Poll: What motivates you the most to undertake CPD (Continuing Professional Development)?? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What motivates you the most to undertake CPD (Continuing Professional Development)??".
This poll was originally submitted by Angus Stewart. View the poll results »
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X) 
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 12:27
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| I don't do CPO | Mar 16, 2014 |
I've been translating for 40 years, and the only way I've found to develop professionally is to keep translating. Translating on a team with other translators is the best environment for professional development.
| | | | Thayenga
Германија
Local time: 21:27
Член (2009)
англиски на германски
+ ...
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I've been translating for 40 years, and the only way I've found to develop professionally is to keep translating. Translating on a team with other translators is the best environment for professional development.
I agree with Muriel. After all, only practice makes perfect.
Being faced with new, exciting chalenges in an area (not necesserarily a new field) kindles my ambition - which is sort of a CPD.
| | | |
A combination of a few: learning a new skill, consolidating an existing skill, and a tiny doze of marketability of CPD with clients.
| | |
|
|
|
Angus Stewart
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 20:27
француски на англиски
+ ...
| Consolidating an existing skill | Mar 16, 2014 |
In my case, the main reason for undertaking CPD is to keep my existing skills base up to date. Law is a subject area in which there are frequently many changes. Accordingly, CPD is important in enabling me to remain well informed regarding developments in my specialist subject area.
My secondary motivations for undertaking CPD are to learn a new skill, the marketability of CPD with clients and membership of a professional association in that order.
| | | | | Couldn't agree more! | Mar 16, 2014 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I've been translating for 40 years, and the only way I've found to develop professionally is to keep translating. Translating on a team with other translators is the best environment for professional development.
| | | | 564354352 (X)
Данска
Local time: 21:27
дански на англиски
+ ...
| Other - to be able to accept different jobs | Mar 16, 2014 |
I tend to leave CPD until the last minute, i.e. until it becomes a necessity for me in order to accept new jobs that I am keen to get.
| | | |
To be able to talk to engineers
As a technical translator, I sometimes - though the opportunities are getting rarer and rarer - have to talk with engineers about what they meant to say when they wrote something, or when I go on the occasional factory visit or product orientation session.
It impresses them and, in fact, they like having an unexpected in-depth chat with a translator. I've found the engineers I've met on these sessions welcome lots of intelligent questions... See more To be able to talk to engineers
As a technical translator, I sometimes - though the opportunities are getting rarer and rarer - have to talk with engineers about what they meant to say when they wrote something, or when I go on the occasional factory visit or product orientation session.
It impresses them and, in fact, they like having an unexpected in-depth chat with a translator. I've found the engineers I've met on these sessions welcome lots of intelligent questions and are pleasantly surprised to chat with a translator who actually knows what he's translating about.
I've enjoyed visits to the shopfloor immensely - I wish there were more of them. You can learn a helluvalot just by looking, listening and asking. And, it's great fun, too!  ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Perfect summary of my opinion
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I've been translating for 40 years, and the only way I've found to develop professionally is to keep translating. Translating on a team with other translators is the best environment for professional development.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 15:27
англиски на шпански
+ ...
| A combination of some of the above | Mar 16, 2014 |
Angus Stewart wrote:
In my case, the main reason for undertaking CPD is to keep my existing skills base up to date. Law is a subject area in which there are frequently many changes. Accordingly, CPD is important in enabling me to remain well informed regarding developments in my specialist subject area.
My secondary motivations for undertaking CPD are to learn a new skill, the marketability of CPD with clients and membership of a professional association in that order.
Good to see you again, Angus!
One of our challenges, as solitary “knowledge workers,” is to keep our skills and expertise up to date.
I took part in a LinkedIn discussion (ATA forum) about which translators are astoundingly good at what they do vs. translators who spend time in some marketing schemes to market themselves, such as branding, marketing, etc.
James Kirchner, a former ATA chapter president and someone I know personally, brought up the subject. He is of the opinion that a translator becomes “astoundingly good” through specialization (I'm paraphrasing here) and work (thanks, Muriel) rather than applying those so-called marketing strategies that seem so popular in America these days (brand yourself, be on Twitter and such).
On the other hand, Kevin Hendzel, a former ATA PR advocate, emphasizes that the only way a translator becomes excellent is by working in teams and through collaboration, because some translators in isolation tend to oversell their expertise, but the only way to judge a translator's excellence is if better translators consider him/her excellent.
In my opinion, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Expertise is a continuum, not a destination.
| | | | Angus Stewart
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 20:27
француски на англиски
+ ...
| CPD + experience and team work | Mar 16, 2014 |
Mario Chavez wrote:
Good to see you again, Angus!
Good to see you again too, Mario! As always, your contribution is insightful.
Mario Chavez wrote:
James Kirchner, a former ATA chapter president and someone I know personally, brought up the subject. He is of the opinion that a translator becomes “astoundingly good” through specialization (I'm paraphrasing here) and work (thanks, Muriel) rather than applying those so-called marketing strategies that seem so popular in America these days (brand yourself, be on Twitter and such).
I would broadly agree with that opinion. I consider that work (experience) is important in improving and sharpening one's ability to translation, but undertaking CPD to deepen and update one's specialist knowledge outside the context of one's day to day work is equally vital.
I would include marketing strategies among the areas in which it may be relevant for translators to undertake CPD, since as independent "men of business" we do have some need to acquire/strengthen skills related to the business aspects of translation. However, in common with you I would be concerned if that were to become our key focus.
Mario Chavez wrote:
On the other hand, Kevin Hendzel, a former ATA PR advocate, emphasizes that the only way a translator becomes excellent is by working in teams and through collaboration, because some translators in isolation tend to oversell their expertise, but the only way to judge a translator's excellence is if better translators consider him/her excellent.
There is truth in that proposition. The solitary nature of our profession is certainly one of its downsides. On the occasions that I have collaborated with other translators, as a translator + proofreader/reviewer pair, I have found the experience of having the benefit of a different perspective valuable in giving me cause to reflect upon how I can improve my own translation strategy/style.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Португалија
Local time: 20:27
I am surprised that "interest in the subject matter" was not one of the options!
Aside from that, I agree with Muriel and Teresa that work is the best teacher.
The main reason for going to what might be considered a CPD event (the regional ProZ conference in Porto on 24 May 2014) is to meet fellow translators, or meet again translators I have met before. It is also an opportunity to gauge "how the land lies" in our profession on a national basis.
I am not e... See more I am surprised that "interest in the subject matter" was not one of the options!
Aside from that, I agree with Muriel and Teresa that work is the best teacher.
The main reason for going to what might be considered a CPD event (the regional ProZ conference in Porto on 24 May 2014) is to meet fellow translators, or meet again translators I have met before. It is also an opportunity to gauge "how the land lies" in our profession on a national basis.
I am not expecting to learn anything particularly new which I have not yet encountered in my reading of all sorts of things. If I do encounter a fresh perspective which helps me as a translator, well then, that'll be a bonus. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Clarisa Moraña
Турција
Local time: 22:27
Член (2002)
англиски на шпански
+ ...
I consider that I always need a professional develoment, thus whenever I have the chance, I undertake every offered possiblity. I think I always win, in every sense. I always have something to learn, and that learning can be used for many things, such as meeting colleagues, learn a new skill, share my knowledge, work faster, win new clients...
| | | | | I voted for marketability with clients | Mar 16, 2014 |
I would add that this means marketing to clients I like and in subject areas I am interested in. I try to choose the jobs I really can do well - with an effort if necessary - but the motivation has to be there too.
I get plenty of job offers, but some are far more attractive than others. I try to make sure that I have what I need to take up the interesting ones and make sure I can do them well.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: What motivates you the most to undertake CPD (Continuing Professional Development)?? | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
