Editing and proofreading for into-English translators

Description

Instructor: Karen Tkaczyk, CT, FITI. Karen is an ATA-certified French to English freelance translator and a Fellow of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting, UK). Alongside her scientific and technical translation work, Karen has grown her interest in editing and proofreading into a significant component of her business. She was the administrator of ATA’s Science and Technology Division for four years and is currently on the ATA Board (Secretary). Karen also teaches the Specialization module in the ITI’s twice-annual Setting Up as a Freelance Translator course. Karen has an MChem in chemistry with French from the University of Manchester, and a diploma in French and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Cambridge. She worked in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries in Europe and the US before switching careers. Karen established her translation practice in 2005, and works from her home in the Denver, Colorado, area.

Next session: The September 2019 session of this course is sold out. Click here to be added to the wait list for a future session.

A past participant says: “Karen’s course, Editing and Proofreading for into-English Translators, was fantastic and exceeded my expectations. I really enjoyed the presentations and got a lot out of each assignment, as much from doing them as from reading Karen’s feedback. I learned so much and have a long list of things I’m looking forward to reading, trying out and exploring: books, style guides, techniques, electronic tools and my process.”

Description: We edit and proofread every day. Becoming more effective in these areas obviously improves quality; sometimes it improves the bottom line as well. Karen will provide expert instruction and feedback on skills that she has applied, built up and practiced for years. In this class, she will pass on many concrete tips that you can use straight away in your translation and editing work. Karen will also share ideas for how to find work as an editor and proofreader, focusing on profitable niches in this area.
The four weeks will each have a specific focus, and lessons will build on each other.

• Week one: Proofreading. Let’s start with the basics. Get them right, every time. Fundamental skills for any text.
• Week two: Monolingual revision. You have one text in front of you. Let’s improve it. Perhaps it was written by a non-native English speaker?
• Week three: Bilingual revision. We’ll focus on editing the work of other translators.
• Self-editing. We finish with the hardest skill. How can we best edit our own work – including in two common circumstances – haste due to impending deadline, and blindness due to repeatedly rereading.

Registration includes:
-Four live slide presentations (recordings provided)
-Four live question and answer sessions (recordings provided)
-Individual feedback on four editing and proofreading assignments
-E-mail support from Karen and Corinne during the course
-Free access to Corinne’s monthly alumni question and answer sessions after the course ends