Applying for ITI membership - assessment or exam? Thread poster: tr. (X)
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tr. (X)
Local time: 03:53
English to Italian
I'm considering applying to ITI as a Qualified Member, for the English-Italian combination. I have 5+ years experience so technically I could go for the assessment route, rather than examination.
Now I suppose that I shouldn't be even thinking about it and just pick the assessment option, but since I'm given the choice, I just want to make sure I fully understand what's involved. I've already read all the ITI docs, but I would also love to hear directly from translators who have tak... See more I'm considering applying to ITI as a Qualified Member, for the English-Italian combination. I have 5+ years experience so technically I could go for the assessment route, rather than examination.
Now I suppose that I shouldn't be even thinking about it and just pick the assessment option, but since I'm given the choice, I just want to make sure I fully understand what's involved. I've already read all the ITI docs, but I would also love to hear directly from translators who have taken the exam, or have had their work assessed. What was your experience, and what would you recommend?
Any advice and comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Monica ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I believe you don't need it at all | Mar 14, 2004 |
You have a professional language education from a recognized institution - what other confirmation of your professionalism you need?
All those 'language / translator associations' with their exams and confirmations work for people who may have some higher education, but not in the field of languages / translation. Having it they can make their potential clients 'happy' (like "well, look, my ability as a translator was confirmed by someone else..")
That's such associations create some... See more You have a professional language education from a recognized institution - what other confirmation of your professionalism you need?
All those 'language / translator associations' with their exams and confirmations work for people who may have some higher education, but not in the field of languages / translation. Having it they can make their potential clients 'happy' (like "well, look, my ability as a translator was confirmed by someone else..")
That's such associations create some sort of exam/testing (but do you really / seriously think that translating "successfully" a 200 word sample makes someone a qualified translator.. come on )
[Edited at 2004-03-14 05:16] ▲ Collapse
| | | | tr. (X)
Local time: 03:53
English to Italian
TOPIC STARTER | well, that was not really what I was asking... ;) | Mar 15, 2004 |
Vladimir, thanks for the encouragement
To be honest, I don't have such a strong opinion on this, either way. I don't see a certification by a translators' association such as ITI as "necessary", or enough in itself to identify a good translator, but I don't think it's such a useless extra embellishment either.
And yes, you're right, I do ha... See more Vladimir, thanks for the encouragement
To be honest, I don't have such a strong opinion on this, either way. I don't see a certification by a translators' association such as ITI as "necessary", or enough in itself to identify a good translator, but I don't think it's such a useless extra embellishment either.
And yes, you're right, I do have a language-related degree, but it's not specific to translation. Of course an ITI exam is not "worth" more than a degree, but there's no point making that kind of comparison, because they are entirely different things. Why not get the ITI qualification as well, if I have the possibility? That's my reasoning, at least. I have the requirements to do it, so, why not.
Of course you can prove your skills directly to clients, also with samples of your past work. But I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss a qualification from a translators' association, if they're a serious association, that is. And, from what I know, ITI are.
Exams and tests are always both a matter of skills and luck, but if they're done seriously, they can provide an indication of one's specific talents in that respect. Plus, ITI and most other associations now no longer require tests be taken in an "artificial" examination setting, they do send out the papers directly to translators, so you can take the exam in your "natural" translating environment - in your own office or home studio, where you can work on the text just like you would on any job, consulting dictionaries and the internet, etc. - so it does assess how you work overall. I don't think it's such a bad method really.
The fact they also offer you the choice between exam and assessment of past work is another thing I personally appreciate.
Anyway, my intention was not to start a discussion on the pros and cons of these qualifications.
I was just curious to hear from translators who have obtained them already, so as to get some advice, that's all.
[Edited at 2004-03-15 13:52] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X) 
Local time: 03:53
German to English
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| Applying for ITI membership - assessment or exam? | Mar 15, 2004 |
Monica,
ITI has its own forum, at www.iti.org.uk. You might find someone there to answer your question.
Marc
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tr. (X)
Local time: 03:53
English to Italian
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks, Marc | Mar 15, 2004 |
I hadn't thought about asking in the ITI forum. But, you have to a member already to log in...
I've already spoken to the admissions office at ITI a while ago, I think I may just call them up again to ask them directly for some more advice.
I'm leaning more and more towards the assessment route anyway, this way I also won't have rush it - if I went for the exam, I'd have to send in the application and al... See more I hadn't thought about asking in the ITI forum. But, you have to a member already to log in...
I've already spoken to the admissions office at ITI a while ago, I think I may just call them up again to ask them directly for some more advice.
I'm leaning more and more towards the assessment route anyway, this way I also won't have rush it - if I went for the exam, I'd have to send in the application and all the docs in time for the last exam dates for this year, and I think the last ones are end of March/early April so, it'd be a bit too tight already.
Still, I haven't made up my mind yet, so any further advice from ITI members would be greatly appreciated! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:53
German to English
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| Public and members-only fora | Mar 15, 2004 |
Monica,
The ITI web site has both public discussion fora, and fora for members only.
You'll find ITI members in greater numbers in other places of course, like here on ProZ. I'm an MITI member myself. But it might not be so easy to find someone to describe the relative merits of examination and assessment. After all, not many people will have experience of both.
Marc
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