So 2014 is at an end - my first full year of freelance translating. It's been a busy year during which I've worked on a lot of projects with both new and existing customers.
The most exciting event has been the translation and publication of Paradise Denied, Zekarias Kebraeb's true account of his journey as a refugee as he fled from Eritrea to Europe. The translation process itself was extremely thought-provoking and following the book's publication, an extract appeared in The Independent and I was fortunate enough to meet the book's co-authors in Berlin. Reading the book now, there are lots of little changes I wish I could make, but I hope that is a good read overall and that it sheds some light on the dire situation of refugees in Europe and elsewhere.
This year, I was also awarded Qualified Member status (MITI) at the Institute of Translation & Interpreting. This status is awarded to experienced translators who pass a practical translation examination in real-life conditions. I was rated "Excellent" or "Good" in all categories. I have also been actively involved in the ITI's Wessex regional network and German language network (where I now act as the moderator for the lively e-group).
Another first this year: I finally invested in translation memory software, as used by many other professional translators. After sampling various different products, I opted for MemoQ, which I have found extremely intuitive and user-friendly. The software has significantly aided the speed, consistency and quality of my translation work and I now simply couldn't be without it.
Finally, I have participated in a variety of CPD events and courses, including translation conferences at Portsmouth and Oxford universities, the ITI German Network's annual workshop, and a personal professional mentoring scheme run by
WSX Enterprise.
Looking ahead to 2015, there are a series of other interesting translation events coming up, so I hope to continue developing my expertise and learning about new perspectives. I also look forward to some more interesting projects and to meeting more of my fellow translators!
The most exciting event has been the translation and publication of Paradise Denied, Zekarias Kebraeb's true account of his journey as a refugee as he fled from Eritrea to Europe. The translation process itself was extremely thought-provoking and following the book's publication, an extract appeared in The Independent and I was fortunate enough to meet the book's co-authors in Berlin. Reading the book now, there are lots of little changes I wish I could make, but I hope that is a good read overall and that it sheds some light on the dire situation of refugees in Europe and elsewhere.
This year, I was also awarded Qualified Member status (MITI) at the Institute of Translation & Interpreting. This status is awarded to experienced translators who pass a practical translation examination in real-life conditions. I was rated "Excellent" or "Good" in all categories. I have also been actively involved in the ITI's Wessex regional network and German language network (where I now act as the moderator for the lively e-group).
Another first this year: I finally invested in translation memory software, as used by many other professional translators. After sampling various different products, I opted for MemoQ, which I have found extremely intuitive and user-friendly. The software has significantly aided the speed, consistency and quality of my translation work and I now simply couldn't be without it.
Finally, I have participated in a variety of CPD events and courses, including translation conferences at Portsmouth and Oxford universities, the ITI German Network's annual workshop, and a personal professional mentoring scheme run by
WSX Enterprise.
Looking ahead to 2015, there are a series of other interesting translation events coming up, so I hope to continue developing my expertise and learning about new perspectives. I also look forward to some more interesting projects and to meeting more of my fellow translators!
RSS Feed
