professional development

Upcoming Workshop – Become a Voice Talent

May 3, 2022

Don’t miss the exciting multilingual workshop “Become a Voice Talent” on May 19, 2022! The workshop will work for all language pairs that include English.

This 3-hour workshop is limited to 30 attendees who are able to attend the live event in real-time and actively participate in classroom activities during the workshop. Attendees will be contacted after registration to confirm their attendance.

Presenter: Rafa Lombardino
Date: May 19, 2022
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 U.S. ET
Duration: 3 hours
Presenting Language(s): English
Level: All
ATA CEPs: 3.0

Increase your competitive advantage by adding voice recording services!

As the language industry landscape continues to evolve, diversification is becoming even more relevant to a successful business. One excellent opportunity for those language professionals looking to expand their services in a new direction has been created by the growing demand for multilingual voice recording.

Join us for this highly dynamic virtual workshop, where you’ll learn about the different market segments for voice recording and how to acquire the necessary skills to offer this service to clients.

During three hours of focused learning, this workshop will cover effective speaking, breathing, pauses, tone of voice, and what equipment and tools are needed for a successful audio-recording session. Attendees will also receive real-time feedback on reading exercises for different markets!

You will learn how to:

Use sound hardware and software for successful audio-recording sessions
Identify the market demand for your type of voice and style
Prepare yourself to record voice samples
Reach out to clients to offer your voice-over services
How to charge for voice-over work

Special Notes

Due to the interactive nature of this event, the workshop is limited to 30 participants.
Participants can submit their recordings ahead of time, whether anonymous or not, for real-time feedback during the session.
We encourage everyone to connect with their video and audio on and actively participate in the workshop discussions.

About the Presenter

Rafa Lombardino became a professional translator in 1997, specializing in technology, marketing, human resources, education, health and wellness, audiovisual, and literature. She is ATA-certified in both English-to-Portuguese and Portuguese-to-English translation. Rafa has a professional certificate in Spanish-to-English translation from the University of California, San Diego Extension, where she started teaching translation classes in 2010. One of her classes, “Tools and Technology in Translation,” has been released in book format. She is President and CEO of Word Awareness, a small network of professional translators.

How to Register or Purchase

ATA Member: $135 – Click to Register
Non-Member: $180 – Click to Register

Registration Closes: May 18, 5:00 pm ET

Upcoming November ATA webinars

November 7, 2021

The ATA is offering another round of webinars over the next few weeks that should prove to be fun and informative!

Introduction to Mobile App Localization

There’s an app for everything these days, and there’s now an ATA webinar on mobile app localization, too! 🙂
Presenter Dorota Pawlak will give us an introduction to mobile app localization and the role of translators working in this field. Drawing on years of experience in this field, the speaker will explain what skills, tools, and qualities are needed to localize mobile apps; what are some of the most common issues in mobile app localization projects; and how to solve them.

Join us on November 9 or sign up to get the recording and 1 ATA CEP
https://www.atanet.org/event/introduction-to-mobile-app-localization/

Registration closes: November 9, 10:00 am EST

memoQ for Intermediate and Advanced Users

Join this webinar to take your knowledge of memoQ to the next level: in this session, you will learn useful tips and tricks that can make your work as a translator a lot easier.
You will also learn how to search your preferred websites directly from the translation grid and how to connect to a machine translation provider to be able to use MT in your work. The trainer will also show you how to automate your processes using templates in memoQ and how to fine-tune the import of your documents with the help of powerful import filters.
Register at https://www.atanet.org/event/memoq-for-intermediate-and-advanced-users/
Remember that ATA members can save 35% on new licenses for memoQ translator pro.

Join us on November 12 at 12 pm EST (recording will be available) / 1 ATA CEP
Registration Closes: November 12, 10:00 am EST

Intermediate Tips and Tricks for Trados Studio

This hands-on webinar will explore useful features that will take you a step closer to becoming a power user of the most powerful and popular CAT tool in the market.
This webinar was organized in collaboration with RWS.

You will learn how to:

Identify and modify file type options
Work with a translation memory’s language resources
Use apps to extend Trados Studio’s functionality
Use machine translation for pre-translation and interactive translation
Set up verification option

Remember that ATA members can save 35% on Trados Studio 2021 Freelance and Trados Studio 2021 Freelance Plus.

Join us on November 17 at 12 pm EST (recording will be available) / 1 ATA CEP

Registration Closes: November 17, 10:00 am EST

Upcoming ATA webinars this week

November 1, 2021

We have two fun and interactive ATA webinars coming up this week!

November 2 at 6 pm EDT: Ethics in Conference Interpreting with Katty Kauffman

https://www.atanet.org/event/ethics-in-conference-interpreting/

Duration: 120 minutes
ATA CEPs: 2.0

What will you learn?

Working definition of ethics in interpreting
Core concepts and values of conference interpreters
Best practices for onsite events
Best practices for remote events
Where ethics in onsite and remote events converge and diverge

Registration Closes: November 2, 4:00 pm EDT

November 4 at 7 pm EDT: The Power of Social Media: Key Strategies for Marketing Your Interpreting and Translation Services (free for ATA members!) with Mireya Pérez, MS

https://www.atanet.org/event/the-power-of-social-media-key-strategies-for-marketing-your-interpreting-and-translation-services/

What will you learn?

What types of social media posts you can use as a marketing tool
What is visual storytelling and how you can use it on social media
How to identify your target audience
How to create identity on social media
What social media resources are available

Registration Closes: November 4, 10:00 am EDT

Upcoming ATA webinar August 25: Transcreation in Video Game Localization

August 12, 2021

https://www.atanet.org/event/transcreation-in-video-game-localization/

Presenters: Lucio Alcaide, Marina Ilari
August 25, 2021, at 12 noon U.S. EDT
CE Points: 1 ATA-approved

Localizing video games sounds like fun, and it is. But any game localization expert will tell you it’s also one of the most challenging jobs in the industry. Luckily there is a way to make the process a bit easier!

Join this webinar to learn how transcreation can be used to create an immersive experience for players—from story to characters to culture. Real examples, tips, and tricks included!

What will you learn?
* The difference between translation, localization, and transcreation
* The evolution of video game localization
* Where transcreation might be needed in video games
* Examples of transcreation in a variety of video game content
* Strategies to use when working on projects that require transcreation

Register Now!
ATA Member $45 https://web.atanet.org/membersonly/login.php?rm=login&msg=0&redirect=/membersonly/webinar.pl?cid=290
Non-Member $60 https://web.atanet.org/webinars/shopping_cart.php?itemCode=290

Upcoming ATA Events: June 2021

June 8, 2021

ATA’s events schedule is as busy as ever. Here are a few upcoming events not to miss!

“Introduction to Localization” by Alaina Brandt
June 15, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT / ATA CEP: 1.0
ATA members: $45; non-members: $60. Click to register.

Localization is the act of customizing language services and products to audiences who speak different languages. The strategies employed in localization are highly dependent on cultural, subject field, and textual/product expectations. Localization strategy is tailored to business goals in areas like sales, expansion, and growth. Localization work is performed in a dynamic environment of rapid technological advancements, ever-shifting regulations, and looming and unforeseen risks.

Join us to learn about opportunities in this exciting field and the skills needed to be a successful localizer. You will leave this session understanding that localization is anything but a one-size-fits-all approach.

Virtual Brainstorm Networking
June 29, 5:00 – 6:00 pm EDT
FREE and limited to ATA members! Click to register.

Join your colleagues for this fun, fast-paced hour of solving common business challenges in small teams. Attend this virtual event to meet new people, learn new skills, and expand your support network, while sharing your own experiences. Don’t miss it!

“Practical Strategies to Capture Notes Virtually When Providing Remote Interpreting” by Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
June 30 / 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT / ATA CEP: 1.0
ATA members: $45; non-members: $60. Click to register.

The pandemic has forced us to adapt to interpreting from home. In this webinar we will review basic and advanced pointers on how to use low-cost or free programs and applications you may already have to capture information, bypassing the traditional approach of handwritten note-taking strategies.

“Interpreting Insults from Spanish into Your Target Language” by Darinka Mangino
June 30 / 1:00 pm – 2:30 pmEDT / ATA CEP: 1.5
ATA members: $65; non-members: $90. Click to register.

Even seasoned interpreters have a hard time making the right choice when dealing with big words and colloquial expressions when content is more emotional than technical. In some cultures, expletives might be used as a form of flattery and expressions of closeness, even if authoritative dictionaries list those big words as taboo.
When you do not know how to interpret insults, you may use a different register than the speaker used originally. A colloquial expression could become a formal one or—even worse—a word that is key to the message could be omitted.

Having a strategy to delve into the cultural meaning will help you detach from the awful feeling of uttering insults you don’t mean but have to say in the first person. You will make confident choices and be assured that you did not compromise the speaker’s agency or your client’s trust.

In this webinar, you will learn how to not take words at face value, how to perform a comprehensive analysis of the message, and how to convey the speaker’s message accurately.

Register for both “Practical Strategies to Capture Notes Virtually When Providing Remote Interpreting” and “Interpreting Insults from Spanish into Your Target Language” and save $15!

Upcoming ATA webinars in April: Branding Basics and Doing Business with Law Firms

April 1, 2021

Several ATA webinars are coming up in April, and we thought that these two would be of interest to SLD members!

“Personal Branding Basics”: a Back to Business Basics webinar with Ben Karl on April 6 at 12:00 pm Eastern time. This webinar is free to ATA members but registration is required. All registered participants will get a handout and a link to the recording.
Register at https://www.atanet.org/event/personal-branding-basics/

Developing a personal brand is a classic “work smarter, not harder” technique. When done well, it will showcase your specific expertise and skill set, bringing focus to your marketing and targeting your ideal clients. Far more than a logo or a slogan, your personal brand will tell your story, from who you are and what you do to why you are the right person for the job.

“Doing Business with Law Firms”: a webinar with Paula Arturo on April 14 at 12:00 pm Eastern time. Registration is $45 for ATA members and $60 for non-members (including 1 ATA CEP and a link to the recording)
Register at https://www.atanet.org/event/doing-business-with-law-firms/

Legal translators are expected to master both law and language in a market with its own unique, and often rigid, set of rules. This is not a field you jump into unprepared.

So how do you know if this field is right for you? How do you prepare to cater to this demanding market? Should you sub-specialize? If so, in what? How do you get your foot through the door with top law firms? And, once inside, how do you keep them happy and coming back?

Presenter Paula Arturo will draw on her 20+ years of experience and current role at a top law firm to help get you on track for doing business with law firms.

Last call to register for the SLD virtual workshop “Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References”

March 9, 2021

ATA’s first-ever virtual workshop is on Saturday, March 13, and it’s organized in close collaboration with the Slavic Languages Division for the benefit of Russian interpreters.

“Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References” will be presented by Yuliya Speroff, medical interpreter supervisor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, as well as a Russian-English CoreCHI™- and WA DSHS-certified medical and social services interpreter. Yuliya has interpreted in a variety of settings—from a fighter jet factory to real-time brain surgery. She has an MA in business management and is certified as both an English and a Russian language instructor with more than 10 years of teaching experience.

Yuliya Speroff was just named Interpreter of the Year by CHIA (California Healthcare Interpreting Association), so we are very excited to have her as our workshop instructor.

Join us this Saturday, March 13 at 12:00 pm Eastern time for two fun-filled hours of exploring various idioms and cultural references in English and Russian and small-group discussion of how to best convey their meaning in the target language. You don’t have to be an interpreter to join! In fact, translators who are interested in idioms will get a lot out of this workshop too, and will benefit from cross-pollination of ideas and experiences with colleagues working in other fields.

Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, attendance will be limited to 30 people.

Registration closes at 5 pm Eastern on Friday, March 12, so don’t delay—register today!

Participants are eligible for 2 ATA continuing education points, 2 CCHI continuing education units, and 0.15 IMIA/NBCMI continuing education units.

Upcoming Virtual Workshop in Russian: Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References

March 2, 2021

Join us on March 13 for ATA’s first virtual workshop, held in cooperation with the ATA Slavic Languages Division: Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References (presented in Russian)!

Being able to understand and deal with colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions is an essential part of a professional interpreter’s skill set.

In this 2-hour interactive workshop, presenter Yuliya Speroff will introduce participants to common idiomatic expressions encountered in spoken discourse and equip participants with strategies for interpreting idioms and cultural references.

The participants will be able to apply their newly acquired skills through small group discussions and practice activities.

Registration is open, but space is limited, so hurry up and register today: https://www.atanet.org/event/interpreting-idioms-and-cultural-references/

This virtual workshop is approved for 2 CCHI CEUs and 2 ATA CEPs.

Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning for Freelancers

February 25, 2021

A new webinar is coming up in ATA’s popular Back to Business Basics series!

On March 2 at 12:00 pm Eastern time, Karen Tkaczyk will talk about Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning for Freelancers.

As with all webinars in this new series, it will be free to ATA members (but you must register to attend). The recording will be available to members at no charge (non-members can access it for a small fee).

What happens if you are hit by the proverbial bus? Or have power outages after a weather event? Or have to spend unplanned time in the hospital? Sensible contingency planning is not only your responsibility but also a gift to whomever will be handling the business in your absence.

In this seventh episode of ATA’s Back to Business Basics webinar series, presenter Karen Tkaczyk will walk attendees through implementing a basic emergency plan, including office infrastructure, crisis communications, and business continuity.

What will you learn?

Where to start in making a plan
Which tools can help keep this simple
Whether to have instructions and message templates in all your working languages
How to reduce stress for those handling your affairs
How a business can smoothly restart operations after an emergency

Registration is open: https://www.atanet.org/event/emergency-preparedness-and-contingency-planning-for-freelancers/

ATA Webinars on Audiovisual Translation

February 12, 2021

The industry stats say it all: the average person will increase their daily online video watching from 84 minutes in 2020 to 100 minutes in 2021, while the total time collectively spent viewing online videos has increased 32% a year on average since 2013.

The demand for audiovisual translation is growing rapidly. So, if you’re thinking of adding a new specialty to your services, this is a good one to vet.

These two webinars organized in collaboration with ATA’s Audiovisual Division that will give you the introduction you need.

Attend them live on February 24, 2021, or watch the recordings at your convenience.

Subtitling: How a Text Translator Can Become a Subtitler by Deborah Wexler

Subtitling is a translation job. You’re a translator. Shouldn’t that be enough? Actually, it’s not. When you’re translating a book or document, you have a single stream of text to deal with. When you’re translating a movie, you have two streams of information coming at you at the same time and are limited by reading speed and the number of characters allowed. And the differences don’t stop there.

Is this specialty a good fit for your business? Register now to find out!

ATA Member: $45 – Register Here Non-Member: $60 – Register Here

You will learn:

The differences between text translation and subtitling
Subtitling formatting
Basic functions of subtitling software
The dos and don’ts of managing time and space constraints
How to train yourself in subtitling

Closed-Captioning and SDH: An Introduction by Mara Campbell

The techniques of closed-captioning and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH) are great entry-level tasks in the audiovisual translation industry. Presenter Mara Campbell will cover roll-up captions and pop-on captions with and without placement, as well as the pros and cons of available freeware and professional software.ATA Member: $45 – Register Here Non-Member: $60 – Register HereYou will learn:

An understanding of how closed-captioning and SDH are produced
The similarities and differences between the two
The different types of closed-captioning and SDH
Available freeware and professional software
Qualifications and skill sets professionals need to have

Register for Both Webinars and Save!

ATA Member $75 Non-Member $105

And if you are interested in audiovisual translation, check out the previous ATA webinars on this topic: What Is Audiovisual Translation? and Audio Description: The Visual Made Verbal

Upcoming Workshop – Become a Voice Talent