| User | Thread poster: mckinnc MA/MSc in Translation by Distance Learning |
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mckinnc 
France
 Partial member
French to English
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Does anyone know of a good distance learning postgraduate Translation course offered by a British university other than Birmingham? I have found details of their course (which is very expensive) and think it looks a bit too dry and linguistics based for my liking. I really like the look of the type of course ofered by Heriot Watt, which is well known for its excellence in this area and covers a lot of interesting hands-on stuff. However, it seems to only be for full-time students.
On a separate but related point, what are the benefits or disadavantages of taking this type of course as opposed to preparing for an Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation?
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Louise Norman
Italy
Italian to English
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| | That's what I was wondering | Oct 17, 2001 |
I don\'t know the answer but that was just the question that I was going to post. I\'ll await any replies with interest!
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Lia Fail
Spain
Spanish to English
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| | City of London??? | Oct 17, 2001 |
I don\'t know for sure but there\'s possibly a chance that they do Masters. I checked them out for distance courses in Diploma prep.
I am also interested in answers to your Q - I\'m about to do the IOL next month. For me it will be absolute proof of my competence as a translator to professional/Publication level, both to cliemts and to myself!
I am also going to do a Master\'s in Translation, presence, in Ireland, in 2002. Of the two I personally think the IOL would be more useful if you already have a language degree (I haven\'t you see, which is one of the reasons I am going to do teh mnaster\'s), I\'ve heard of Master\'s level students failing IOL, for example. Obviously a Master\'s has a lot more theoretical input, is more academic etc. The IOL is tough, you really need to have had a fair amount of hands-on experience just to pass.
That said, I feel some training in technology applied to translations is where the future is - to increase output and efficiency, and I will probably look out for soem way to obtain this kind of training when in Dublin...
Just soem of my thoughts, I look forward to hearing more from other contributors...
Ailish
 
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mckinnc
France
Partial member
French to English
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| | Thanks for the tip | Oct 19, 2001 |
I\'ll check it out. I\'m thinking I may just sit the IOL Diploma exam. Birmingham anyway is very expensive - 6800 pounds!
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Jevgenijs Cernihovics
Latvia
English to Latvian
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| | If you know such a course in Dublin | Oct 30, 2001 |
Please, let me know.
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Soizic CiFuentes
United States
 Member (2003)
English to French
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Or in LA, California.
Actually an online class would be perfect.
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louisajay
French to English
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| | Difference between the two | Nov 13, 2003 |
A freelance friend told me that a good rule of thumb is this: If you have a language degree but no experience and no specialist area (ie you haven't worked in a particular industry to understand it intricately) do an MA. If you are an expert on something (e.g. civil engineering or IT) and have great language skills as well, then do the DipTrans to prove your translation ability. Experience in an industry speaks volumes, but no experience means you need to compensate by having an in-depth academic qualification like the MA.
Also, I think that the DipTrans can be overrated - the MA gives you a much broader understanding of translation as a whole and while I didn't think the theoretical/academic side would help much, I now find myself using it A LOT.
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zoi_f
United Kingdom
Russian to English
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soizic wrote:
Or in LA, California.
Actually an online class would be perfect. |
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Check out ATA's accreditation. Apparently their exams are the most recognised in the US.
http://www.atanet.org/bin/view.pl/285.html
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mckinnc
France
Partial member
French to English
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| | a dormant thread come back to life! | Nov 13, 2003 |
Wow, I'm surprised to be responding to this, a good two years after my original post! Since then I have done the Dip Trans IOL. I can't speak for what an MA in translation would give you but that wasn't really an option for me being based in France, having been working for many years and having already done two other post-graduate degrees. What I opted to do in the end was a distance learning course with the University of Cardiff and to sit the maximum 3 papers at the British Council offices in Bern. And it worked - I passed all 3! Not having done both courses of study, I can't really compare but I would say that I learned a great deal from my reading and translation practice while preparing for the IoL exams. I developed some good habits which I am now putting to good use as a translator in an international organisation. In short, it forced me to take a very critical look at how I worked as a translator.
My background is in technical translating, the IT industry and technical writing. Some years the translations set by the IoL are really savage, and the pass rates correspondingly low but then they are trying to set a standard for the profession in Britain. I think it's a very worthwhile thing to do.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Greta Holmer-Arblaster
Sweden
Member (2002)
Dutch to English
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| | Distance learning in Dublin | Jan 13, 2004 |
There is a distance learning course offered in Dublin
Check out the website:
http://www.dit.ie/DIT/study/parttime/courses/k254.html
City University offer preparation for the IOL Diptrans - I found them very good for my preparation for the Dutch>English Diptrans (I sat 2 papers last year and will be sitting the last paper next week).
On another point does anyone know of a distance learning course for the DipTrans from Swedish>English and English>Swedish (these are not offered by City)?
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Shaima
Egypt
English to Arabic
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Hello,
i'm thinking of applying at Portsmouth University, UK ( online mode) ( MA in translation studies - English - Arabic )
i would really like to know is this kind of study ok ?
i mean is it accredited ? i know that the university is accredited, but is it regarded insufficient in terms of applying to jobs?
i'll be grateful if anyone shares this with me, coz i'm really hesitating to apply.
i also like to know about this university's reputation. i checked the ranking and it was not in an advanced position..i think it was no 79 around UK.
i also found Bristol that offers the same course (Arabic - English )..which one do u recommend if distance
sooo shall i go ahead and apply or what ?
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The translation workplace 
