Professional Translation Conversion Course (Pre-DipTrans)
Get translator certification through our foundation course. The Professional Translation Conversion Course (pre-DipTrans) is designed for linguists who don’t consider themselves advanced translators. This course is third-party certified by The CPD Certification Service.
About the Translation Conversion Course
Foundation course (pre-DipTrans) for linguists who don’t consider themselves advanced translators
Format
100% online
Level
Timing
64 hours, self-paced
8 modules
Languages
French to English
This eight-module foundation translation course is designed for native English speakers working from French or Spanish. It’s the right choice for you if you have less than one year of full-time professional translation experience. 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.
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 native English speakers with rusty French or 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.
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.
Course progression
The progression from this pre-DipTrans introductory course 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Module 5. Proofreading
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.
Private Facebook Group
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
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.
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
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
I have a language degree and my degree included a module in translation. Should I do this or the advanced course?
I’m a native English speaker without much/any translation experience. Is the course suitable for me?
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?
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?
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?
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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