Translation - art & business » Getting established »
What's the best qualification to have?
Thread poster: Marc Rothman
Marc Rothman
Marc Rothman  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
German to English
Aug 5, 2011

Hello everyone

As I'm just starting out and have no translation experience, I am looking at doing a course and getting a qualification. My question is: which one? Obviously the DipTrans is one option. However I've also been looking at Westminster University's MA in Translation and Linguistics. The reason I'm attracted to this course is that it offers a range of specialisms (finance, legal etc) plus the opportunity to do one module in a field where I have previous professional experi... See more
Hello everyone

As I'm just starting out and have no translation experience, I am looking at doing a course and getting a qualification. My question is: which one? Obviously the DipTrans is one option. However I've also been looking at Westminster University's MA in Translation and Linguistics. The reason I'm attracted to this course is that it offers a range of specialisms (finance, legal etc) plus the opportunity to do one module in a field where I have previous professional experience: copywriting. So my question is: DipTrans or MA at Westminster? Or something else?

Thanks
Bonpensiero ▲ Collapse
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 05:51
Spanish to English
+ ...
Either or Aug 5, 2011

Bonpensiero wrote:

Hello everyone

As I'm just starting out and have no translation experience, I am looking at doing a course and getting a qualification. My question is: which one?



Not quite sure about "no translation experience" as you are already appear to be offering translation services on your proz profile so I assume you are already working and wish to specialise. In that case, both of the institutions you mention are bona fide and prestigious, and were I to consider them, my criteria would be based mostly on cost or location, or the specialist area offered by each one.

I myself have no translation qualification per se, and set out with only my language degree and some years experience of TEFL in Spain. I find most of the post-graduate translation courses on offer too demanding in terms of cost and entrance criteria to make them worthwhile.
 
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 05:51
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Just my two cents Aug 5, 2011

Bonpensiero wrote:
As I'm just starting out and have no translation experience, I am looking at doing a course and getting a qualification. My question is: which one? Obviously the DipTrans is one option.

Unfortunately I must question this idea. The DipTrans is a very exacting exam with a high failure rate. I have known some excellent, experienced translators who needed a number of attempts, so I really think that trying the DipTrans with no experience in translation would be a waste of money (well, it would be an interesting experience, albeit an expensive one).

If you are elligible to do the MA, I would definitely do it as a way of learning about translation. When you have finished the MA and have some experience (one or two years of intense work I would say), it would be a good moment to have your go at the DipTrans.

Good luck!
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jorge Rodrigues[Call to this topic]
Rita Pang[Call to this topic]
James Heppe-Smith[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

What's the best qualification to have?







CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »