Training for Translators

Classes for translators and interpreters

online courses


Corinne McKay

Last call: Breaking Into the Agency Market

The first session of my new course Breaking Into the Agency Market starts on Wednesday (May 13); we have a good group signed up, but there’s room for a few more people if you’d like to join.

This is a three-week, quick start course for people who want a lot of individual attention without much homework, and are interested in working with translation agencies. We’ll focus on how to find agencies to apply to, how to develop and execute a marketing campaign, and how to work successfully with agencies; each week you’ll watch and/or listen to some pre-recorded lessons, then we’ll do a group conference call every week and everyone gets an hour of individual consulting time with me.

Registration is $190 ($175 if you’re an ATA member) and the details are here.

A student who completed the most recent session of my online course Getting Started as a Freelance Translator commented:

“When I completed my certificate in translation I had some confidence in my ability to translate, but no idea how to go about starting my career. After struggling on my own for a while, I finally signed up for Corinne’s course for beginning freelancers. What a life saver! Her sessions cover everything I needed to consider for my business and her individual attention to my specific situation answered all of my questions. I now feel ready to conquer the translation world.”


Corinne McKay

Two new online courses

I’m excited to announce two new online courses that I’ll be offering this spring/summer. I’m still running my flagship courses for beginning and experienced translators (Getting Started as a Freelance Translator and Beyond the Basics of Freelancing), but I’ve developed two new quick-start classes for people who want a shorter course with minimal homework, but with lots of one-on-one coaching. Here they are!

Breaking Into the Agency Market starts May 13 and runs for three weeks. I’ll send you three slide show lessons (finding agencies; marketing to agencies; working successfully with agencies), we’ll do three group conference calls and you’ll get an hour of one-on-one coaching with me, which you can do by phone or e-mail. Registration is $190, or $175 if you’re an ATA member.

Breaking Into the Direct Client Market starts July 1 and runs for three weeks. Same format as above (three slide shows, three group calls, an hour of one-on-one time) but for translators who want to work with direct clients. Same price too! $190, or $175 if you’re an ATA member.

I’m excited to launch these new formats and hope to see some of you there!


Corinne McKay

Beyond the Basics of Freelancing: starts February 18

If you’re an established freelancer who needs a nudge toward your business goals, you might be interested in my online course, Beyond the Basics of Freelancing. The next session starts on February 18 and I have five spots left. It’s a four-week, completely online session, and open to translators in any language combination. Everyone receives individual feedback from me on four assignments (your freelance goals, resume/business profile, rates/billable hours, and marketing plan), plus one hour of individual consulting time with me. We also do a one-hour question and answer conference call every week (recording available if you can’t make the live calls). Registration is $350, with a $50 discount for ATA members. Participants in the course have commented:

I really loved Corinne´s course. Her passion and daily commitment is out of this world. The course is full of cutting edge experience and knowledge, generously shared. I believe Corinne gave us material to implement and work on for many years ahead!

Corinne’s course was exactly what I needed at this stage in my career. She asked the right questions to get me thinking and focused on the next steps to grow my business.

I can’t recommend Corinne’s course highly enough. There’s so much advice out there to read that it can be overwhelming. But Corinne gives you practical advice, examples and techniques you can actually apply to your own business. Incredibly valuable.

Thanks, and I hope to see some of you there! To register or read more, visit my website.


Corinne McKay

Upcoming online courses for freelancers

The next sessions of my online courses start on August 20 (Beyond the Basics of Freelancing) and September 24 (Getting Started as a Freelance Translator). Getting Started is for students who want to launch and run a successful freelance business, and Beyond the Basics is for students who have established freelance businesses. Each class is four weeks long and consists of four lessons on which you get individual feedback from me, plus a weekly question-and-answer conference call for the whole class. Additionally, students in Beyond the Basics get a one-hour individual consultation with me.

Getting Started focuses on the basics of getting your freelance business up and running: writing a translation-targeted resumé and cover letter, creating a marketing plan and rates sheet and establishing an online presence (LinkedIn profile, translators association directory profile, website, etc.). Beyond the Basics focuses on marketing your services to high-quality translation agencies and direct clients, creating a professional profile document and identifying ways to meet direct clients on their turf.

Registration for either class is US $325, and after these sessions I’ll be raising the price to US $350, so now is a good time to register if you’ve been thinking about it. All sessions of both courses have filled up before the deadline for the past year, so hop on over to my website and read the full descriptions if you’re thinking of joining one of these sessions! ATA members receive a $50 discount on registration for either course.

Here’s a comment from a participant in the most recent session of Beyond the Basics: “This course really helped me define a path for moving my business forward, as well as giving me some helpful tools for getting there. I received valuable input and tips not only from Corinne, but also from the other students, and it was great to be part of a little virtual community.”


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.