Qualifications.... Thread poster: Sarah2
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Sarah2 
Italy
Local time: 22:33
Italian to English
I am mothertongue English and have lived in Italy for 10 years. Business, teaching English background etc but no formal qualification in translation (just some experience over the years here).
On my Proz profile, I have to state my most recent Translating qualification. Hmmmmm......will a degree in Modern Languages (but not Italian, as it happens) and Linguistics count - done MANY years ago?
It looks like I can't become a member (or stand any chance of getting any work... See more I am mothertongue English and have lived in Italy for 10 years. Business, teaching English background etc but no formal qualification in translation (just some experience over the years here).
On my Proz profile, I have to state my most recent Translating qualification. Hmmmmm......will a degree in Modern Languages (but not Italian, as it happens) and Linguistics count - done MANY years ago?
It looks like I can't become a member (or stand any chance of getting any work here) unless I have a qualification....
Advice, suggestions appreciated. I really don't fancy a mega course/qualification route if I can avoid it. Done enough study......! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:33
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Sarah2 wrote:
On my Proz profile, I have to state my most recent Translating qualification. Hmmmmm......will a degree in Modern Languages (but not Italian, as it happens) and Linguistics count - done MANY years ago?
Well, it isn't really a translation qualification but the label ProZ.com gives it seems to be the main problem. It has to be the right place for anything that's relevant - languages or subject field studies. And date isn't that relevant, IMHO.
It looks like I can't become a member (or stand any chance of getting any work here) unless I have a qualification....
I don't know what gave you that idea but it certainly isn't true. Many of us here don't have much in the way of relevant qualifications (or any qualifications, come to that). My own route was through immersion in the source language, subject area experience, and many, many years in the so-called University of Life.
All Proz.com demands for full membership is your money . And membership of the "Certified PRO Network" (the "P" symbol some of us have) is based on many criteria and peer reviews.
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:33
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Sarah2 wrote:
will a degree in Modern Languages (but not Italian, as it happens) and Linguistics count - done MANY years ago?
ProZ itself shouldn't be a problem. It's more a question of the better agencies.
As a relatively new freelancer I have found that a relevant degree - in my case in my source language - has been more useful than I thought for European agency clients.
Many of them seem to want freelancers who qualify under section 3.1.4 of the ISO 17100 standard, which reads like this (my emphasis in bold):
"a) a recognized graduate qualification in translation from an institution of higher education;
b) a recognized graduate qualification in any other field from an institution of higher education plus two years of full-time professional experience in translating;
c) five years of full-time professional experience in translating." I think most agency clients would consider your degree relevant under point (b). The question would be whether you can prove two years of full-time experience.
But of course not all clients require this.
Regards
Dan
| | | | | A diploma or piece of paper of some kind is useful | Feb 25, 2016 |
Enter your degree anyway, and then list all the experience you have in the University of Life in the 'About Me' section of your profile.
The degree proves that, in the words of my school biology teacher many years ago, you have ''learnt how to learn'. The subject area is not critical.
Some of the principles can be transferred from one language to another - a lot of my training was in French and German, which I never touch professionally. You learn where at least some of... See more Enter your degree anyway, and then list all the experience you have in the University of Life in the 'About Me' section of your profile.
The degree proves that, in the words of my school biology teacher many years ago, you have ''learnt how to learn'. The subject area is not critical.
Some of the principles can be transferred from one language to another - a lot of my training was in French and German, which I never touch professionally. You learn where at least some of the pitfalls are and how to avoid them, and a language degree 'sharpens your tools' and makes you aware of what to look and listen for generally.
The best training is simply learning by doing, but you still have to study your specialist subject areas. You can dispense with the classes and formal exams - each job is a kind of exam!
If you can, get to a one-day seminar or training day once or twice a year, or try some of the online ones available: they are often useful short cuts. You will know yourself when you need to read up on some topic or other, and then the motivation will come!
Best of luck! ▲ Collapse
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Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 13:33
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
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| Short answer | Feb 25, 2016 |
Sarah2 wrote:
......will a degree in Modern Languages (but not Italian, as it happens) and Linguistics count - done MANY years ago?
No reason why it shouldn't.
| | | | Sarah2
Italy
Local time: 22:33
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks so much to all! Much appreciated and really helpful!
I will look out for short seminars etc (that sounds a great idea), and although I cannot claim years of full time translating work, I am pleased to see the old University of Life (and some translating, even interpreting but that's just TOO stressful!) still counts for something!
Thanks again!
| | | | Rebecca Davis
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:33
French to English
+ ...
| IOL DipTrans | Feb 26, 2016 |
If you genuinely understand your source language, and can write fluent English (or whatever your target language is), you walk in, you sit exam papers for six hours, and you walk out...
It's a day in your life, albeit quite an expensive one, and you have a qualification that is actually recognised.
It's well worth it, in my opinion.
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