Distance learning MA in Translation Thread poster: Chloë McQuarrie
|
|---|
Chloë McQuarrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2023)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Hello,
I'd be grateful if anyone could share their experience of doing a distance learning/online Masters in Translation?
I am looking at Open University/Birmingham/Bristol/Portsmouth. I would be doing this part time around work and family life so I need flexibility.
Any opinions, comments or tips would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
| | | | | Open University | Aug 2, 2021 |
I've never done a translation masters, but I have studied with the Open University (Bachelor of Engineering) and was very impressed. If you're going to do distance learning, there is something to be said for studying with a uni that does nothing else - and where all your fellow students will also be distance learners.
| | | | Chloë McQuarrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2023)
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Rachel Waddington wrote:
I've never done a translation masters, but I have studied with the Open University (Bachelor of Engineering) and was very impressed. If you're going to do distance learning, there is something to be said for studying with a uni that does nothing else - and where all your fellow students will also be distance learners.
Thank you, Rachel. I'd not thought of looking at it in this way
| | | | Adieu 
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
| Are you confident that you want and need it? | Aug 2, 2021 |
I think you'd be surprised how few active translators in the market have an MA in Translation.
Seems like something people get when they wish to QUIT translating and start teaching.
| | |
|
|
|
Chloë McQuarrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2023)
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I don't have any experience | Aug 2, 2021 |
Adieu wrote:
I think you'd be surprised how few active translators in the market have an MA in Translation.
Seems like something people get when they wish to QUIT translating and start teaching.
I'd like to break into the industry but with no experience and no qualifications I feel like I need some sort of 'training'.
I've registered with all the usual places to do voluntary translations, but nothing has come of it yet.
I don't know how else to get started and I feel like an MA would give me a foot in the door. I'm happy to be proved wrong!
| | | | | Not necessarily | Aug 2, 2021 |
Adieu wrote:
I think you'd be surprised how few active translators in the market have an MA in Translation.
Seems like something people get when they wish to QUIT translating and start teaching.
I have two MAs and a PhD in Translation. I used to teach, but with two kids, and my husband moving around quite a lot for his job, I ended up happily freelancing.
I did the Master's in Tranlation for Spanish and German at the University of Córdoba. I loved it, and it was very good for my Spanish, but I am glad I had done my other degrees regularly. I found the direct interaction with some really brilliant lecturers and the discussions in class invaluable. I enjoyed every day of it.
By no means am I implying that I am automatically better than other colleagues without such an academic CV, though.
| | | | Gabriele Foy
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2021)
English to Lithuanian
+ ...
| CIOL DipTrans | Aug 3, 2021 |
Chloë McQuarrie wrote:
I'd like to break into the industry but with no experience and no qualifications I feel like I need some sort of 'training'.
I've registered with all the usual places to do voluntary translations, but nothing has come of it yet.
I don't know how else to get started and I feel like an MA would give me a foot in the door. I'm happy to be proved wrong!
Hi Chloë, I can see that you're in the UK. Why not try the CIOL DipTrans exam? While it's not cheap (https://www.ciol.org.uk/diptrans#quicktabs-diptrans=2), passing it means that you conform with the ISO standard and it's at the level of a Master's. I took it after 8 or 9 months of doing translations for a company that just pinned their faith on me, so I did have some practice, albeit I've always dabbled in amateurish translations. I couldn't find actual courses for my language pair, but you shouldn't have any trouble with Spanish or French. And it's but one day of nerves! Provided that your goal is to work rather than learn about translation and theory - while it's a Level 7 Qualification, it's just an exam. Best of luck!
| | | | Chloë McQuarrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2023)
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Gabriele,
I have considered the DipTrans but I have been put off by recent posts on here saying that it is very hard and is for seasoned translators only. Having been out of practice with my languages for about 10 years I felt that perhaps I would need more training. I have submitted a test translation to a company that provides a preparatory course for the DipTrans to assess my level.
| | |
|
|
|
Chloë McQuarrie wrote:
I have considered the DipTrans but I have been put off by recent posts on here saying that it is very hard and is for seasoned translators only. Having been out of practice with my languages for about 10 years I felt that perhaps I would need more training. I have submitted a test translation to a company that provides a preparatory course for the DipTrans to assess my level.
I'd like to try to allay your fears on that point a little, if I may. Different people will have their different views on this based on their own experiences, I'm sure, but I did the DipTrans twice, not just once, and I really don't feel that it's for seasoned translators only. It's perfectly feasible for someone with no professional experience provided that they prepare themselves well. I took it in French-English at the age of 24, before I had ever worked as a translator and after a preparatory course lasting a few months, and then I sat it in Russian-English a few years later, when I had about two full years' professional experience under my belt. So I know what it's like to sit it both with and without professional experience. I will admit that it was easier the second time around, because by that point, I had become well used to translating 2,000-3,000 words a day and was obviously more familiar with the process of translation, but I passed French-English at the first time of asking at an age when I had relatively little experience of life in general, let alone translation! So if I managed it without experience, so can other people.
I don't know whether they're still available nowadays, but have you thought about getting hold of some past papers or examiners' reports to get a feel for the standard? I know it was possible in the past. What I would also say is that the difficulty level will vary a bit from one paper to the next, that's just inevitable, and what one person finds difficult, another person might find easy; but papers 2 and 3 are only supposed to be "semi-specialised", they're not supposed to be full of obscure terminology, and the business and law papers I sat were considerably easier than what I often work on nowadays. To my (admittedly very limited) knowledge, MAs often involve at least some fully specialised translation, so I would expect an MA to be more difficult than the DipTrans.
For these reasons, I wouldn't be put off by what a few people have said. As long as the feedback you get from the company you mentioned isn't too bad, I wouldn't rule out the DipTrans, I still think it could be a good option for you as it's not very difficult to fit your preparation around other things, plus the cost is much lower.
| | | | | Help or hindrance? | Aug 4, 2021 |
Probably neither directly when it comes to convincing potential clients of your worth. Softening the blow a little, maybe a plus but not a necessity. A combination of skills and tons of other stuff will come into play. [EDIT: Added after initial post to say that I have just looked at your CV and you have tons of stuff in terms of qualifications and experience to convince potential clients and to get you going].
What are your areas of knowledge, expertise? Who would you contact if yo... See more Probably neither directly when it comes to convincing potential clients of your worth. Softening the blow a little, maybe a plus but not a necessity. A combination of skills and tons of other stuff will come into play. [EDIT: Added after initial post to say that I have just looked at your CV and you have tons of stuff in terms of qualifications and experience to convince potential clients and to get you going].
What are your areas of knowledge, expertise? Who would you contact if you had to find three clients tomorrow morning?
You might find it helpful to think about why a potential client would seek your services rather than those of someone else.
There are a fair number of translators who have no formal language qualifications at all. Believe you me, when a native translates into his/her language on a subject he/she knows something about, you can tell.
Once you get a foot in the door, then you will find other opportunities come your way. If you start in areas you know something about or where you have formal qualifications or experience, you will come across as more convincing. You will always come across other fields, which may even pose a problem. That's when you post on Proz or elsewhere and seek help from colleagues. It is not uncommon to come across standard legalese, even if you are an expert in landscape gardening. When I say "expert", I mean knowing as much or more than the next person on the client's list of potential translators for the job. Sometimes that extra knowledge gathered along the way can become a strongpoint or even a selling point.
I have a couple of degrees and have picked up other qualifications and diplomas along the way, some even quite recently. All come in handy and are selling points. But always bear in mind that this is a starting point.
The rest involves tracking down clients, including agencies (obviously paying rates that enable them to take their cut), providing quality work and knowing your limits. Intellectual curiosity, research skills and knowing how to use a computer and sometimes also translation software will also help.
One element that is never to be overlooked is how you are going to run your business. Take yourself seriously, chase those payments, have money stashed in the bank to cover you in times of slow flow (of work and of payments). If this is to be your sole source of income, you must remember that like with any business, you may not make much money in the early days.
[Edited at 2021-08-04 13:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Distance learning MA in Translation | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
