Professional Translation Conversion Course (CertTrans, Pre-DipTrans)

Get translator certification through our foundation translation course. The Professional Translation Conversion Course with CertTrans preparation is designed for linguists and early-career translators. This course is third-party certified by The CPD Certification Service.

Level test

About the Translation Conversion Course

Foundation course (CertTrans, pre-DipTrans) for linguists and early-career translators

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Format

100% online

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Level

Undergraduate (level 6)

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Timing

64 hours, self-paced

8 modules

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Languages

Spanish to English

French to English

This eight-module foundation translation course is designed for native and proficient English speakers working from French or Spanish. It’s the right choice for you if you’re a linguist or early-career translator. The progression from this course is our advanced DipTrans preparatory course. If French or Spanish is your first language but you have a proficient level of English, then you could use this course to improve your reverse translation skills. You can use this course to help you prepare for the CIOL CertTrans certificate in translation exam.

Course format

Each of the eight modules on the course covers two aspects. First, the course introduces you to the practice of professional translation. To do this, the modules progress through the various stages of the translation process from text analysis, through drafting and editing, to proofreading and quality assurance. For English speakers with rusty French or Spanish, it’ll also give you a chance to re-acquaint yourself with the language. The aim is to give you sufficient grounding in translation to enable you to progress on to our advanced course and the DipTrans exam.

Second, the course modules follow a professional translation commission, from quoting and accepting an order, through CAT tools and terminology management, to translation delivery, invoicing and post-delivery issues. The aim here is to help you build confidence and understand what a professional freelance translator does.

If you’re looking for a CertTrans preparatory course, our Conversion Course includes an examination trove that we keep updated with all the information available to help you prepare for that exam.

Course progression

The progression from this course in the foundations of translation is to our Advanced Translation Course with DipTrans preparation. That’s why the texts you’ll translate are past papers from the DipTrans exam: general (journalism), technology, business, literature, science, social science and law.

What you’ll have on completion

Once you’ve completed this foundation course in professional translation, you’ll be more confident in your language and translation abilities. You’ll be a better writer in English and more aware about style and the technical elements of written English. You’ll also be a member of a network of translators through our private Facebook group. Last but not least, you’ll be ready to sit the CertTrans exam offered by the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Speakers of English as a second language

If French or Spanish is your first language, the course is a solution if you’re proficient in English and are looking for a way to take your writing skills up to a more professional level. Using translation as the method, the personal feedback will help you progress enormously in the standard of your written English. It’s a great choice for professional translators who need to prepare for the reverse translation section of a translation exam. One example is the official traductor jurado exam run by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Spain.

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Testimonials

You’ve covered so much that other courses out there lack. I now have a greater awareness of the finer details when it comes to English grammar and punctuation and can produce a better-quality translation. I’m also aware of how to get the balance right between translating accurately and translating idiomatically. The course also provides excellent guidance on setting up as a freelance translator.

Rana Shabibi

The course was informative and helpful in providing the foundation and framework for working as a freelance translator. The tutorials and written feedback on the assessed translations were very instructive. Between the feedback and my own improvement, I feel significantly more confident and competent in tackling translations.

Matt Leedham, LinkedIn.

The course was fantastic to get me started and manage my expectations as a very inexperienced translator. All the content on the platform is very well organised. The feedback was incredibly detailed with a great balance of positive reinforcement and areas needing development.

Jenny McFarlane, LinkedIn.

Course Syllabus

Start Here Section

You’ll be welcomed to the course with all the information you need to understand how it works.

Examination Trove

This section contains all the information we have to help you prepare for the CertTrans certificate in translation exam offered by the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Module 1. The Translation Commission.

Professional Aspect: job offers, quotes and acceptance.

Theoretical Aspect: analysing a text for translation.

Assessed assignment: 600-word general translation (DipTrans past paper).
Extra self-assessed practice: 600-word general translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 2. Starting Your Translation

Professional Aspect: translation tools, especially CAT tools.

Theoretical Aspect: drafting a translation.

Assessed assignment: 450-word technical translation (DipTrans past paper).
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word technical translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 3. Terminology

Professional Aspect: terminology research and management.

Theoretical Aspect: checking a translation.

Assessed assignment: 450-word business translation (DipTrans past paper).
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word business translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 4. Editing

Professional Aspect: decision-making and consulting the client.

Theoretical Aspect: early and late editing.

Assessed assignment: 450-word literary translation (DipTrans past paper)
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word literary translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Tutorial 1

You can ask for a tutorial whenever you want one, but this is a good moment to take your first 30-minute tutorial. Your tutor will plan to discuss your translation work so far, but will also answer any questions you have about your feedback or translating professionally.

Module 5. Proofreading

Professional Aspect: defining revision, correction, editing and proofreading in a professional context.

Theoretical Aspect: how to proofread.

Assessed assignment: 450-word science translation (DipTrans past paper)
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word science translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 6. Quality Assurance

Professional Aspect: professional quality assurance.

Theoretical Aspect: translating names.

Assessed assignment: 450-word social science translation (DipTrans past paper).
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word social science translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 7. Delivery

Professional Aspect: delivering a translation and invoicing for it.

Theoretical Aspect: correcting someone else’s work.

Assessed assignment: 450-word legal translation (DipTrans past paper)
Extra self-assessed practice: 450-word legal translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Module 8. Post-delivery

Professional Aspect: post-delivery service and troubleshooting.

Theoretical Aspect: dealing with customer changes to your translation.

Assessed assignment: 600-word general translation (DipTrans past paper).
Extra self-assessed practice: 600-word general translation (DipTrans past paper) and quiz.

Tutorial 2

You can ask for a tutorial whenever you want one, but this is a good moment to take your first 30-minute tutorial. Your tutor will plan to discuss your translation work so far, but will also answer any questions you have about your feedback or translating professionally.

Bonus Materials

The course includes templates for use with translation clients at different stages of performing a professional translation.

Gwenydd Jones

Lead Tutor Spanish-to-English

Freelance translator & translator trainer

Chartered Linguist

DipTransIoLET

MA Legal Translation

MA Translation Studies

DELE C2 (Spanish proficiency)

BA Hispanic Studies and French

Sarah Bowyer

Lead Tutor French-to-English

Freelance translator & translator trainer

DipTransIoLET

MA (Cantab) French and Spanish

PgDL (10 yrs as a solicitor prior to moving into translation)

Third-party certified course

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service. Their logo will be included on your certificate.

The Translator’s Studio has been granted free access to the Memsource Academic Edition, academic program designed for universities with translation courses.

Private Facebook Group

Open only to people who train with us. Many of the active members are working Spanish-to-English translators. Network and chat about all aspects of translation in a supportive atmosphere.

Certificate and Logo

When you’ve completed all parts of the course, you’ll get a certificate and logo. We’re also happy to provide honest references for trainees who’ve completed the course.

Well-Planned Tutorials

Your tutor will keep notes about your translations to be able to give you completely personalised tutorials. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask anything you want.

Conversion Course Price

EUR 899

Money-Back Guarantee, instalment option

Sign Up

VAT is not applicable to this course.
Money-back guarantee. If you complete Module 1, get your feedback and then decide you don’t want to continue, you have 30 days from when you signed up to get your money back.

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Flexible start dates

Enrol when you want. Course closed Jan, Jul, Aug & Dec. View calendar.

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Plenty of time

Go at your own pace. Two years to complete.

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Flexible, 100% online.

View course brochure.

Testimonials

The course helped me achieve an excellent grounding in translation skills. My tutor was fantastic, always supplying incredibly detailed and relevant feedback. She gave constructive and warranted criticism but was always encouraging. An extremely intense but thoroughly enjoyable course, which has taught me a huge amount.

Gordon Marriot

Since graduating from university, I’ve found myself in a strange limbo of being too advanced for a lot of Spanish learning programs but not advanced enough to land translation jobs or get accepted into master’s programs. This course is exactly what I need. I’m stoked!

Kirsten Sutherland, LinkedIn.

The course taught me to follow a series of steps to eliminate mistakes and achieve a polished translation. It takes you back to basics and enables you to analyse your translations much more carefully. It’s renewed my enthusiasm for translation and given me more confidence in my approach.

Suzanne Stephens, LinkedIn.

FAQ

Course FAQ

You’ll find the answers to some common queries below. If you can’t find the information you need, contact us.

Is this course third-party certified?

Yes, the Translation Conversion Course is third-party certified by the CPD Certification Service and we have the right to include their logo on your certificate.

I don't know whether I need the Conversion Course or the Advanced Course

Ask yourself this simple question: do you consider yourself an advanced translator? If not, start with the Conversion Course as it’ll help you learn faster and more effectively.

I have a language degree and my degree included a module in translation. Should I do this or the advanced course?

This course is the right choice for you. The advanced course is designed for proficient working translators with at least one year of on-the-job experience. Your previous studies will help you get off to a good start, but you will need to dedicate more time to learning how to think like a professional translator before you’ll be ready to take on the advanced course.

I’m a native English speaker without much/any translation experience. Is the course suitable for me?

Yes, this course is designed for you. It assumes you have at least a bachelor’s level of Spanish (that is, at least C1 or qualification framework level 6), though no specific qualifications are required. Ask for a level test if you’re unsure about the level of your Spanish. The course would suit native English speakers from anywhere in the world.

Our past students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are resident all over the world. Some are in their twenties and others are in their sixties. Many of our past students have worked as TEFL teachers, copywriters, editors and journalists. Some are recent graduates while others have come from unrelated industries looking for a complete career change or options to enable them to work from home after having children. There is also a fair number of working translators who want to study translation and get the DipTrans to improve their knowledge, career prospects and standing in the translation industry.

Spanish/French is my first language and I have a proficient level of English. Is the course suitable for me?

Yes, our aim would be to help you improve your written English at a professional level through reverse translation. The course would suit native French and Spanish speakers from anywhere in the world. Ask for a level test if you’re unsure.

If you’re an experienced translator, then you’ll likely be familiar with some of the material covered in the modules. However, the level of the translations is probably right for you given that you’ll be working into your second language. If your English is comparable to a native speaker, then you may prefer the Advanced course. Consult us if you need guidance.

Where can I find more reviews?

We progressively add testimonials to this website.

You can also check out the recommendations section on Gwenydd Jones’s LinkedIn profile, where some past trainees have written independent reviews.

You can also see reviews about Gwenydd Jones as a trainer on her trainer review page on ProZ.com, where numerous webinar attendees have commented.

If you’d like to email a past trainee for a reference, then we can ask if someone would be willing to assist you.

What would be the progression after this course?

Trainees who complete the course successfully will be invited to progress to our Advanced ES>EN Translation Course with DipTrans Preparation (master’s level, qualification framework level 7).

This course will put you on the right road towards the DipTrans or MA qualifications.

You may find this article of interest: “A Perplexed Translator’s Guide to the MA in Translation Studies and DipTrans“.

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