How can I find a translation mentor?
Thread poster: Anna Moorby DipTrans
Anna Moorby DipTrans
Anna Moorby DipTrans  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
Sep 10, 2002

I\'ve read lots of opinions that this is a good way to go about getting into the business. But how does one go about getting a mentor?! I\'ve seen a scheme that wants to charge in order to put you in touch with \'possible\' mentors, which doesn\'t even guarantee that they would help you. Hmm, sounds like a money-making scam to me!

Are there any translators who take on trainees to do a lot of the simpler donkey work that they then check?

BTW, if any Sp>Eng professional transla
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I\'ve read lots of opinions that this is a good way to go about getting into the business. But how does one go about getting a mentor?! I\'ve seen a scheme that wants to charge in order to put you in touch with \'possible\' mentors, which doesn\'t even guarantee that they would help you. Hmm, sounds like a money-making scam to me!

Are there any translators who take on trainees to do a lot of the simpler donkey work that they then check?

BTW, if any Sp>Eng professional translator wishes to take a bright young novice on, please let me know!!

Thanks ;o)
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Liliana Benitez-Strange (X)
Liliana Benitez-Strange (X)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I agree wholeheartedly with Ana! Sep 10, 2002

Ana if you happen to come across anyone would you be so kind to share your info with me? I am also in dire need of a Sp>En mentor. Thanks in advance. Lily

 
Arthur Borges
Arthur Borges
China
Local time: 20:14
English
+ ...
Well, I'm 1/3 of a globe away but... Sep 10, 2002

...will gladly offer any wisdom, real or imagined, that has greyed my hair over the years: [email protected]
[addsig]


 
Claudia Iglesias
Claudia Iglesias  Identity Verified
Chile
Local time: 09:14
Member (2002)
Spanish to French
+ ...
I have a mentor Sep 10, 2002

He\'s an experienced translator who accepts to proofread my work, then he gives me back the finished version and has comments on the things he changed.

Usually he gets the job and gives it to me, but if I get a job I can ask him to proofread. This takes him more than time, because he must think and explain the changes.

Our arrangement is that 0,03 US$ are for the proofreading, but it depends on the job.

I feel really grateful to him and my hope would be that all tho
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He\'s an experienced translator who accepts to proofread my work, then he gives me back the finished version and has comments on the things he changed.

Usually he gets the job and gives it to me, but if I get a job I can ask him to proofread. This takes him more than time, because he must think and explain the changes.

Our arrangement is that 0,03 US$ are for the proofreading, but it depends on the job.

I feel really grateful to him and my hope would be that all those who feel very confident on their experience and skills take an unexperienced translator for mentoring.

In France teachers have this system: Volunteers take one or two young graduated teachers and go and see them in class. If you make mistakes and nobody\'s there to tell you...How will you improve ?

And mistakes are always easier to see in other\'s productions.

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Jeremy Smith
Jeremy Smith  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:14
Member (2003)
French to English
+ ...
ITI Mentoring Scheme Sep 11, 2002

If you get an associate membership of the Isnstitute of Translation and Interpreting, they offer some kind of mentoring scheme. You can find the details at www.iti.org.uk



Good luck,



Jeremy


 
Anna Moorby DipTrans
Anna Moorby DipTrans  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Trainee translator? Sep 11, 2002

Perhaps what I meant was if there are any overburdened professionals who would take on novice translators to translate sections of documents in order to enable them to take on projects that they would otherwise feel unable to (due to time constrictions).

They would then proofread what you\'ve done, make the corrections, finish the task and pay you a small percentage of their fee. After all, it\'s better to get a percentage of a fee than lose out on the job altogether.


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Perhaps what I meant was if there are any overburdened professionals who would take on novice translators to translate sections of documents in order to enable them to take on projects that they would otherwise feel unable to (due to time constrictions).

They would then proofread what you\'ve done, make the corrections, finish the task and pay you a small percentage of their fee. After all, it\'s better to get a percentage of a fee than lose out on the job altogether.



p.s., Arthur, thank you very much for your kind offer, but I do tend to specialise in Spanish to English. I don\'t suppose you have that combo as well as the others do you?



Thanks everyone for your advice



xx
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Cecilia Vela Segovia-Frund, CT
Cecilia Vela Segovia-Frund, CT  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 09:14
Member (2003)
English to Spanish
ATA has a mentorship program Sep 11, 2002

Anne:

ATA developed a Pilot Mentorship Program in 2001. I think the program was supposed to continue in 2002. Why don\'t you try to get some information at www.atanet.org ? I understand that most of the mentors and mentorees of the program reside in USA and have some at-distance, free-of-charge cooperation.

ATA had a special mentorship session during 2001 Conference for mentors and mentorees to get in touch. N
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Anne:

ATA developed a Pilot Mentorship Program in 2001. I think the program was supposed to continue in 2002. Why don\'t you try to get some information at www.atanet.org ? I understand that most of the mentors and mentorees of the program reside in USA and have some at-distance, free-of-charge cooperation.

ATA had a special mentorship session during 2001 Conference for mentors and mentorees to get in touch. Next conference will be in Atlanta in November, maybe you can enroll in the program at such venue.

Regards,



Cecilia

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Dyran Altenburg (X)
Dyran Altenburg (X)  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:14
English to Spanish
+ ...
Mentoring Sep 11, 2002

I have to admit I am not in favor of the mentoring scheme some have proposed.



Through the years I have mentored several translators working in technical fields, and eventually have passed on jobs to them at full price, or have recommended them to my clients. But I don\'t \"teach\" them how to translate, as that is something I assume they already know. My mentoring is focused on helping already good translators to market themselves in a more effective way.


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I have to admit I am not in favor of the mentoring scheme some have proposed.



Through the years I have mentored several translators working in technical fields, and eventually have passed on jobs to them at full price, or have recommended them to my clients. But I don\'t \"teach\" them how to translate, as that is something I assume they already know. My mentoring is focused on helping already good translators to market themselves in a more effective way.



More to the point, I would be happy to take in another mentee. The requirements I look for are as follows:



Proficient in at least one of my working languages, eager to learn, not afraid to ask questions, interested in applying common sense and critical thinking, articulate, self-driven, computer-savvy, and with a strong sense of ethics.



If anyone is interested, you can contact me directly through instant messaging:



ICQ = 3941949

AIM = dyranx

Yahoo = dyran

MSN = [email protected]

[ This Message was edited by: on 2002-09-12 12:06 ]
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Dyran Altenburg (X)
Dyran Altenburg (X)  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:14
English to Spanish
+ ...
Mentoring Sep 11, 2002



[ This Message was edited by: on 2002-09-11 22:40 ]


 
Walaa(prime)
Walaa(prime)
Local time: 14:14
English to Arabic
+ ...
eng>arab montor Sep 12, 2002

Really I find it avery interesting idea to have a mentor. I wish I could find a mentor who is willing to help me improve my performance and gain experience in my pairs(eng>ara)/(ara>eng) . thank you all

 
Margaret Lomas (X)
Margaret Lomas (X)
Local time: 12:14
French to English
+ ...
ITI Mentoring Scheme Oct 20, 2002

I tried to join this mentoring scheme several months back only to find that, although they make it sound like it is a scheme which is already up and running, they didn\'t even have any mentors signed up to it! That may have changed by now but it would be as well to find out before sending in the £25 they require in order to send out an application form!



I would like a mentor - trying to get started as a freelancer feels very isolated and I realise that I have so much to le
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I tried to join this mentoring scheme several months back only to find that, although they make it sound like it is a scheme which is already up and running, they didn\'t even have any mentors signed up to it! That may have changed by now but it would be as well to find out before sending in the £25 they require in order to send out an application form!



I would like a mentor - trying to get started as a freelancer feels very isolated and I realise that I have so much to learn!
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Laura Vinti
Laura Vinti  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:14
German to Italian
+ ...
A mentor in a particular field Oct 29, 2002

I am not sure whether this is the right place to be asking this, but what I really would like to find out is whether anyone knows of the possibility to get help in a particular field (in my case finance/economics).

I translate financial/economics texts, and every once in a while I do bump into concepts/phrases that I have trouble with:

1) Because of the financial slang in the source language

2) Or because the underlying financial concept is not clear to me.
... See more
I am not sure whether this is the right place to be asking this, but what I really would like to find out is whether anyone knows of the possibility to get help in a particular field (in my case finance/economics).

I translate financial/economics texts, and every once in a while I do bump into concepts/phrases that I have trouble with:

1) Because of the financial slang in the source language

2) Or because the underlying financial concept is not clear to me.

Does anyone know if there are professionals/colleagues who can help with this?

Thanks!

Laura

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How can I find a translation mentor?







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