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Poll: Have you ever had an apprentice translator?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Feb 18, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever had an apprentice translator?".

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HAMDIYA
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:47
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

Not really, but I have occasionally acted as mentor, giving some advice or contact recommendations, but nothing so structured, regular or quasi-official as an apprenticeship.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 00:47
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

Not per se, since 2006 when I started working as a freelancer but I'm usually willing to lend a helping hand when asked. During the 20 years I worked in-house I trained and mentored several new colleagues. I enjoy sharing with others what I've learned over the years as a way of giving back what has brought me almost 40 years of career satisfaction…

Muriel Vasconcellos
Anette Hilgendag
Linda Miranda
 
Eric Zink
Eric Zink  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:47
Member (2012)
German to English
Other Feb 18, 2020

I teach at an academy for translators/interpreters, and I have provided advice beyond the curriculum, including working outside of class on projects with groups of student translators.

 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 01:47
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

I have taught my daughter some aspects of my business, including administrative chores, subtitling, how to work in Wordfast etc.

My target language is her mother tongue.


maryblack
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 17:47
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

Teresa Borges wrote:

During the 20 years I worked in-house I trained and mentored several new colleagues. I enjoy sharing with others what I've learned over the years as a way of giving back …


My situation was quite similar. I have mentored new colleagues, and as head of the Translation Service I also supervised an in-house staff and a large group of freelancers who worked for us. Sometimes I reviewed their work directly and other times I shared pointers. In addition, I taught translation as adjunct faculty at Georgetown University for many years.


 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 19:47
German to English
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

I mentored someone who as in a place where no training was available, and who was also keen and diligent. I wouldn't call it "apprenticeship". I didn't like the black and white choices "would do it again" vs. "would never do it again". The person I helped was unusual in diligence and attentiveness, a rare person of a kind I probably won't meet again in this lifetime. So I probably would not do it again. However, "never do it again" implies some kind of horrible experience.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 01:47
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
No Feb 18, 2020

I am bad company and would teach them what NOT to do...

That is my excuse. I would not have the patience, and I am afraid I am too chaotic. I am acutely aware of the debt I owe to others, so I try to give back when I can, but actually taking responsibility for an apprentice is more than I can manage.


 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 01:47
French to English
. Feb 18, 2020

I have supervised students on work placements. Some have been wonderful, and I have hugely enjoyed watching them spread their wings and gain confidence to the point of speaking up and arguing against something I might suggest.

Others not so much, like the one who managed to describe the Petit Trianon in Versailles as "the place where Hamlet and Marie-Antoinette fell in love".
On principle, I do not mock people's linguistic mistakes but I couldn't not rip into that one. At le
... See more
I have supervised students on work placements. Some have been wonderful, and I have hugely enjoyed watching them spread their wings and gain confidence to the point of speaking up and arguing against something I might suggest.

Others not so much, like the one who managed to describe the Petit Trianon in Versailles as "the place where Hamlet and Marie-Antoinette fell in love".
On principle, I do not mock people's linguistic mistakes but I couldn't not rip into that one. At least that student kept us entertained.
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Nina Khmielnitzky
Nina Khmielnitzky  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 20:47
Member (2004)
English to French
I have 3 at the moment Feb 18, 2020

My professional order has a mentor program. I work for 6 months with a translator who either studied in translation or who's been working in the field for some time and who both want to get the title of certified translator. They provide me with 5k words translated and, based on 1k words of my choosing, I evaluate their capacities as translators. What I value most is if they understand what they read to be able to translate. The translation itself is more technical and can be worked on with time... See more
My professional order has a mentor program. I work for 6 months with a translator who either studied in translation or who's been working in the field for some time and who both want to get the title of certified translator. They provide me with 5k words translated and, based on 1k words of my choosing, I evaluate their capacities as translators. What I value most is if they understand what they read to be able to translate. The translation itself is more technical and can be worked on with time, as long as they understand. Of course, I judge their grammar, spelling, etc., but as long as they understand, there is hope.
Of course, all trainees are not equal. I have some with whom working is a breeze. Others... let's say they are a challenge and maybe they should choose another profession. Each month, I submit a report to my order, and a final report after 6 months to recommend the translator gets the title... or not.
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DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
No Feb 18, 2020

While I was lucky to start in a group of experienced colleagues, I just share my unadorned yet well-reasoned views. If a person is mature enough to realize the idea, then... So, it's up to others to weight and accept or decline the cold turkey arguments. My thoughts and priorities have very little to do with somebody else's internalization. It's also pretty ok self-proclaimed wordsmiths can neither see the meaning behind words nor negotiate favorable terms, yep?

No wonder, on stati
... See more
While I was lucky to start in a group of experienced colleagues, I just share my unadorned yet well-reasoned views. If a person is mature enough to realize the idea, then... So, it's up to others to weight and accept or decline the cold turkey arguments. My thoughts and priorities have very little to do with somebody else's internalization. It's also pretty ok self-proclaimed wordsmiths can neither see the meaning behind words nor negotiate favorable terms, yep?

No wonder, on statistics, over 54% of "established" translators worldwide can't stand the fact they earn less than a McDonald's guy, deliberately turning a blind eye to numbers [business aspects].
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maryblack
maryblack  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 19:47
Member (2013)
Spanish to English
+ ...
My daughter is also taking an interest in translating Feb 18, 2020

Yetta Jensen Bogarde wrote:

I have taught my daughter some aspects of my business, including administrative chores, subtitling, how to work in Wordfast etc.

My target language is her mother tongue.


So I've been giving her a few simple jobs and discussing choices and pitfalls.


Yetta Jensen Bogarde
 
Romina Pérez Escorihuela
Romina Pérez Escorihuela  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 21:47
Member (2010)
English to Spanish
+ ...
As an interpreters' trainer... Feb 18, 2020

Eric Zink wrote:

I teach at an academy for translators/interpreters, and I have provided advice beyond the curriculum, including working outside of class on projects with groups of student translators.


Just like Eric... I have been teaching consecutive and simultaneous interpreting at University since 2011 and I enjoy mentoring my students during their first professional practices, and once graduated they also contact me to be their booth partner... Having a mentor was vital to me, so now I have the chance to do it myself, why not?


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 21:47
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Feb 18, 2020

My participation in the networks includes a good deal of mentoring/helping the newbies. I cannot call any of them "apprentices," since it's not a regular and disciplined thing. But many of them send me emails and questions inbox regularly, and I gladly reply with instructions and hints. I also have several files with hints on specific topics that are circulating all around.
However, in the millennial era, it's essential to identify those who are really willing to learn, who are just a lit
... See more
My participation in the networks includes a good deal of mentoring/helping the newbies. I cannot call any of them "apprentices," since it's not a regular and disciplined thing. But many of them send me emails and questions inbox regularly, and I gladly reply with instructions and hints. I also have several files with hints on specific topics that are circulating all around.
However, in the millennial era, it's essential to identify those who are really willing to learn, who are just a little humble to accept criticism and respect their veteran colleagues, and therefore deserve help; and the snowflakes, who are the opposite of that and deserve no assistance at all. If you don't identify your "apprentices", you'll eventually give up helping, as many colleagues actually do.
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Aline Amorim
 
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Poll: Have you ever had an apprentice translator?






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