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 grew her interest in editing and proofreading into a significant component of her business. 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 establishing her translation practice in 2005. In 2021 she joined MasterWord as Director of Life Sciences Solutions. She works from her home in the Denver, Colorado area.

Next session: November 10 – December 13, 2021. No class during the week of November 22 due to the US Thanksgiving holiday. Live sessions on Wednesdays and Mondays from 6 PM – 7 PM New York time: November 10, 15, 17, and 29, and December 1, 6, 8, and 13. Recordings provided.

Registration cost: $365 until October 17; $405 thereafter if spots are still available.

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 based on skills that she has applied, built up and practiced for years. This course is highly practical. Karen 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 price and find work as an editor and proofreader, focusing on profitable niches in this area. Participants receive personalized feedback on weekly assessments that are designed to be challenging and thought-provoking, unlimited Q&A in the forum for the duration, and an optional private 30-minute session with Karen.

This course combines two live sessions per week with self-paced modules on the online learning platform Thinkific. The Thinkific modules each have a specific focus and they build on each other, so should be completed in order. Week 1’s forum activity will include Modules 1 and 2. Week 4’s will include Modules 5 and 6. The “meat” of the course comes in Modules 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Module 1: Introductions and definitions

Revision? Editing? Proofreading? What’s the difference?

Module 2: Proofreading

Let’s start with the basics. Get them right, every time. Fundamental skills for any text.

Module 3: Monolingual revision

You have one text in front of you. Let’s improve it. Perhaps it was written by a non-native English speaker?

Module 4: Bilingual revision

Editing the work of other translators is a major part of many freelance translators’ practices.

Module 5: 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.

Module 6: Conclusions and takeaways

We will reflect back on your baseline exercises and see what you are already applying and plan to do next.

Registration includes:
-Four live slide presentations (recordings provided)
-Four live question and answer sessions (recordings provided)
-Four recorded videos covering various aspects of the course materials
-Quick quizzes for each module to check learning
-Individual feedback on four editing and proofreading assignments
-Optional 30-minute one-on-one with Karen any time between November 8 and December 18, 2021 (must be scheduled by the participant)
-A forum for asking extra questions and building your network with other participants
-Forum communication with Karen and Corinne during the course
-Free access to Corinne’s monthly alumni question and answer sessions after the course ends

Past participants in this class say:

-“In one month, I made noticeable progress and have copious notes and new ideas, plus leads to new information to delve into. I liked the structure consisting of one lecture and one question/answer session each week. The homework assignments were both challenging and thought provoking. This course was well worth the money and time.”

-“As a freelance translator, I spend a lot of time on editing and proofreading… and I want to spend less time on it. I often end up second guessing myself and taking far longer than I can afford to spend on this meticulous task because it requires so much attention to detail. The Editing and Proofreading for into English Translators course helped me create a checklist that I can use to work more productively, and the feedback I received on assignments gave me more confidence in my skills. I look forward to working faster and more assertively now. I’m so grateful for the tips and guidance from our stellar instructor.”

-“The efficiency and quality assurance tools that Karen shares with her students alone make this course truly priceless. Karen is always easy to reach, friendly, and very patient with every one of her students. I especially appreciated how much detail her responses to my many questions contained. I look forward to taking future classes from her.”

-“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.”