Training for Translators

Classes for translators and interpreters

Announcements


Corinne McKay

101 Things a Translator Needs to Know: published!

The translation business book genre has really exploded in recent years, fortunately for those of us in the trenches who need to know about these things. Newest on the scene is a little gold nugget of a book, 101 Things a Translator Needs to Know, written by a group of highly experienced translators known as WordLink. With members like Chris Durban, Ros Schwartz, Nick Rosenthal (many of whom have been translating since before I graduated from high school!), these are people you need to listen to.

101 Things has everything you need and nothing you don’t: each “thing” is about a hundred words, and the topics range from how to translate an idiom to how to turn lousy writing into a great translation, to how to create an ergonomic setup in your office. Each tip is accompanied by an illustration, making this book the perfect thing to grab when you need a little bit of wisdom to adjust your mindset or move your business forward. No bombastic pronouncements about what you must do if you want to claw your way to the top of this industry: expect wise, witty, well-grounded advice from translators who have walked the path that you’re walking.

Plus, it’s cute! Check it out, and then hop on over to Lulu and grab a copy for yourself (available on Amazon, etc. in 6-8 weeks).
101things


Corinne McKay

Beyond the Basics of Freelancing: starts May 14

I just wrapped up the “beta” session of my new online course Beyond the Basics of Freelancing and it went well; this class has been bumping around in my head for years and it felt good to finally launch it with a full session of ten great translators! We focused on various topics for the intermediate/advanced freelancer, such as writing different marketing materials for agencies and direct clients, identifying potential direct clients and ways to make contact with them, and how to set rates for various freelance services. Here’s some feedback from the participants:

Corinne is a blessing to all of us translators that have not reached terminal velocity yet. She is very knowledgeable about all aspects of a freelance translator’s challenges and has great passion for helping her students. Her books are great, but her online course is even better, because you take a feeling of “I can do this!” from it. I had a big increase in income the year after I took Corinne’s course and I attribute a large portion of that success to Corinne. I could not think of a better way to give your freelancing career a big boost than taking her course. Very inspirational, very valuable information, great program all-round!

Corinne’s course arrived just at the right moment in my freelance translation career, at this crossroads where you know you have to move up in terms of client base, rates and overall income, but you just don’t know where to start or how to do. Corinne has been a source of inspiration and motivation, as well as a role model, throughout the course and I will do my best to follow her advice – I want to be just as happy with my career as she is!

I feel very proud of being a follower of this “beta” session of Beyond the Basics course. The course was extremely well-structured, the topics were of great use to me and to my ongoing full-time freelance activity. Corinne is a passionate and skilled professional and teacher, she is always available and is a volcano of ideas and energies. This course helped me increasing my self-confidence and faith in what I do, it helped me out of the same ideas I sometimes indulge into and opened up a variety of options I would have never thought could be possible in translating and in marketing strategies. We are important as freelancers, as translators and as interpreters, we need to believe in this and to do our best to let the others understand that as well. I warmly advise everyone to follow the course.

The next session of the course starts on May 14 ($325; $50 discount for ATA members), so please hop on over to my business website to read a full description or to sign up.


Corinne McKay

Getting Started as a Freelance Translator: starts April 2

“This course inspired me to take many steps necessary to transform from a dabbling newbie into a serious professional,” reports a participant in my online course Getting Started as a Freelance Translator. The next session starts on April 2, and I have five spots left (maximum of 10 students per session). In this four-week, fully-online course, beginning translators get my individualized feedback on their translation-targeted resume and cover letter, marketing plan, rates and billable hours sheet and online presence. We also do a one-hour question and answer conference call every week, and every student receives a copy of my books How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator and Thoughts on Translation.

The course registration fee is US $305 ($50 discount for ATA members) and you can read more about the course or register on my website.

If you’re interested in a more advanced course, for freelancers who have an established business and want to take it up a notch, the next session of Beyond the Basics of Freelancing starts on May 14.


Corinne McKay

Speaking of Interpreting: the recording is up!

If you missed yesterday’s Speaking of Translation conference call, “Speaking of Interpreting,” in which Eve Bodeux and I interviewed InterpretAmerica co-Presidents Katharine Allen and Barry Slaughter Olsen, we’ve posted a free recording for your listening pleasure. We asked Barry and Katharine to tell us about the current state of the interpreting profession, what’s ahead in the next 3-5 years, what role remote interpreting is playing in the industry, and what a new interpreter needs to do to succeed in the business. It was a great interview, so hop on over and check it out!


Corinne McKay

Coming up momentarily: Speaking of Interpreting

At 12 noon New York time today (Wednesday, March 12), Eve Bodeux and I will be interviewing InterpretAmerica co-Presidents Katharine Allen and Barry Slaughter Olsen on the topic “Speaking of Interpreting,” for our free Speaking of Translation call series. Katharine and Barry will fill us in on the current state of the interpreting profession, what’s on the horizon, and what a new interpreter needs to do to succeed in the business. The live call is limited to 100 callers, and we’ll post a free recording afterward.

To connect to the live interview in the USA and Canada, call 1-888-947-3988 and enter the code: 261313. From other countries, use the Skype “Call Phones” feature, or visit http://numbers.zipdx.com/ for international access numbers. Note! If you are calling from outside the US, please double-check the time, as some countries have switched to Summer time and some have not.