Professional Spanish-to-English Translation Conversion Course (Pre-DipTrans)
This is a foundational professional Spanish-to-English translation course. It’s designed for linguists who don’t have at least a year of professional translation experience or an MA in translation studies.
About the Translation Conversion Course
English speakers: intro to translation & pre-DipTrans preparation Spanish speakers: reverse translation training
Format
100% online
Level
Undergraduate (level 6)
Timing
64 hours, self paced
Languages
Spanish to English
This introductory translation course is designed for native English speakers with an advanced level of Spanish. It’s the right choice for you if you’re new to translation, if you’re a language graduate or if you’re a professional translator with less than one year of on-the-job experience. The progression from this course is our advanced DipTrans preparatory course. If you’re a native Spanish speaker with a proficient level of English, then you could use this course to improve your reverse translation skills.
The course format works from two angles. On the one hand, it 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 native English speakers with rusty Spanish, it’ll also give you a chance to re-familiarise 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.
What’s more, 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.
The progression from this pre-DipTrans introductory course is to our Advanced Spanish-to-English 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.
Once you’ve completed this introduction to 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 Spanish<>English translators through our private Facebook group.
If you’re a native Spanish speaker, 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 Spanish-speaking translators who need to prepare for the reverse translation section of the official traductor jurado exams run by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Spain.
“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!”
Course Syllabus
Start Here Section
You’ll be welcomed to the course with all the information you need to understand how it works.
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
Full-time freelance Spanish-to-English translator since 2009.
Chartered Linguist
DipTransIoLET
MA Legal Translation
MA Translation Studies
BA Hispanic Studies and French
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.
“I can see an enormous improvement in my translations after having done this course. It has made the process of translation smoother, easier and more enjoyable. I have a solid foundation to build on as I continue my journey towards a career in translation.”
Conversion Course Price
EUR 849
Money-Back Guarantee, instalment option
- 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.
Flexible start dates
Enrol when you want. Course closed Jan, Jul, Aug & Dec. View calendar.
Plenty of time
Go at your own pace. Two years to complete.
Flexible, 100% online.
View course brochure.
Course FAQ
You’ll find the answers to some common queries below. If you can’t find the information you need, contact us.
What are the course dates?
You can start between 1 February and 30 November, except during closures. The Translator’s Studio is closed in July, August and over the December-January holiday period. View our 2021 course calendar.
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.
I have a degree in Spanish 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 Spanish speaker with a proficient level of English. Is the course suitable for me?
Yes, this course is designed for you. Our aim would be to help you improve your written English at a professional level through reverse translation. The course would suit native 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.
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“.
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.
Other Courses
Advanced
Advanced Spanish-to-English Translation Course with DipTrans Preparation
The goal for professional translators.