| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | The value of translator training courses Thread poster: Ivana Friis Søndergaard
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I have been looking with great interest at the courses in marketing and client acquisition on Proz and other places. I read a few articles, all very well written and interesting. But I am wondering about the value of courses offered by trainers who are themselves translators - if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers? Why are they not busy earning good money from their strategies? Any thoughts on the value of these courses?
| | | | Steven Hanley (X) 
United States
Local time: 12:40
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I would say not worth very much | Jun 12, 2013 |
"if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers"
Because if they were really so good at what they were teaching you how to do, they'd not have to be teaching you how to do it.
My advice would start from your profile: "I only work in my specialised areas...."
You don't say why you are more "specialised" in your "specialised areas" than other people.
First-hand experience?
Education?
Special training?
... See more "if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers"
Because if they were really so good at what they were teaching you how to do, they'd not have to be teaching you how to do it.
My advice would start from your profile: "I only work in my specialised areas...."
You don't say why you are more "specialised" in your "specialised areas" than other people.
First-hand experience?
Education?
Special training?
You can look here for a start:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_94.htm
I don't see you have a website; I don't see that you have a CV posted. I would wonder why you consider yourself specialised in both IT and fashion and health, as they seem completely unrelated.
Then, what is "health"? Is it healthcare, medical, insurance, something else?
You basically need to answer:
1) What does the customer want from your product/service?
2) How and where will the customer use it?
3) How is your product differentiated from your competitors'?
The last one is key - are you faster than most translators? Do you have a better education? Are you cheaper, and if you are, WHY? Because people who are looking for "cheap" tend not to be the best customers, and competing on price alone is always a bad idea.
NEVER COMPETE ON PRICE. Charge a market price, which you can find here:
http://search.proz.com/employers/rates
And then provide a better service for that price.
That's where you need to start. All any course can do it help you answer those questions. But you have to answer them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 18:40
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Ivana Friis Wilson wrote:
I have been looking with great interest at the courses in marketing and client acquisition on Proz and other places. I read a few articles, all very well written and interesting. But I am wondering about the value of courses offered by trainers who are themselves translators - if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers? Why are they not busy earning good money from their strategies? Any thoughts on the value of these courses?
Hi Ivana,
being a trainer at ProZ.com, I find your question to be quite valid. I cannot speak for other trainers, but personally there are two things which have convinced me to do both training and translating, aside from a third career.
1. I was asked to become a trainer (and sometimes it's hard to say no )
2. I consider sharing my knowledge with my colleagues to be an honor.
There are many translators who have just launched their freelancing careers. They, of course, want to learn as much about the business as possible. Preferably "yesterday".
When someone has the industry knowledge, why not share it with all our "young" colleagues instead of letting them find out the tricks of the trade by themselves, perhaps the hard and/or disappointing way?
Best regards,
Thayenga
| | | | | Many thanks for responding | Jun 12, 2013 |
Hi Steven, many thanks for your off-topic feedback on my profile. I am sorry to hear that you are not able to see my CV or my site from my profile, if you click "Display standardised information, you should be able to see both. I was not aware that my profile does not show up as "Display standardised information" as standard, I will have to work out how to change that! Other than that, I will definitely give my profile an overhaul with your comments in mind.
Hi Thayenga, thank you f... See more Hi Steven, many thanks for your off-topic feedback on my profile. I am sorry to hear that you are not able to see my CV or my site from my profile, if you click "Display standardised information, you should be able to see both. I was not aware that my profile does not show up as "Display standardised information" as standard, I will have to work out how to change that! Other than that, I will definitely give my profile an overhaul with your comments in mind.
Hi Thayenga, thank you for your on-topic comments. I guess from what you say, the courses are not really for me as I have been working as a freelance translator for some years now. Although I have n where near as much experience or education as Steven (very impressive profile!), I believe that I am past the worst beginners mistakes ▲ Collapse
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| I tend to have similar feelings | Jun 12, 2013 |
Ivana Friis Wilson wrote:
I have been looking with great interest at the courses in marketing and client acquisition on Proz and other places. I read a few articles, all very well written and interesting. But I am wondering about the value of courses offered by trainers who are themselves translators - if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers? Why are they not busy earning good money from their strategies? Any thoughts on the value of these courses?
Some of them are theorists and may have no desire or drive to implement some of those things. Others may be quite prosperous translators who have no wish to start an agency or even start outsourcing, so they just remain translators with plenty of exposure and standing (and presumably earnings).
But I'm usually skeptical, unless perhaps those trainings refer to something I believe the particular individual could plausibly know a lot about and be reliable. This said, a translator who has plenty of clients and flies back and forth speaking at conferences instead of translating a job due yesterday for peanuts obviously knows about marketing. The knowledge could be more digestible and easier to implement in my business than whatever general theory I could learn from a non-translator general marketing consultant.
[Edited at 2013-06-12 21:14 GMT]
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 18:40
Spanish to English
+ ...
| The only reason | Jun 12, 2013 |
that springs to mind is that they want to get out of the house a bit.
But some people may think that teaching translation is prestigious to some extent. This may well be the case, but personally I would prefer to practice. This is mainly because I don't have time to teach as I make lots more money translating. I also don't really want to share my specialist knowledge with potential competitors. It just doesn't make sense.
| | | | | Not a fair question | Jun 12, 2013 |
Ivana Friis Wilson wrote:
if the strategies they teach are so good, why are they working as trainers? Why are they not busy earning good money from their strategies? Any thoughts on the value of these courses?
That's not a fair question to ask. Some people believe in passing on their knowledge to others instead of keeping it to themselves. For example my dentist lectures at the local School of Dentistry, taking time off a successful practice to do so. He could make more money focusing just on his work, but if everyone thought that way, how would the next generation ever learn?
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 18:40
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Not only for beginners | Jun 13, 2013 |
Ivana Friis Wilson wrote: Hi Thayenga, thank you for your on-topic comments. I guess from what you say, the courses are not really for me as I have been working as a freelance translator for some years now. Although I have n where near as much experience or education as Steven (very impressive profile!), I believe that I am past the worst beginners mistakes
Hi Ivana,
well, these courses are not just "exclusively" for beginners. I do believe that everybody, regardless of their knowledge level (if you wish) can always extract something from these courses. You just have to choose the right one for yourself.
As they say: nobody's perfect (know everything). Yes, not even computers.
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| Thanks for your thoughts | Jun 13, 2013 |
Transafrique, it is a very fair question as the courses are for qualified translators. Your example with your dentist is not the best, as he/she is teaching dentistry to future dentists, not marketing for dentists.
Thayenga, I appreciate your point.
Tatty, that's fair enough. I believe in sharing my knowledge, though, and I guess the trainers do as well. I am just trying to work out if a trainer can offer much that I don't already know.
Lukasz,m I apprecia... See more Transafrique, it is a very fair question as the courses are for qualified translators. Your example with your dentist is not the best, as he/she is teaching dentistry to future dentists, not marketing for dentists.
Thayenga, I appreciate your point.
Tatty, that's fair enough. I believe in sharing my knowledge, though, and I guess the trainers do as well. I am just trying to work out if a trainer can offer much that I don't already know.
Lukasz,m I appreciate your points, but you are mainly speculating ▲ Collapse
| | | | Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:40
Portuguese to English
+ ...
to teach translators than the experienced translators themselves?? Following the OP's logic, it looks like teachers shouldn't teach either.
| | | | | I think you are missing the point | Jun 13, 2013 |
Hi Diana, I think you are missing the point. I am just wondering if it wouldn't be better to learn about marketing from a marketing specialist, not a another translator.
Has anyone taken any of these courses? I would love to hear from people who have taken any of the courses offered.
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:40
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Ivana Friis Wilson wrote:
I am just wondering if it wouldn't be better to learn about marketing from a marketing specialist, not a another translator.
If you have €2,000 - 3,000 for a workshop and find one who actually knows our profession.
| | | | Steven Hanley (X)
United States
Local time: 12:40
Spanish to English
+ ...
| "Off topic"? | Jun 13, 2013 |
Hi Ivana! Sorry you thought my comment was "off-topic." In fact, it's right on topic if what you want is to learn how to market your services. Maybe you should re-read it: it's basically Marketing 101.
Best regards,
Steve
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I was asking about these courses, if anyone had thoughts about their value
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