| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | ITI or Institute of Linguists or both? Thread poster: ADIE Translations
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Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 04:00
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Keith Jackson wrote:
Yes, be careful not to confuse the CIOL Certified English test (which is an assessment of professional and working level English speaking skills) and the Diploma of Translation exam (Dip Trans IoLet, which is set at Ofqual Level 7 or master's level).
Very true (and FWIW, I did not confuse them). Actually, now that I look at it again, I'm not sure if a mere C1 level of English is sufficient for CIOL membership. The relevant paragraph is a little ambiguous. It says "Holders of DipTrans, CertTrans, or DPSI, as well as Language Level Assessments and Certified English demonstrating C1 CEFR or higher language skills." Does that mean that if you have C1, then you qualify? Or does it mean you only qualify if you have C1 plus either DipTrans, CertTrans or DPSI?
If you pass the DipTrans or CertTrans exam, then you can also add "DipTrans" or "CertTrans" behind your name. The problem with all these abbreviations is that only people who know what they stand for will know their value. If I hadn't known that the DipTrans was a masters-level qualification, I genuinely would have thought that it was a mere diploma-level qualification (since... it contains the first three letters of "diploma"). Objectively, to me, "MCIL" sounds more impressive than "DipTrans", and I wonder how other members of the public would see it.
| | | | | Dip Trans etc | Jun 5, 2024 |
Keith Jackson wrote:
I'm happy that I've got value for money with the CIoL. Since 2013, I've gained a few private individuals, one company, and one agency as customers on the back of it.
Depending of course on just how much work you get from those clients, that doesn’t seem much of a payoff over 11 years for the best part of a grand invested…🤷♂️
For what it’s worth, I have a university Dip Trans (a Master’s less the dissertation because I couldn’t be arsed) and it has not mattered a jot to any client in 30 years. Likewise my degree and my bronze swimming award.
| | | | | Don't forget... | Jun 5, 2024 |
Christopher Schröder wrote:
Keith Jackson wrote:
I'm happy that I've got value for money with the CIoL. Since 2013, I've gained a few private individuals, one company, and one agency as customers on the back of it.
Depending of course on just how much work you get from those clients, that doesn’t seem much of a payoff over 11 years for the best part of a grand invested…🤷♂️
For what it’s worth, I have a university Dip Trans (a Master’s less the dissertation because I couldn’t be arsed) and it has not mattered a jot to any client in 30 years. Likewise my degree and my bronze swimming award.
Don't forget, you are “the most consistently satisfying partner I have ever had the pleasure of working with” according to your CV. Oh là là.
[Edited at 2024-06-05 15:46 GMT]
| | | | Keith Jackson
France
Local time: 04:00
Member (2017)
French to English
+ ...
depending of course on just how much work I got from those clients...
In monetary terms, according to my accounting software, the income from the agency and company combined since 2013 amounts to 230,622.63 euro. Not counting the private individuals. Which to me is OK for the investment made. It's a fairly constant revenue stream. I didn't have to do any further paid or unpaid tests for either the company or the agency to work for them; they accepted the CIOL-accreditation as proof ... See more depending of course on just how much work I got from those clients...
In monetary terms, according to my accounting software, the income from the agency and company combined since 2013 amounts to 230,622.63 euro. Not counting the private individuals. Which to me is OK for the investment made. It's a fairly constant revenue stream. I didn't have to do any further paid or unpaid tests for either the company or the agency to work for them; they accepted the CIOL-accreditation as proof enough.
It's true, though, that the Dip Trans only means anything to UK translation professionals and UK authorities (for courts, for visas, for customs, for universities, etc.)
I had a back and forth with someone at ProZ and with at least one other potential client agency (God knows where from) over whether the CIOL accreditation was a true translation qualification or just a reassuring affiliation (like paid ProZ membership). ▲ Collapse
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| Renewal and exams | Jun 5, 2024 |
Paul Adie wrote:
I suppose the question is - will you be renewing your memberships?
Yes, but I do so more grudgingly with every year that passes!
On the subject of exams, a quirk of the ITI is that if you ever sit its exam and join, the assessment is a "losable" qualification in the sense that if you cease to be a member, you have to hand the certificate back to them. That's assuming the rules haven't changed since I last looked.
As for the CIOL DipTrans...
Paul Adie wrote:
Is it still the case that there is no internet connection allowed during the exam?
The qualification specification I found online says electronic dictionaries or devices can't be used, so I think the "no Internet access" rule is still going strong.
I'm interested to see what the impact of the new Certificate in Translation will be. In the blurb, the CIOL says it "meets the need for a working-level translating qualification" and describes it as an "alternate [sic] qualification that provides benchmark evidence of practical working-level translation skills and knowledge", but didn't the DipTrans do that? They seem to be suggesting that a lower level of ability is adequate for working purposes, in which case I fail to see what the point of the DipTrans is now. Calling it a "gold standard" - as they do on their website - is all very well, but in the real world, where there are no barriers to entry to the profession and few people care about standards or are in any position to gauge them, I don't see much need for a gold standard. Silver seems to be the new gold.
[Edited at 2024-06-05 17:17 GMT]
| | | | | "losable" qualification | Jun 5, 2024 |
Paul Adie wrote:
On the subject of exams, a quirk of the ITI is that if you ever sit its exam and join, the assessment is a "losable" qualification in the sense that if you cease to be a member, you have to hand the certificate back to them. That's assuming the rules haven't changed since I last looked.
If you leave and rejoin you don't have to sit the exam again, so you don't really lose it.
| | | | | A regainable qualification | Jun 5, 2024 |
Rachel Waddington wrote:
If you leave and rejoin you don't have to sit the exam again, so you don't really lose it.
I see, interesting... So I could take a "membership holiday" and not have to fork out another £300, or whatever it is nowadays. That could be useful to know, thanks!
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Keith Jackson wrote:
In monetary terms, according to my accounting software, the income from the agency and company combined since 2013 amounts to 230,622.63 euro. Not counting the private individuals. Which to me is OK for the investment made. It's a fairly constant revenue stream. I didn't have to do any further paid or unpaid tests for either the company or the agency to work for them; they accepted the CIOL-accreditation as proof enough.
That's not a bad return, but it pales into insignificance next to my £67 from a year of ProZ membership.
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| rejoining ITI | Jun 6, 2024 |
Peter Shortall wrote:
Rachel Waddington wrote:
If you leave and rejoin you don't have to sit the exam again, so you don't really lose it.
I see, interesting... So I could take a "membership holiday" and not have to fork out another £300, or whatever it is nowadays. That could be useful to know, thanks!
There is a £50 rejoining fee, but you don't have to go through the hassle and expense of the exams again - so, yes, that's an option.
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Peter Shortall wrote:
I'm interested to see what the impact of the new Certificate in Translation will be. In the blurb, the CIOL says it "meets the need for a working-level translating qualification" and describes it as an "alternate [sic] qualification that provides benchmark evidence of practical working-level translation skills and knowledge", but didn't the DipTrans do that? They seem to be suggesting that a lower level of ability is adequate for working purposes, in which case I fail to see what the point of the DipTrans is now. Calling it a "gold standard" - as they do on their website - is all very well, but in the real world, where there are no barriers to entry to the profession and few people care about standards or are in any position to gauge them, I don't see much need for a gold standard. Silver seems to be the new gold.
[Edited at 2024-06-05 17:17 GMT]
Talk about undermining the profession.
So it's not just ProZ.
Shocking.
| | | | | Lowering the bar | Jun 6, 2024 |
Christopher Schröder wrote:
Talk about undermining the profession.
So it's not just ProZ.
Shocking.
Better still, the new CertTrans is sufficient to gain MCIL status with only one more year's work experience than you need with the DipTrans, and experience isn't difficult to gain in a market teeming with unscrupulous sharks who'll hire anyone. As it's been recognised as a Level 6 RQF qualification (degree level, supposedly), the CertTrans is also accepted for membership purposes by the National Register of Public Service Translators. So if you want to provide official translations for UK authorities, there's absolutely no need to attain the "gold standard" any more, or even bother with a first degree.
I just had a look at some past papers. Granted, difficulty is a bit of a subjective thing and can't be measured precisely, but let's just say the papers I saw don't look quite as challenging as a four-year language degree, and the amount of time allowed seems enormous for Paper 2 in particular (three hours for 300-odd words!) Plus it's a fair bit cheaper than the DipTrans at £545 versus £895 if you take it all in one go, to say nothing of the saving compared with a degree course... A cynical person might say that opening the floodgates with a new revenue raiser is precisely the point.
[Edited at 2024-06-06 10:55 GMT]
| | | | | Transferable skills | Jun 6, 2024 |
Paul Adie wrote:
Don't forget, you are “the most consistently satisfying partner I have ever had the pleasure of working with” according to your CV. Oh là là.
[Edited at 2024-06-05 15:46 GMT]
I know, right. And that's only my translation skills.
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I'm a member of both (ITI from 2001). I've gained a few good clients out of them. Not much these days, since most members charge a lot less than me...  Let's say it's my way of supporting the profession. People tend to argue that they don't do much, but I don't agree. Also, colleagues say the membership is not cheap. True, but I can afford it, so...
any... See more
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