By Britta Noack
Welcome to the new AVD Mentoring Program, a program we are establishing for translators in good standing with ATA to learn more about audiovisual translation. Have you always wondered what it would be like to subtitle a movie, or are you already working in the field of audiovisual media and would like the strengthen your techniques and skills? We are here to help you achieve exactly that.
Mentors as well as mentees will be chosen by the program to fit desired skillsets and objectives. Both sides will be emailed short questionnaires from mentoringavd@gmail.com to be filled out and returned so we can determine which translators could gain the most out of a mentor/mentee relationship.
The program will last six months and each mentor will hold two monthly (1-2 hour) meetings with his or her mentee. As these partnerships are likely to be long-distance, meetings will be conducted online, for example, via skype. Once partnered, meetings should be scheduled so mentoring can begin. We will not have a set timeframe for partnerships to start, but they will end after a six-month period. The Mentoring Program will guide partners and answer any questions that arise. Additionally, the program will mediate and assist in case of concerns or problems. Each partnership will forge its own relationship and define contents, expectations, and six-month goals. We also welcome and encourage established mentor/mentee partners to apply; they are highly likely to benefit from this program. If a potential mentee would like to participate and has a specific mentor in mind, he or she is certainly welcome to contact the Mentoring Program and we will try to contact the desired mentor. However, there is no guarantee that the mentoring translator will be able to participate.
What can both mentors and mentees expect and what are the program benefits?
The Mentoring Program is an excellent way for translators who are new to the field of audiovisual translations to get their feet wet and receive guidance from some of the most experienced sages in the field. Within this program, certain topics might be explored in depth, e.g., tools and software, business practices, getting started in the AVT field, looking for clients, and finding your special area of expertise. The mentee is in full control and can set agendas based on his or her needs and interests. For example, maybe you always wondered what it would be like to translate comedy shows or sitcoms. Perhaps you have created subtitles for certain genres, but now you want to take on the next challenge. Choose your mentor based on individual goals in order to be matched with someone with relevant experience. Ideally what follows are fun-filled, in-depth sessions along with tips and tricks and anything else you wish to focus on. During this time, you’ll have the chance to get all your questions answered and strengthen your skillsets.
As a mentor, this is a rare opportunity to pass on your knowledge and wisdom as an established AV translator. Trust us, taking less experienced translators under your wing and getting them acquainted with our field will give you a warm feeling of satisfaction. You’ll probably end up learning a thing or two along the way, and you will definitely have made a new colleague and friend with whom to expand your network. That alone is priceless.
A very important factor to know is that the mentor/mentee relationship is not an internship. Mentors will not be allowed to have their mentees perform research or any other work for a paid project. Mentees on the other hand cannot expect mentors to help them find new clients or work.
The AVD Mentoring Program is here to help translators achieve their goals, and is solely designed to benefit from sharing knowledge and strengths. Furthermore, AVD will keep mentors and mentees informed of any training opportunities it hosts or helps organize. We will meet with all interested ATA conference mentor and mentee attendees in Palms Springs 2019 to share experiences, tips and tricks and lessons learned in order to enrich future mentor partnerships.
We are working hard on starting our program and are in the process of fine-tuning our guidelines and questionnaires, so we welcome you all to jump on board.
We hope we sparked your interest; we cannot wait for you to work with us and make our new AV Division richer with your expertise and passion for learning. To receive a mentee or mentee questionnaire or for further information and questions or concerns please write to Britta Noack who can be reached at mentoringavd@gmail.com.
