Professional Translator

As the world becomes more interconnected, demand for professional translators is booming. This online training course will give you the skills you need to work as an English/Spanish translator. It will also prepare you for the American Translators Association (ATA) certification exam.

Professional Translator focuses on translating written messages from English into Spanish and from Spanish into English. You will gain key translation skills, such as eliminating linguistic interference, maintaining grammatical structure, and providing cross-cultural localization.

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9 Months / 100 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
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George Mason University

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Professional Translator

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Course code: GES283

What you will learn

  • Master the ability to translate both English and Spanish
  • Learn how to properly transfer grammatical structures
  • Identify and filter potential interferences in the original message so that the written message is localized and properly structured
  • Understand cross-cultural differences that can have an impact on the transfer of the written message
  • Master proper grammatical and lexical cohesion
  • Develop the necessary skills for the transfer of spoken interactions

How you will benefit

  • Jump-start your career as a professional English/Spanish translator
  • Be prepared for the American Translators Association certification exam
  • Competently work with those in need of professional translation services
  • Master translating from English to Spanish and vice versa

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 9 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 100 course hours
  1. Principles of Translation
    1. Identification of potentially awkward transfers into Spanish
    2. Explanation of the various tools to filter any potential interference into Spanish.
    3. Class activities – Translation of selected passages into Spanish
    4. Interactive activities into Spanish
    5. Proper usage of Spanish grammar
    6. How prepositions change meaning in the transfer into Spanish
    7. Identification of potentially awkward transfers into English
    8. Comprehension of the message taking into account cross cultural differences
    9. Translation protocol – Abbreviations and proper nouns
    10. Class activities – Translation of selected passages into English
    11. Interactive activities into English
    12. Proper usage of English grammar
    13. Prepositions and how they can change the message into English.
  2. Advanced Translation Skills – From Spanish into English
    1. General aspects of translations
    2. Equivalence at word level and False Cognates
    3. Context and translation
    4. False Cognates – Forms and function in language and translation
    5. Proofreading
    6. Genres in translation
    7. Types of meaning – expressive, connotative, attitudinal
    8. Translating spoken interactions
    9. Language and culture – cross cultural differences
    10. Class activities
    11. Interactive activities
  3. Advanced Translation Skills – From English into Spanish
    1. Typical mistakes made by non-trained translators in the transfer into Spanish
    2. Prepositions and their impact on the transfer into Spanish
    3. Proper grammatical transfers into Spanish
    4. Translation of literary material into Spanish
    5. Ambiguity and redundancy
    6. Modulation
    7. Transposition
    8. Style and protocol in the transfer of abbreviations and proper noun
    9. Class activities
    10. Interactive activities

Raquel Albornoz

Raquel Albornoz is an experienced professional translator and university professor. Throughout her career, she has translated more than 100 books including "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty, "The Haj" by Leon Uris, "Contact" by Carl Sagan, and "The Rain King" by Saul Bellow. Albornoz was a full professor of Literary Translation for more than 25 years, teaching at the National Institute of Higher Education and the University of Belgrano in Argentina. She also served as Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Studies for the University of Belgrano from 2002-2015.

Alejandro Parini

Alejandro Parini is the Director of the School of Languages and International Studies at University of Belgrano, Argentina. He is also a professor of English linguistics and translation at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and serves as a visiting professor at City University, London.

Prerequisites:

You should have a formal education of at least two years at the university level in both languages. You should also be familiar with using a personal computer in a Windows or Mac environment.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.

Yes, you will be prepared to sit for the American Translators Association (ATA) certification exam.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive nine (9) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

American Translators Association (ATA)
If you're seeking professional recognition in the field of translation, a course certified by the American Translators Association (ATA) is an excellent start. The ATA's goal is to encourage the professional development of interpreters and translators, through certifications, conferences, and publications. Translation and interpretation skills are useful in many industries, and the ATA's 11,000 members include teachers, hospital and university employees, and government officials. Whether you're new to the translator and interpreter field or are a professional in a related industry looking to broaden your skillset, enrolling in a course certified by the ATA can provide additional career opportunities.
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