INC Magazine just named translation and interpreting services as one of the best businesses for 2010!
http://tinyurl.com/26qec75
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Quick Tips for Choosing a Translator
(by Diego Shirayama on 2010-02-02 - TRANSLATION TIPS)
Clients hiring the services of translators often have no idea what they’re really getting for their money. This is especially true when purchasing a translation in which the target language is not understood by the client. Not only can one phrase in any given language be translated in several distinct ways, but it can also be translated badly in an even more ways. Just look at most cartoon/comic fan translations.
A “bad translation” can be bad for many different reasons, and to varying degrees. You can get completely nonsensical, random translations from the likes of Google Translator of Babelfish, or you can get them from an obviously non-native speaker who has a bit too much confidence in their linguistic skills. You can also get bad translations by translators who are indeed native speakers in their target language, but who have extremely limited abilities in the source language, causing errors which may be grammatically correct but have little to nothing to do with the source text. There are also many translations which are technically correct – in the sense that they adhere to both the source text and the general rules of spelling and grammar – but which are too awkward and/or rambling to properly follow. Unfortunately, unless you either know the translator to have adequate ability or have a good system for selection, you never know when these bad translations will pop up to ruin your day.
Here, we will outline some basic steps you can take to avoid having to deal with these bad translations by choosing an appropriate translator from the get-go.
Check Accreditation
A number of professional translator associations - for example, the ATA (North America) or the JTF (Japan) - make an attempt to set quality and accuracy standards by administering difficult, peer-evaluated tests for various specified language pairs. Professional translators with experience and accreditation evaluate these tests to decide whether or not to award certification. Translators with these accreditations are generally reliable, and usually have proven skills.
Check Available Samples
If possible, look for a native speaker of the target language who will be able to read samples of the prospective translator's work. Even better would be to find an evaluator who also has a background in the source language, and even more so if you can find someone with knowledge of the source material as well. A bit of this sort of research can provide you with a pretty good estimate of a translator's skill level. Proper, natural-sounding writing can be difficult enough as it is; writing properly while also conveying a set meaning into another language can jack up the challenge level considerably. You should NEVER assume that a “native speaker” of a language equals a “proficient translator”.
Pair Up the Translator with the Material
Not all documents are exactly the same, and no translator can translate all documents adequately and efficiently. Thoroughly check a translator's experience and fields of specialty. If a translator does not have experience translating technical documents, then you probably shouldn’t assign them a highly technical user manual for a drill press. If you’re looking for someone to translate a press release for a trendy new restaurant or club, then you might not want to go with a medical translation specialist.
One of the most common misconceptions about the translation business is that it is a scientific and exact process - simply trading words from one language with words of another language, and having them make sense. If you have an understanding of the complex ways in which languages and cultures differ from each other - as well as of the inherent challenges of proper writing - you should be able to select a translator without having to scramble around for someone to proofread and subsequently correct an entire project by the deadline.
Clients hiring the services of translators often have no idea what they’re really getting for their money. This is especially true when purchasing a translation in which the target language is not understood by the client. Not only can one phrase in any given language be translated in several distinct ways, but it can also be translated badly in an even more ways. Just look at most cartoon/comic fan translations.
A “bad translation” can be bad for many different reasons, and to varying degrees. You can get completely nonsensical, random translations from the likes of Google Translator of Babelfish, or you can get them from an obviously non-native speaker who has a bit too much confidence in their linguistic skills. You can also get bad translations by translators who are indeed native speakers in their target language, but who have extremely limited abilities in the source language, causing errors which may be grammatically correct but have little to nothing to do with the source text. There are also many translations which are technically correct – in the sense that they adhere to both the source text and the general rules of spelling and grammar – but which are too awkward and/or rambling to properly follow. Unfortunately, unless you either know the translator to have adequate ability or have a good system for selection, you never know when these bad translations will pop up to ruin your day.
Here, we will outline some basic steps you can take to avoid having to deal with these bad translations by choosing an appropriate translator from the get-go.
Check Accreditation
A number of professional translator associations - for example, the ATA (North America) or the JTF (Japan) - make an attempt to set quality and accuracy standards by administering difficult, peer-evaluated tests for various specified language pairs. Professional translators with experience and accreditation evaluate these tests to decide whether or not to award certification. Translators with these accreditations are generally reliable, and usually have proven skills.
Check Available Samples
If possible, look for a native speaker of the target language who will be able to read samples of the prospective translator's work. Even better would be to find an evaluator who also has a background in the source language, and even more so if you can find someone with knowledge of the source material as well. A bit of this sort of research can provide you with a pretty good estimate of a translator's skill level. Proper, natural-sounding writing can be difficult enough as it is; writing properly while also conveying a set meaning into another language can jack up the challenge level considerably. You should NEVER assume that a “native speaker” of a language equals a “proficient translator”.
Pair Up the Translator with the Material
Not all documents are exactly the same, and no translator can translate all documents adequately and efficiently. Thoroughly check a translator's experience and fields of specialty. If a translator does not have experience translating technical documents, then you probably shouldn’t assign them a highly technical user manual for a drill press. If you’re looking for someone to translate a press release for a trendy new restaurant or club, then you might not want to go with a medical translation specialist.
One of the most common misconceptions about the translation business is that it is a scientific and exact process - simply trading words from one language with words of another language, and having them make sense. If you have an understanding of the complex ways in which languages and cultures differ from each other - as well as of the inherent challenges of proper writing - you should be able to select a translator without having to scramble around for someone to proofread and subsequently correct an entire project by the deadline.
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Student & Teacher Relationship
The relationship between the language student and his teacher must certainly be one of the most unique human interactions possible. It is one based on trust, rapport and being able to feel totally comfortable with the other person. After all, these two individuals get to know each other on a very personal basis.
That is why interpersonal skills are so important. In many cases, a student will confide in his teacher what he won't tell even his own family, partner, or best friend. It is their time to focus on learning another language while sharing their fears, doubts and weaknesses - and essentially, their lives. A student will often entrust his teacher with confidential information and a teacher should respect that he bears a responsibility of maintaining that confidentiality and treating it as such. What a privilege that is!
When I first started teaching English, I was ready to conquer the world and teach those people every single aspect of the language. I soon learned that not only was I totally unprepared to remedy all their language illnesses but I was also too rigid with them at the interpersonal level. It took me years to learn how to deal with so many types of people and the challenges that teaching a language can bring.
However, it did not take me long to learn that there are so many reasons why people choose to study a language and that learning English perfectly was not necessarily one of those reasons. What I thought was best for them was not always what they felt was best for them…
Yet what I did discover is that some people study because they need to talk to someone and have someone listen to them. Others study because they want to progress in their professional or personal lives. Whatever the reason is for taking language classes, there is a need out there that somehow we as teachers can discover and fill.
We are dealing with humans on the interpersonal level. And humans are subject to error and weaknesses (that includes teachers). Therefore, we as humans have our good and bad days, our ups and downs and our imperfections. As teachers we need to be sensitive to our students' needs and be flexible when they don't feel like working as hard as normal. After all, don't we also have those days when we don't feel like working either?
The bottom line here is needs. What do our students need? Are we sensitive to what they as individuals need while they attempt to learn another language? Are we in tune with what is going on inside their brains, trying to put ourselves in their shoes to help them as much as possible? Do we seek out ways to help them learn through different approaches, therefore giving them encouragement to overcome their obstacles?
When I began Small World Language Services, I wanted the focus to be exactly that - on needs. I had been with enough students to understand that they look to us as teachers to fulfill some kind of need. That goes far beyond what meets the eye. That means going deeper than the surface and finding out what they need. It requires training, experience and above all, sensitivity and perceptiveness.
The Small World teacher team has been hired based on the following criteria: First of all, they are native teachers who come with a full command of their language. Secondly, they are individuals who demonstrate a true interest in people and how to help students in different aspects of the language. Our native teachers are TESL certified and most of them hold at least a Bachelor's degree n their respective fields. Many of them are professionals that have decided to give back their knowledge in the form of personalized teaching. Each teacher is unique and has different talents and abilities. But above all, they are people that have excellent interpersonal skills. Their priorities lie in making the student feel like they are being taken care of and that they are taking responsibility for their needs.
We may not be the biggest language provider in the world, but that is not why we are in business. We are exactly as the name "Small World" implies. As you learn languages with us, you will see that this is truly a small world we live in and that we do care about your needs. We all come from different worlds, backgrounds and experiences. Hopefully your time with us will be meaningful as we explore different aspects of language in our Small World…
*Kimberlee Thorne-Waintraub is from Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.). She has been an English teacher for over 12 years and founded Small World Language Services in 2004. She is a teacher trainer and provides translation, editing, proofreading and content writer work. Kimberlee's website is www.smallworldlanguages.net
To get in touch with her, please write to kwaintraub@gmail.com
That is why interpersonal skills are so important. In many cases, a student will confide in his teacher what he won't tell even his own family, partner, or best friend. It is their time to focus on learning another language while sharing their fears, doubts and weaknesses - and essentially, their lives. A student will often entrust his teacher with confidential information and a teacher should respect that he bears a responsibility of maintaining that confidentiality and treating it as such. What a privilege that is!
When I first started teaching English, I was ready to conquer the world and teach those people every single aspect of the language. I soon learned that not only was I totally unprepared to remedy all their language illnesses but I was also too rigid with them at the interpersonal level. It took me years to learn how to deal with so many types of people and the challenges that teaching a language can bring.
However, it did not take me long to learn that there are so many reasons why people choose to study a language and that learning English perfectly was not necessarily one of those reasons. What I thought was best for them was not always what they felt was best for them…
Yet what I did discover is that some people study because they need to talk to someone and have someone listen to them. Others study because they want to progress in their professional or personal lives. Whatever the reason is for taking language classes, there is a need out there that somehow we as teachers can discover and fill.
We are dealing with humans on the interpersonal level. And humans are subject to error and weaknesses (that includes teachers). Therefore, we as humans have our good and bad days, our ups and downs and our imperfections. As teachers we need to be sensitive to our students' needs and be flexible when they don't feel like working as hard as normal. After all, don't we also have those days when we don't feel like working either?
The bottom line here is needs. What do our students need? Are we sensitive to what they as individuals need while they attempt to learn another language? Are we in tune with what is going on inside their brains, trying to put ourselves in their shoes to help them as much as possible? Do we seek out ways to help them learn through different approaches, therefore giving them encouragement to overcome their obstacles?
When I began Small World Language Services, I wanted the focus to be exactly that - on needs. I had been with enough students to understand that they look to us as teachers to fulfill some kind of need. That goes far beyond what meets the eye. That means going deeper than the surface and finding out what they need. It requires training, experience and above all, sensitivity and perceptiveness.
The Small World teacher team has been hired based on the following criteria: First of all, they are native teachers who come with a full command of their language. Secondly, they are individuals who demonstrate a true interest in people and how to help students in different aspects of the language. Our native teachers are TESL certified and most of them hold at least a Bachelor's degree n their respective fields. Many of them are professionals that have decided to give back their knowledge in the form of personalized teaching. Each teacher is unique and has different talents and abilities. But above all, they are people that have excellent interpersonal skills. Their priorities lie in making the student feel like they are being taken care of and that they are taking responsibility for their needs.
We may not be the biggest language provider in the world, but that is not why we are in business. We are exactly as the name "Small World" implies. As you learn languages with us, you will see that this is truly a small world we live in and that we do care about your needs. We all come from different worlds, backgrounds and experiences. Hopefully your time with us will be meaningful as we explore different aspects of language in our Small World…
*Kimberlee Thorne-Waintraub is from Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.). She has been an English teacher for over 12 years and founded Small World Language Services in 2004. She is a teacher trainer and provides translation, editing, proofreading and content writer work. Kimberlee's website is www.smallworldlanguages.net
To get in touch with her, please write to kwaintraub@gmail.com
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Why it is so important to have a niche market
For those of you out there who try to do everything, without any particular focus, this article is for you:
http://biznik.com/articles/why-is-it-so-impor
tant-to-have-a-niche-market
http://biznik.com/articles/why-is-it-so-impor
tant-to-have-a-niche-market
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