Thandeka Dakile

Academic Qualitative Research Assistant specialising in isiZulu-English translation and transcription of qualitative research interviews. Experienced in working with recorded research interviews and converting spoken participant data into accurate, structured and research-ready documents for academic research teams. Core expertise is the audio-to-research-document workflow: listening carefully to recorded interviews, translating spoken isiZulu and English where required, accurately transcribing the content, and producing clear written research documents while preserving the participant's meaning, context and voice.

Over 2 years of practical experience supporting qualitative health and community research, including research involving community healthcare workers, community members and healthcare settings in South Africa. Combination of language proficiency, qualitative research experience and contextual understanding of isiZulu-speaking communities makes well suited to international research projects requiring reliable multilingual transcription and translation support.

Academic Research Assistant - University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) - KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

(2026-01)

Department of Family Medicine

• Listen to and work with recorded qualitative research material.
• Translate spoken isiZulu and English in research interviews.
• Transcribe interview content accurately into research documents.
• Prepare clear and structured transcripts for use by academic researchers.
• Maintain the meaning and context of participant responses during translation.
• Review transcripts for accuracy, completeness and consistency.
• Handle research recordings and participant information confidentially.
• Support the preparation of qualitative research material for academic use.
• Work with research content relating to communities and healthcare environments.

Qualitative Research Assistant - Centre for Research in Health Systems (CRH) - KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

(2024-01 - 2025-12)

Translator & Transcription Specialist, ENHANCE Programme. Primary Function: Audio Translation and Transcription of Qualitative Research Interviews

• Listened to recorded qualitative research interviews and accurately captured participant responses.
• Translated recorded interviews from isiZulu to English and English to isiZulu, according to project requirements.
• Transcribed translated interviews into research-ready documents.
• Produced accurate written records of spoken qualitative data.
• Preserved participant meaning, tone, context and culturally specific expressions during translation.
• Identified language and contextual nuances that could affect interpretation of participant responses.
• Reviewed completed transcripts against audio recordings to improve accuracy and completeness.
• Worked with interviews involving community healthcare workers, community members and healthcare stakeholders.
• Prepared multilingual qualitative research material for use by academic researchers and research teams.
• Maintained confidentiality when handling participant interviews and research data.
• Worked within project-specific transcription and translation requirements.
• Communicated with research teams when audio, terminology or contextual meaning required clarification.

Diploma - Fashion - Durban University of Technology (2005)

National Senior Certificate - Secondary Education (2002)