Professional Development - what is out there
by Kristina Wolf, 1st October, 2007
How can a translator/interpreter develop professionally?
Once you have completed your translation/interpreting training and qualified as a translator/interpreter it is as important as in any industry to stay on top of things and to take the topic of professional development seriously. If you have decided to use a CAT tool then of course it is a sensible investment to participate in a proficiency course which will help you use it more effectively. From own experience I have found that this type of training is widely available, but they don’t focus on translation technique, vocabulary or keeping your language skills up-to-date, which are after all our core competency. Especially if you are working freelance it is important to regularly relate yourself to other colleagues. This can be done on sites like Proz.com and Translators Café which not only offer forum groups about a variety of relevant subjects, but also term research and now also training, see http://www.proz.com/?sp=trainings for example. Another must is to become a member of a translation organization like the ITI or at least follow their training schedules, but do also consider those in the countries of the languages you work into, in Germany for example the BDÜ offers quite an extensive list of training modules. Foreign travel is just as important, especially if you work into a language and don’t live in that country. Languages are alive and do change constantly, so it is important to stay in touch with linguistic and cultural changes. However just travelling might not give you the specialised training you need as a translator. My personal choice has been to look for specialised language schools which can give you an additional qualification, like the “Certificado de Español Comercial” of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. Specifically with regards to translation I have come to value the views of other translators. If you work for an end client and already have a colleague proofreading your work, this is easy. However, I have found out that in many cases the work gets proofread, but the translator doesn’t receive the valuable feedback which would allow him/her to improve their skills. Don’t be shy, just ask the client. They will surely appreciate your efforts. This is just a small overview, taken from my personal experience, and of course if you have any additional sources, I’ll be glad to learn about them. Kristina Wolf
Lingua Direct - www.lingua-direct.com
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