynote speakers here: https://www.interpreteuropeconference.net/keynote-speakers/

If you have submitted an abstract for a presentation, you will be hearing from the conference team during January. It is now time to start booking up your place! The early bird discount fees are available until 9 February so don’t delay!

We are looking forward to meeting many of you (again) in March for the next lively Interpret Europe conference!

Bettina Lehnes is IE’s Events Coordinator. You can contact her at: bettina.lehnes@interpret-europe.net.

Helena Vicic is IE’s Managing Director. You can contact her at: helena.vicic@interpret-europe.net.

For all conference enquiries, you can reach the local organising team at: management@interpreteuropeconference.net.

To cite this article: Lehnes, Bettina & Vicic, Helena (2023) ‘Challenge your mindset‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.6-7.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

Successful follow-up of a project means that its outcomes are disseminated, or even transferred into solid actions for the future. This is the case with the WH-Interp project.

Three years ago, under the guidance of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, IE adapted its course for Certified Interpretive Planners (CIP) to meet the needs of World Heritage Sites. As a result of this collaboration, 42 managers and planners associated with World Heritage were trained on-site to explore the transformative impact interpretation can have on visitors and communities.

The collaboration of the two partners continued throughout 2023, to offer six of these participants the opportunity to develop full interpretive plans for their own World Heritage Sites, under the mentoring of Interpret Europe. These interpretive plans, following the principles of value-based heritage interpretation, referred to the following heritage sites:

• The Old bazaar of Gjirokastra, Albania
• Padua’s 14th century fresco cycles, Italy
• Ta’ Ħaġrat Megalithic Site, Malta
• Ġgantija Archaeological Park, Malta
• Wooden Churches of Maramureş, Romania
• Belgrade Fortress – Kalemegdan, Serbia

The interpretive plans were presented on 12 December, at an open, online webinar attended by more than 90 participants. During the webinar, the newly fledged interpretive planners discussed how value-based heritage interpretation materialised into specific solutions for their sites, as well as what were the challenges they had to face and how they overcame those.

And if the initial idea behind the WH-Interp project was that one day all World Heritage Properties could profit from value-based heritage interpretation, the webinar followed that same line. Instead of only focusing (and celebrating) the past results of a project that is being concluded, it also shed a light on the future. Sander van Dijk from the Netherlands presented the Wadden Sea WHS and discussed how value-based heritage interpretation can play an important role in it, whereas Matteo Rosati (UNESCO) and Helena Vicic (Interpret Europe) shared their ideas about future collaboration between the two institutions.

These comments from two of the presenters sum up the Project…

The WH-Interp project was an incredibly dense and enlightening learning experience, which I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to attend. Furthermore, I honestly believe that the hybrid CIP course organised under the guidance of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe should be compulsory for all UNESCO sites managers, at least at European level.  Roxana-Talida Roman (Romania)

A very interesting experience, that started with doubts but finished in the most unexpected way; we developed full Interpretive Plans, meaningful for our sites and communities. The webinar organised for the occasion was a testimony of the great work we all have done together, and it felt wonderful having the possibility to share it with others. Joli Mitrojorgji (Albania)
If you missed it, you can watch the webinar here:  https://youtu.be/_x_ZLhyaeJ0

Valya Stergioti has been IE’s Training Coordinator since 2015. She can be contacted at: valya.stergioti@interpret-europe.net.

To cite this article: Stergioti, Valya (2023) ‘Can we fit three years of interpretive training in 120 minutes‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.5.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

In the serene surroundings of the Krka National Park in Croatia, the workshop ‘Interpretation as an art of listening’ unfolded, fostering a collaborative atmosphere and shared learning experiences. Participants not only delved into the transformative power of active listening but also contributed to a collective narrative that emphasised the reciprocity between interpreters and guests.

What made this workshop distinctive was the active engagement of participants, who embraced the art of listening with openness and a readiness to accept input from their peers. The workshop served as both a learning platform and a space for co-creation, where each voice played a role in shaping a collective understanding.

Central to our discussions was the profound significance of listening in the interpretive process. The workshop emphasised that, “listening is one of the keys to understanding the emotions and ideas behind words”, encouraging interpreters to go beyond mere surface-level interactions.

Bryant McGill’s wisdom, “One of the sincerest forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say”, underscored the workshop’s ethos of shared growth. Interpreters assumed the role of facilitators, inspiring one another to evolve and expand their perspectives through a collaborative journey.

A guiding principle emerged organically from our reflections: “If I am constantly speaking, I won’t learn anything new”. This acknowledgment highlighted the transformative power of creating an environment where listening takes precedence over speaking. In the realm of interpretation, genuine growth occurs when interpreters embrace the roles of facilitators and co-creators, fostering an atmosphere of mutual inspiration and shared learning.

Throughout the workshop, several brief exercises incorporated elements of active listening and the acceptance of input through exchanges and communication. These exercises provided practical experiences that reinforced the importance of these principles in a hands-on context.

The workshop also shed light on the symbiotic relationship between interpreters and guests, emphasising the importance of guests sharing their perspectives. This holistic approach fostered a reciprocal exchange of ideas, showcasing interpretation as a collaborative process, done with participants rather than for them.

As the workshop concluded, participants left with newfound insights into the interpretive process and a heightened awareness of the impact of active listening on meaningful connections and mutual growth. This transformative experience set the stage for a continuous journey of exploration and learning.

This workshop was just one among many throughout the day at the IE National Forum of Interpreters (Croatia) organised by the Croatian country team. While each workshop offered unique insights, ‘Interpretation as an art of listening’ was a testament to the collaborative spirit that permeated the whole National Forum, creating a rich tapestry of shared experiences and diverse perspectives.

Max Dubravko Fijacko is an IE Certified Interpretive Trainer and IE’s Gastronomic Heritage Coordinator. His motto is: You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking. Get in exchange with Max at: dubravko.fijacko@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Fijacko, Dubravko Max (2023) ‘Interpretation as an art of listening‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.4.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

One of the most difficult challenges for a senior tour guide is to acquire new methologies. When you have developed a way of leading a group of tourists, interpreting a phenomenon or explaining something your clients have asked you, you – as an expert of the destination, the culture and the area – feel that if you have received very good feedback from your clients over the past ten or 20 years as a profesional guide, that there cannot be a better method.

That’s basically what happened to me. I spent 30 years guiding in the wilderness, in urban and rural areas, with local communities, and was always open to improvements – particularly if they came from the guests. I felt I was in a state of constant renovation and was open to making improvements.

However, something different happened when I attended the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. For the first time in my career I have the sensation of a complete rewiring of my own method. A process I feel I‘m still in the middle of: still discovering new ways to interact with the guests, where the interpretation process is individual, where every person, depending on their individual background, will experience a completely different analysis, and we know where it starts (on the tour) but not where (or even when) it will finish.

In addition, in my particular case as a college professor, in Duoc UC I started to implement the IE method with my students of Tourism & Hospitality in the subject Guiding & Customer Service, and I have to say that it has been very meaningful for them and for me. It was a bit shocking for my students at the beginning (which is also how I felt at the start of the CIG  course) because they have had to unlearn to relearn, but being learners as they are, the process has been much easier considering that everything is new for them. And for me, because during the explanation step by step, class by class, I discover more details to implement and to consider in future excursions, and every time one of my students asks me to explain something they didn’t understand, it helps it to become even more clear to me. By clarifying doubts, by creating new examples, by giving ideas of ways of elaboration of storytellings, I’ve been feeling how nourishing the process is.

To sum up, for my enterpreneurship EduScience Expeditions, I did a trial tour in an urban park named San Cristóbal for a group of 9-year-old kids. It was a complete success! It’s amazing to guide children because they are so open to learn, so curious about everything and so full of amazing questions that I have to say having attended the IE course is the best decision I’ve ever taken.

Ximena Velásquez, from Santiago, Chile, is a college professor teaching Tourism & Hospitality. Ximena also has many years’ experience as a tour guide in the local area. She can be contacted at: xim.velasquez@profesor.duoc.cl.

To cite this article: Velásquez,  Ximena (2023) ‘Unlearn to relearn ‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2023, pg. 11.
Available online:  https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PDF-Newsletter-2023_3-autumn.pdf