Poll: Have you ever mentored a less experienced translator or interpreter? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever mentored a less experienced translator or interpreter?".
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As I said before (a very similar poll) I mentored several colleagues in the past when I worked in-house…
| | | | neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 18:12
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| | Have been asked | Oct 8, 2015 |
... which was of course flattering, but I simply don't have the time, especially because it would mean a consistent line of support, rather than very occasional short bursts.
I hope, however, that something of what I write, in posts and in Kudoz contributions, may serve as useful comments and examples.
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DorothyX (X)
Франција
Local time: 18:12
Several times. Working on real stuff, against decent payment (nearly the same as mine).
The last time it was a disaster. This lady had certain potentialities, and could have been really good after some months, but in the meantime I had to correct everything, sometimes even redo things.
Her translation school (BA-level) had not learned her how to do terminology searches.
She translated "in the way she thought that it would sound nice".
The invoicing part also appeared t... See more Several times. Working on real stuff, against decent payment (nearly the same as mine).
The last time it was a disaster. This lady had certain potentialities, and could have been really good after some months, but in the meantime I had to correct everything, sometimes even redo things.
Her translation school (BA-level) had not learned her how to do terminology searches.
She translated "in the way she thought that it would sound nice".
The invoicing part also appeared to be complicated. She emitted a quote for every small translation and I had to return it signed by snail mail.
If not, she would not start translation (instructed to do so by proz forums).
In short, I did invest, she didn't.
[Edited at 2015-10-08 13:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas 
Бразил
Local time: 13:12
англиски на португалски
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| Yes, in two different manners, | Oct 8, 2015 |
I worked in-house managing translation teams in two companies, for a total of 4.5 years. During that time, I mentored 6 translators practically every day, but they were not beginners, only less experienced.
Now, as a ProZ Pro, I regularly mentor beginners who ask for help, but in a different manner, and for shorter periods.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 12:12
англиски на шпански
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| Yes, for exactly 3 emails | Oct 8, 2015 |
A former client of mine asked me if I could help her out by mentoring a physician who wanted to translate. The client was a hospital and this physician worked for this hospital. Sure, I replied, let me see a sample of your writing.
Three emails later, I stopped mentoring this person, who didn't know a lick about proper writing, let alone translation.
I lost the client shortly afterwards.
And before you say the words “big ego,” consider this: writing is ... See more A former client of mine asked me if I could help her out by mentoring a physician who wanted to translate. The client was a hospital and this physician worked for this hospital. Sure, I replied, let me see a sample of your writing.
Three emails later, I stopped mentoring this person, who didn't know a lick about proper writing, let alone translation.
I lost the client shortly afterwards.
And before you say the words “big ego,” consider this: writing is a big part of what we do. I was asked to do a favor and I agreed on condition of the quality of this apprentice's writing.
There is a point in the life of anybody who has been writing poorly that her writing habits are too ingrained to be corrected. You risk alienating her, even offending her.
Mentoring is a byword, a buzzword really, that is supposed to stand for masters teaching apprentices the ropes. It's a very old learning model for professions and crafts. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
Франција
Local time: 18:12
француски на англиски
like neilmac, I say it's nice to be nice.
I've mostly mentored as an employee but I consider that bright young translators deserve a helping hand, after all I got plenty of help when I was young.
There was one who did test my patience to the absolute limit and very wisely decided that translation was not for her, but there have been others who are now well established and who sometimes send work my way when they can't handle it all ... See more like neilmac, I say it's nice to be nice.
I've mostly mentored as an employee but I consider that bright young translators deserve a helping hand, after all I got plenty of help when I was young.
There was one who did test my patience to the absolute limit and very wisely decided that translation was not for her, but there have been others who are now well established and who sometimes send work my way when they can't handle it all ▲ Collapse
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Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 09:12
шпански на англиски
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I taught translation at Georgetown University for many years and supervised a large team of in-house and freelance translators as head of a translation service.
Today I still give basic advice to beginning translators when they contact me. But I don't attempt to teach them the craft per se. I just give them advice about how to get started in their career.
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