Training for Translators

Classes for translators and interpreters

online classes for translators


Corinne McKay

Preview: Getting Started as a Freelance Translator

The next session of my online course Getting Started as a Freelance Translator starts March 6, and registration is open now. This class tends to fill up early and is limited to 20 people, so now is a good time to sign up if you’re interested. It’s aimed at beginning translators who want nuts and bolts information about how to launch and run a successful translation business, plus one-on-one feedback on marketing materials, deciding how much to charge, etc.

Throughout the four-week session, you’ll work through four sets of online videos, four homework assignments with individual feedback, and eight live question and answer sessions for the whole group. Here’s a preview of one of the course videos, on creating a basic agency marketing campaign. A recent student called this course “one of the finest resources out there for any translator,” and I’d love to see some of you in this session! Registration is $380/$355 for ATA members.


Corinne McKay

Beyond the Basics of Freelancing: starts Monday

“In my opinion, the greatest occupational hazard of being a freelance translator is the “triple threat” of unfamiliarity with business practices, ways to get clients, and discouragement. This course provided me with actionable strategies to grow my translation business and was a huge motivator. It’s been worth every penny of the registration fee and then some. Thank you so much!”

“Beyond the Basics of Freelancing has helped me shore up and solidify my current working practices while giving me the confidence to take my business to the next level. I benefited greatly from the personal exchanges with Corinne and other seasoned freelancers. Highly recommended!”

These are some comments I received from participants in my online course, Beyond the Basics of Freelancing. The next session starts Monday, and it’s a great opportunity to get going on your goals for 2017. Registration is $380 ($365 for ATA members), and includes:
  • 12 online videos with the core course materials
  • Individual feedback on weekly homework assignments (your resume or professional profile, marketing plan, rates/billable hours sheet and online presence)
  • 8 live question and answer sessions (recordings provided if you can’t attend live)
  • Daily tasks to help you break your goals down into manageable steps
  • E-mail support from me throughout the course; you can ask whatever you want!


Corinne McKay

January coaching group: three spots left

In response to requests from a few former students, I’m going to be offering a one-month intensive coaching and accountability group in January. The group is limited to 10 people and three spots are still open.

This group ($530/$515 for ATA members) is for freelancers who want one-on-one mentoring (everyone will get two one-hour phone sessions with me), plus the structure of a group for accountability. You’ll pick a business goal–find one new direct client, find better agency clients, start a client-facing blog, etc. Then you’ll pick daily steps that you’re going to take toward that goal, and you’ll have to log in every single weekday and report on what you did. We’ll also do eight live question and answer sessions for the whole group, and I’ll send you a daily e-mail with marketing tips. Various students had asked about this option over the years (“I know what I need to do, I just have to sit down and force myself to do it”), so I think this group will be a good start to 2017 if you have some new goals in mind.

Here’s the full description and registration form if you’d like to join us!


Corinne McKay

ProZ community choice awards & upcoming book translation class

Thank you to everyone who voted for Thoughts on Translation in the recent ProZ.com community choice awards. I’m excited to have won in the best translation blog category, and I promise to keep writing the kinds of articles that inspired you to nominate and vote for this blog! Congratulations to all of the other winners as well!

In other news, the inaugural session of my online course Breaking Into the Book Translation Market starts on Monday (September 12). There’s a good turnout for the course so far, and registration is still open. If you’ve thought of translating books (in general, or a specific book), but are wondering:

  • what translation rights are and how they affect you as a translator
  • how to query prospective publishers for your translation
  • what types of contract terms are important for a book translation
  • how to decide how much to charge for a book translation
  • how to work successfully with authors and publishers

…then this class will help you get there! Like all of my online courses, the class is open to translators in any language combination, runs for four weeks, includes lots of individual attention and feedback (plus self-paced components), and costs $355, or $340 for ATA members. I’m excited about this new course, and hope to see some of you there!


Corinne McKay

A new look, and a special offer!

As you can see, Thoughts on Translation has a whole new look! After eight years of blogging and nearly 700 posts, I decided it was time to give the site a long-overdue update (huge thanks to my web designer Guy Greenbaum), and I’m very happy with the transition. All of the past content (including all of your comments!) is still here at the same URLs as always, and I look forward to many more years of lively discussions.

I’m particularly excited that the new site includes a home for my online courses, so that you can browse all of them in one place and register right there (instead of hopping back and forth from this site to my client-facing site and back again…). I currently have four classes open for registration (Getting Started as a Freelance Translator, Beyond the Basics of Freelancing, Marketing to Direct Clients and Breaking Into the Book Translation Market), and as a site launch special, you can use the coupon code 10Today to save 10% off any class (or classes!) if you register today, Friday June 24. Additionally, if you are an ATA member, enter coupon code ATA to receive the ATA member rate (you can enter both coupons if you’re an ATA member).

On the courses page, just click on the tile for any course to expand it and read the description and start dates. A student who just completed my Getting Started course commented “I truly enjoyed Corinne’s class for beginners in the business of freelance translation and especially appreciated her individual feedback. Her practical advice was invaluable and helped improve my confidence and clarify my goals. Getting Started as a Freelance Translator was well worth the investment, and I hope to take other classes with Corinne in the future.” I hope to see some of you in the summer and fall sessions!