7. Take specialization or refresher courses

Once again, this holds true for any profession, yet a translator is not allowed to disregard it. It may be a course on the new Portuguese spelling reform, translation techniques, legal terminology, or computer assisted translation programs; it is absolutely essential to keep current.

8. Master computer technology

Here I must mention a rather sad story. We sent a file in Word format to a translator with his first job for us. The file had been carefully laid out, including words and titles in bold, italics, and using varied fonts, plus an automatically generated and linked index, etc. When we received the translation, it came in plain text, without any of those bolds, italics, different fonts, etc. I was puzzled and immediately called the translator who gave me this rather bizarre answer, “I printed out the file using Word and translated it from hard copy, because that’s how I work.” No comment, and it goes without saying that it was the very first and last time we ever hired this professional.

So it is essential to master Microsoft Office. If I send a file with some specific formatting (exception made to PDF files, of course), I expect to receive it exactly the same. Therefore a translator knowing their way in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is always taken for granted.

9. Understand and learn to use some computer assisted translation program (Trados, Wordfast, Déjà Vu, etc.)

As the owner of a translation firm, I often hear translators complaining that “they are forced to work with Trados (or Wordfast, etc.), because agency X, for whom they have been translating, requires it.” The software is assigned to be the villain. The agency uses it to make a profit on the poor translator. This may even be true in some cases, however translators seem to overlook the key issue: these programs are productivity tools, i.e., they serve to increase the translation professional’s output. However regardless of whether a job is for an agency or a direct client, using them means higher productivity in the long run, resulting in more money.

I can’t imagine a translator nowadays still doing it in the good old way, i.e. without being boosted by such software. These tools increase productivity, standardize terminology, save on typing (copying numbers, for instance), just to name a few benefits. In this case, translators should overcome their skepticism and start using them.

10. Pay attention and become a perfectionist

This might seem overrated, however I think that paying attention is essential for a good translator. I have lost count of how many times I saw translators simply skipping a word (or a whole sentence!) in a translation, or typing the wrong date (which is awfully bad in a plain translation, yet unacceptable in a sworn translation) or even commit gross subject-verb concordance mistakes. A translator should pay close attention to translating and review the work with utmost care. Taking this one step further, translators should work toward becoming perfectionists, as both agencies and direct clients expect a flawless, error-free finished product, and requiring as little rework as possible; this is the benchmark all translators should strive to achieve.

Task 1

Answer the questions:

What skills and qualities should a person possess to become a good translator/interpreter?

How can people acquire these qualities?

Is translator’s job attractive to you? Why?

Task 2

If you have already worked as a teacher or a translator/interpreter, share your impressions with your groupmates.

Kevin Miller’s future career

Kevin Miller

GOOD AT: maths, physics, biology, foreign languages.

ENJOYS: outdoor activities, meeting people, travelling.

CHARACTER: active, sociable, good team member, but not a self-starter

Possible careers for Kevin? medicine, travel and tourism, landscape gardening, education, research, journalism, civil engineering.

Task 1

Kevin Miller has just finished school and is not sure what career to choose. Discuss various possibilities together and decide what you think would be the most suitable career for him.

Use the following phrases:

I think a career in … might/might not be appropriate for him since he …

Do you think it would be a good idea if he went into …?

It says that he’s … so perhaps … would be a good/better choice.

If he chose …, he would be able to …

I think we can rule … out, so that leaves us with …

Well, we’ve got (two/three) options left. Which do you prefer?

Final task 1

Discuss these questions:

What jobs in your country are popular or unpopular with young people? Why?

Is it easy for young people in your country to find the kind of jobs they want? Why/why not?

What factors (e.g. salary, opportunities for travel or promotion, working hours) would you take into account in choosing a career for yourself?

Sometimes people are not paid well enough for the job that they do (e.g. nurses) while other people (e.g. successful businessmen) earn enormous salaries. In your opinion, which jobs are underpaid and which are overpaid in your country?

Final task 2

Be ready to speak on the topic “My Future Profession”

RECRUITMENT

When a company needs to recruit or employ new people, it may decide to advertise the job or position in the appointments section of a newspaper. People who are interested can then apply for the job by sending in a letter of application or covering letter (US cover letter) and a curriculum vitae or CV (US resume) containing details of their education and experience. A company may also ask candidates to complete a standard application form. The company’s Human Resources department will then select the most suitable applications and prepare a short list of candidates or applicants, who are invited to attend an interview. Another way for a company to hire is by using the services of a recruitment agency (US search firm) who will provide them with a list of suitable candidates.

Task 1

Explain the words in bold.

Task 2

Answer the questions:

What does a company do when it needs to recruit new people?

What documents do people send to a company when they want to apply for a job?

Who prepares a short list of candidates and invites them to attend an interview?

How do recruitment agencies work?

Task 3

Translate the text.

Career in the American company Cognex:

COGNEX

Career opportunities

N

Tokens for pinball games in company game room

ew Graduate Opportunities and Intern Programs

President’s Awards given yearly to top performers, with bonuses up to $10000

Everything you need to do your best work

Hours required: whatever it takes to meet customer’s needs

Patent for developing unique technology

Plane tickets to visit customers around the world

‘Cognoid’ (a.k.a. Cognex employee)

Movie tickets for monthly company ‘movie nights’

Frisbee for daily Ultimate Frisbee match at lunchtime

(Click on the boxes to go to more information on that topic)

Cognex offers a wealth of exciting career opportunities for new graduates in all fields. We also offer current college students the ability to acquire some excellent professional experience through internship and co-op programs. We conduct on-campus interviews and participate in career expos, and we’d love to meet you the next time we are at your school.

Task 1

You have read the advertisement from the website of the American company Cognex. Match the information below with the corresponding boxes in the advertisement:

• Cognex provides evening entertainment for its employees.

• There is a place for employees to play and unwind.

• Employees are given the opportunity to travel to foreign countries.

• Cognex likes to recognize and thank employees for their hard work.

Task 2

In pairs discuss these questions:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of working for Cognex?

• Would you like to work for a company like this? Why / Why not?

• What do you think of this type of recruitment advertisement?

• What kind of person does Cognex hope to recruit?

• What other ways can companies use to advertise for stuff?

Task 3

Different methods may be used to recruit people. In groups discuss the following. Candidates may be asked to:

● tell a joke

● take part in a team game with employees from the company

● make a five-minute speech

● complete a probation period before being accepted.

Employers may:

● offer a job to the husband or wife of a good candidate

● prefer to recruit people from the families of employees

● ask candidates to complete a personality test

● have candidates’ handwriting analysed (graphology).

Which methods do you think are acceptable / unacceptable? Why? Would it be possible to recruit like this in Russia?

New tendencies in recruiting people.