| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Off topic: I need some advice Thread poster: Pablo Fiumara
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| To cut a long story short.... | Nov 27, 2006 |
What do you mean parrot?
I guess you mean I shouldn't expect learning English in translation course....they will teach me how to translate.....Am I right? Nevertheless, I think it's "funny" to translate and be paid for that.....
I said I could continue improving my english if I did international exams and at the same time, I could the translation course...
I've been told that a teachers have better level of English than translators....well, this is a... See more What do you mean parrot?
I guess you mean I shouldn't expect learning English in translation course....they will teach me how to translate.....Am I right? Nevertheless, I think it's "funny" to translate and be paid for that.....
I said I could continue improving my english if I did international exams and at the same time, I could the translation course...
I've been told that a teachers have better level of English than translators....well, this is a bit obvious. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot 
Spain
Local time: 00:50
Spanish to English
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| Mmmm, not too hasty, please | Nov 27, 2006 |
Cache wrote:
What do you mean parrot?
I guess you mean I shouldn't expect learning English in translation course....they will teach me how to translate.....Am I right?
Yes, I've heard translation professors say "this is not a language school".
Nevertheless, I think it's "funny" to translate and be paid for that.....
Not at all. In fact, I quit teaching English (I'm a native) because translation paid better.
I said I could continue improving my english if I did international exams and at the same time, I could the translation course...
Sounds like a good plan.
I've been told that a teachers have better level of English than translators....well, this is a bit obvious.
Not too hasty there. Translation students are examined for source language knowledge upon admission to check their passive grasp of the language. Many good translators do not habitually use source language for oral communication, but all of them must have a near-perfect reading grasp of it (and perfect hearing comprehension, if they are interpreters). However, in both professions (translation and interpretation), there is no significant discrimination if source language use is rated "C" (passive) instead of "B" (active).
For more information on the subject, you could try reading http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/611/
[Edited at 2006-11-27 13:15]
| | | | | I didnt mean that | Nov 27, 2006 |
I've been told that a teachers have better level of English than translators....well, this is a bit obvious.
Not too hasty there. Translation students are examined for source language knowledge upon admission to check their passive grasp of the language. Many good translators do not habitually use source language for oral communication, but all of them must have a near-perfect reading grasp of it (and perfect hearing comprehension, if they are interpreters). However, in both professions (translation and interpretation), there is no significant discrimination if source language use is rated "C" (passive) instead of "B" (active).
For more information on the subject, you could try reading http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/611/
[Edited at 2006-11-27 13:15] [/quote]
Sorry, I meant other thing
I wanted to say if you compare the level of English of a person who has just graduated from the translation course with the level of English of a person who has just graduated from teaching course, you may see the teacher has a better English...I can be wrong, I have been told this.....
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 00:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Cache wrote:
Sorry, I meant another thing
I wanted to say if you compare the level of English of a person who has just graduated from the translation course with the level of English of a person who has just graduated from teaching course, you may see the teacher has a better English...I can be wrong, I have been told this.....
Possible, why not, it's expected of teachers. But I'd say it would also depend, very often on the individual involved. Apart from this, many universities have programmes that ensure teachers are sent abroad regularly for refreshers.
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| Translation Course and Teaching Course | Nov 27, 2006 |
I forgot to ask you something:
I know in teaching course you learn English grammar, history of USA and UK, how to teach and you also study psychology
What do you learn in translation course? How much about your mother language(in my case, Spanish) you learn? When you say "they teach you how to translate", what do you mean? What does it involve?
thanks!
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 00:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Depends on the course | Nov 27, 2006 |
Cache wrote:
What do you learn in translation course? How much about your mother language(in my case, Spanish) you learn? When you say "they teach you how to translate", what do you mean? What does it involve?
thanks!
Teaching you how to translate can consist of many things. I took translation in graduate school, so it basically consisted of practice (more credits than in all other subjects), source language use, finer points of target language, comparative studies of the two, etymology and the history of languages (particularly where source and target share common sources or origins), translation/interpretation theory and history...
Part of the course involved a lot of research into specific topics, such as idioms, neologisms and technical terminology; we were free to choose our interests and there was general reporting in the classroom.
What they don't teach you is how to run your own translation business, do the paperwork, file taxes -- that's what ProZ.com and other on-line forums are better at
I suggest (for someone planning to study in Argentina) that you go to the Spanish forum and inquire about the study programmes and curriculum content imparted in several schools there. That might help you compare and decide more specifically what to opt for. Many members on the ground are better-informed. (I've only ever been two weeks in Argentina and am only familiar with Colegio of Buenos Aires, in the sense that they showed me how they ran things.)
But DO take a long view of the matter and don't presume your options end with a college course.
| | | | Heidi C
Local time: 18:50
English to Spanish
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| Studying translation or teaching: neither are language courses... | Nov 27, 2006 |
Cache wrote:
[I wanted to say if you compare the level of English of a person who has just graduated from the translation course with the level of English of a person who has just graduated from teaching course, you may see the teacher has a better English...I can be wrong, I have been told this.....
From what I understand, what you are saying is that you have been learning English, like English, want to continue improving your English and want to figure out how you can use English as part of your job (decide a career path) based on which one will help you aquire better language skills
The options you are looking at now translation and teaching.
My opinion:
1. I think you first have to continue working on your English (as I understand, this is what you want to do)
2. Then, you have to understand what each profession really is about, what each job involves, what is the pay (eventually, this DOES become an important factor), what are the qualifications required ...
You've mentioned you're not sure you would like teaching.
You also say you "think it's "funny" to translate and be paid for that....."
3. Check out what other options are out there.... (tourism, travelling, etc. have already been suggested)
4. Be aware that, just as you will not be taught English in a translation course, you won't be taught English in a Teacher's course.
In these courses, you will learn the skills and acquire the tools needed for the other part of the career: teaching or translating.
(You'll probably have some grammar and syntax classes in both languages, but these will assume a high level of proficiency: the level of your English language classes -in a decent program- will probably be at the same level as your Spanish language classes.
You have to understand than these careers are not a means for improving your language skills: they are something you do WITH the language skills you already have (their improvement is a life-long journey), COMBINED with your love/interest/skills in the other aspects and requirements of the job involved.
It's like saying you like food and like to eat and want to use this interest/love as part of your job, so you don't know if you want to open a restaurant or a cooking class...
| | | | Serena Dorey (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:50
German to English
| A translation course teaches you about translation, not necessarily how to translate | Nov 27, 2006 |
Hi
I'm currently studying for an MA in Translation Studies part-time in addition to my freelance translation work.
Each course varies. Some take a more practical approach and look at CAT tools and specialist areas such as technical or medical translation, some focus on translation theory.
Generally speaking, a translation course won't teach you how to translate. That is something that you learn with experience. However, what a translation course does do is ... See more Hi
I'm currently studying for an MA in Translation Studies part-time in addition to my freelance translation work.
Each course varies. Some take a more practical approach and look at CAT tools and specialist areas such as technical or medical translation, some focus on translation theory.
Generally speaking, a translation course won't teach you how to translate. That is something that you learn with experience. However, what a translation course does do is make you aware of some of the issues involved in translation - as Parrot said, the teachers do not teach you the language (they assume you already have these skills).
I can't speak for all translation courses or with reference to your specific language combinations but perhaps an example from my own experience might help: I am currently learning about cultural differences and strategies for translating culture-specific words and concepts. The course will also cover things like linguistics, using corpora and sociotranslation. On my course, I am assessed on my understanding and interpretation of the key academic approaches to these issues and research into these areas, not on the quality of my actual translations, even though I do sometimes have to translate texts as part of my research. The only people that assess the quality of my translation work are my customers and myself.
Hope that helps
Serena ▲ Collapse
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| I understand what you're saying | Nov 27, 2006 |
Heidi C wrote: Cache wrote:
[I wanted to say if you compare the level of English of a person who has just graduated from the translation course with the level of English of a person who has just graduated from teaching course, you may see the teacher has a better English...I can be wrong, I have been told this.....
From what I understand, what you are saying is that you have been learning English, like English, want to continue improving your English and want to figure out how you can use English as part of your job (decide a career path) based on which one will help you aquire better language skills The options you are looking at now translation and teaching. My opinion: 1. I think you first have to continue working on your English (as I understand, this is what you want to do) 2. Then, you have to understand what each profession really is about, what each job involves, what is the pay (eventually, this DOES become an important factor), what are the qualifications required ... You've mentioned you're not sure you would like teaching. You also say you "think it's "funny" to translate and be paid for that....." 3. Check out what other options are out there.... (tourism, travelling, etc. have already been suggested) 4. Be aware that, just as you will not be taught English in a translation course, you won't be taught English in a Teacher's course. In these courses, you will learn the skills and acquire the tools needed for the other part of the career: teaching or translating. (You'll probably have some grammar and syntax classes in both languages, but these will assume a high level of proficiency: the level of your English language classes -in a decent program- will probably be at the same level as your Spanish language classes. You have to understand than these careers are not a means for improving your language skills: they are something you do WITH the language skills you already have (their improvement is a life-long journey), COMBINED with your love/interest/skills in the other aspects and requirements of the job involved. It's like saying you like food and like to eat and want to use this interest/love as part of your job, so you don't know if you want to open a restaurant or a cooking class...
yes, I know
The level of English is not a problem. I would have a good level of English when I start either the translating course or the teaching course...have in mind I like studying English. But I repeat: That's not a problem.
The point is What can I do with my English? Do I like teaching or I prefer translating?
I am involved in all you said, I have been researching and I talked with teachers and translators
| | | | | What happened | Nov 27, 2006 |
What happened with one of my posts? It was erased I think...:(
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 00:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Cache wrote:
What happened with one of my posts? It was erased I think...:(
I sent you a separate note. You posted in Spanish.
You may repeat in English. However, for the record, you asked another question:
"Does the fact that I may not be a public (sworn) translator, but rather a literary/scientific translator, limit my working chances?"
Specialization? In the long run, no, although it may seem that way when you begin.
[Edited at 2006-11-27 16:42]
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Hello, Cache,
I think if you have the talent for it you would want to consider going into translating even if you decide to teach, too.
I think teaching at the university level is a good idea. In the United States, the occupational group that has the greatest job satisfaction are university professors. And university professors are often the first people contacted when an organization or a publishing company wants a translation done.
But teaching K-12 in th... See more Hello, Cache,
I think if you have the talent for it you would want to consider going into translating even if you decide to teach, too.
I think teaching at the university level is a good idea. In the United States, the occupational group that has the greatest job satisfaction are university professors. And university professors are often the first people contacted when an organization or a publishing company wants a translation done.
But teaching K-12 in the public elementary and secondary schools in the United States is often dangerous anymore because of the high rate of on-campus student crime (look at Colombine a few years ago when several students were gunned down at school by a couple of students who were ostracized). I don't know what the situation is like in Argentinian public schools as far as that goes, but it is something to seriously consider here in the United States.
Translation, because it tends to be a rather solitary pursuit, is much safer than teaching in a public school in the United States.
In any case, I am a certified teacher and have a private Spanish and French tutoring practice (I don't have the credentials to teach at a university), but I find I am in much more demand as a translator than as a tutor
.
You can make excellent money as a tutor though, and you only have to deal with one personality at a time-much less stress and you get a lot more repect from both students and parents alike.
So I say, use all the talents you can develop and give of yourself as much as you can, in a way the is most beneficial for yourself and those you will be serving.
Buena suerte! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I get the idea ;) | Nov 28, 2006 |
thank you
I think you are considerering too much security....actually there aren't too much murderers in schools.....BUT (here I agree with you ) I can teach in my house, alone( I think this is good...better than in schools for sure because you don't have to look forward to all the children....) and translate texts.
| | | | | Sorry,I forgot | Nov 28, 2006 |
What about being an interpreter?
Thanks!
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