| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | ITI or Institute of Linguists or both? Thread poster: ADIE Translations
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After nearly 20 years of translating, it's certainly time to join a professional body. What are your recommendations for the UK - the ITI or the Institute of Linguists? I'm just going on what the websites look like - I just prefer the look of the Institute of Linguists. Anyone have experience of both?
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 22:07
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
patransword wrote:
What are your recommendations for the UK - the ITI or the Institute of Linguists?
What are you hoping to achieve with your membership? What are you hoping to gain from it?
CIOL Associate membership: GBP 30+150 gets you:
- Listed in the freelance directory
- Library of 200 training videos
- Discounts to events and webinars
In their freelance directory, you'll be competing with:
14 Catalan-English translators
250 Spanish-English translators
ITI's Associate membership: GBP 60+175 gets you:
- NOT listed in the freelance directory
- Library of training videos (size unknown)
- Discounts to events and webinars
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I've done my research about cost - it would be higher to be a full member of ITI, plus I'd have to do a test (costing some 400 pounds). I'm looking for advice if it's worth it from actual members.
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patransword wrote:
...advice if it's worth it from actual members.
Like Samuel said: "Worth it" depends what your objective is, and how you measure it - if indeed it can be measured. I freely admit that while I think my membership confers a degree of legitimacy, I can't measure it, or any results it produces.
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How can we tell you if it's worth it if you haven't told us why you are thinking of joining and what you hope to gain from it?
Both options will probably give you much the same in terms of letters after your name and an entry in a professional directory. More important in terms of what you get out of it is probably what you are prepared to put in - joining your local network, attending events, or even volunteering for a committee position. You can also support others and give someth... See more How can we tell you if it's worth it if you haven't told us why you are thinking of joining and what you hope to gain from it?
Both options will probably give you much the same in terms of letters after your name and an entry in a professional directory. More important in terms of what you get out of it is probably what you are prepared to put in - joining your local network, attending events, or even volunteering for a committee position. You can also support others and give something back by mentoring newer translators.
I've been a member of the ITI for decades, the local network near me (Manchester) is very active and I've been to some great events and got to know a lot of fellow translators in my local area. My directory entry has brought me occasional work enquiries and I've had referrals from ITI members (not that many though, especially recently). Maybe the MITI letters after my name count for something too, but I've really got no idea.
If you're expecting a flood of enquiries from the directory I would say you might want to adjust your expectations. ▲ Collapse
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I'm looking quite simply for recommendations - would members with experience of both recommend one over the other?
What do I want? More work at the moment wouldn't really be an option. I think being a member would give me accreditation which would look nice in my email signature. I also think it would cement my position as a translator, protecting my work against PEMT for as long as possible. The ITI would also be interesting for me, as I quite fancy being tested.
I see... See more I'm looking quite simply for recommendations - would members with experience of both recommend one over the other?
What do I want? More work at the moment wouldn't really be an option. I think being a member would give me accreditation which would look nice in my email signature. I also think it would cement my position as a translator, protecting my work against PEMT for as long as possible. The ITI would also be interesting for me, as I quite fancy being tested.
I seem to have answered my own question - I'll most likely try both and see how it goes.
Happy to hear from others.
[Edited at 2024-05-30 08:35 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | kd42
Estonia
Local time: 23:07
English to Russian
| ITI is better | Jun 3, 2024 |
Paul Adie wrote:
After nearly 20 years of translating, it's certainly time to join a professional body. What are your recommendations for the UK - the ITI or the Institute of Linguists? I'm just going on what the websites look like - I just prefer the look of the Institute of Linguists. Anyone have experience of both? IT is better, because there's a great pizzeria nearby, plus two ice-cream spots with superb ice-cream and waffles.
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kd42 wrote:
Paul Adie wrote:
After nearly 20 years of translating, it's certainly time to join a professional body. What are your recommendations for the UK - the ITI or the Institute of Linguists? I'm just going on what the websites look like - I just prefer the look of the Institute of Linguists. Anyone have experience of both? IT is better, because there's a great pizzeria nearby, plus two ice-cream spots with superb ice-cream and waffles.
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Paul Adie wrote:
I seem to have answered my own question - I'll most likely try both and see how it goes.
If you've coped for 20 years without them, isn't it likely you still don't need either of them?
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Christopher Schröder wrote:
Paul Adie wrote:
I seem to have answered my own question - I'll most likely try both and see how it goes.
If you've coped for 20 years without them, isn't it likely you still don't need either of them?
Yep, I do understand what you mean. I just want a fancy email signature
| | | | | Sorry to disappoint you, but... | Jun 5, 2024 |
Paul Adie wrote:
I also think it would cement my position as a translator, protecting my work against PEMT for as long as possible.
On the contrary, both associations seem very enthusiastic about it. I get newsletters and emails from both touting post-editing courses and article after article about AI this, AI that.
And what do members pay for this and other benefits of membership? The CIOL's annual fee was hiked to £175 last year, up from £150 the year before. That's the biggest single increase I can remember. The ITI's fee is well above that.
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Peter Shortall wrote:
Paul Adie wrote:
I also think it would cement my position as a translator, protecting my work against PEMT for as long as possible.
On the contrary, both associations seem very enthusiastic about it. I get newsletters and emails from both touting post-editing courses and article after article about AI this, AI that.
And what do members pay for this and other benefits of membership? The CIOL's annual fee was hiked to £175 last year, up from £150 the year before. That's the biggest single increase I can remember. The ITI's fee is well above that.
I suppose the question is - will you be renewing your memberships?
[Edited at 2024-06-05 14:14 GMT]
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 22:07
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Well, if you intend to get tested | Jun 5, 2024 |
CIOL's test is cheap: GBP 105
https://www.ciol.org.uk/TakeCertifiedEnglish
It is a spoken test of how good your English is, in the form of an interview. If you pass it at level C1, I believe you automatically qualify for CIOL's full membership, which gives you an entry in their freelance directory.
You can then write "MCIL" behind your name.
ITI's test is a bit... See more CIOL's test is cheap: GBP 105
https://www.ciol.org.uk/TakeCertifiedEnglish
It is a spoken test of how good your English is, in the form of an interview. If you pass it at level C1, I believe you automatically qualify for CIOL's full membership, which gives you an entry in their freelance directory.
You can then write "MCIL" behind your name.
ITI's test is a bit more expensive: GBP 60+429
https://www.iti.org.uk/membership/individual-membership-categories/qualified-translator.html (click "Route 1" halfway down the page)
It is a written translation test of 1000 words in your chosen language combination.
You can then write "MITI" behind your name.
I'm not sure which of these is more prestigious.
[Edited at 2024-06-05 14:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A bit more research required | Jun 5, 2024 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
CIOL's test is cheap: GBP 105
https://www.ciol.org.uk/TakeCertifiedEnglish
It is a spoken test of how good your English is, in the form of an interview. If you pass it at level C1, I believe you automatically qualify for CIOL's full membership, which gives you an entry in their freelance directory.
You can then write "MCIL" behind your name.
ITI's test is a bit more expensive: GBP 60+429
It is a written translation test of 1000 words in your chosen language combination.
You can then write "MITI" behind your name.
I'm not sure which of these is more prestigious.
Samuel, thank you for your replies, but I have done my research. I am a native English speaker, so don't need to certify my English. The CIOL's test would be the Diploma in Translation, which costs £895.
I've applied to the CIOL - maybe it'll be worth it, maybe it won't, but I won't find out otherwise.
| | | | Keith Jackson
France
Local time: 22:07
Member (2017)
French to English
+ ...
| Yes, careful there! | Jun 5, 2024 |
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).
I sat the Dip Trans exam in 2013, after 6 months' preparation, paid for by my employer 😎, and it was an expensive, difficult, day-long written examination where I had to lug all my fat paper dictionaries into the exam centre. Is it ... See more 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).
I sat the Dip Trans exam in 2013, after 6 months' preparation, paid for by my employer 😎, and it was an expensive, difficult, day-long written examination where I had to lug all my fat paper dictionaries into the exam centre. Is it still the case that there is no internet connection allowed during the exam?
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. The CIOL training resources and webinars are quite good. One unstated benefit: they don't require re-certification every three or four years, like some other accreditation bodies, just renewed annual membership (and a possible random audit). ▲ Collapse
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