Poll: Should ongoing compulsory education be required of certified translators / interpreters? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Should ongoing compulsory education be required of certified translators / interpreters?".
This poll was originally submitted by Antonella Andreella
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Should ongoing compulsory education be required of certified translators / interpreters?".
This poll was originally submitted by Antonella Andreella
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | What exactly do you mean? | Dec 5, 2005 |
Compulsory education is normally up to the age of 16. After that, it is not compulsory, and I don't see how you can do "ongoing compulsory education". You can do "ongoing education", but it's not compulsory.
Or am I missing something?
| | | | Antonella Andreella (X) 
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
Dear Timothy,
I mean compulsory in order to become a "certified" translator and interpreter and in order to renew your certification every 2/3 years.
Regards
Antonella
| | | | Dinny
Greece
Local time: 18:56
Italian to Danish
+ ...
| Should lawyers and physicians? | Dec 5, 2005 |
...or for that sake any other professional once the degree is obtained?
IMHO, the "ongoing education" takes place during your work, while you would naturally participate in relevant courses and updates whenever you find it usefull to maintain or improve your skills. This because "it's good for business", not because some dusty authorities require it, they would probably not have any idea about what would be usefull and relevant since they have no insight in the course your work has... See more ...or for that sake any other professional once the degree is obtained?
IMHO, the "ongoing education" takes place during your work, while you would naturally participate in relevant courses and updates whenever you find it usefull to maintain or improve your skills. This because "it's good for business", not because some dusty authorities require it, they would probably not have any idea about what would be usefull and relevant since they have no insight in the course your work has taken during the years.
My two "øre". (Denmark keeps refusing the Euro)
Dinny
[Edited at 2005-12-05 13:37] ▲ Collapse
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Antonella Andreella (X)
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
once the poll is over I can let you know my opinion on this
Antonella
| | | | Russell Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:56
Italian to English
I used to be an Architect and a fixed number of hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) were compulsory in the UK.
A whole new industry grew up around the provision of training courses but my experience was that about 5% was directly relevant to my work and about 5% of that was remembered and put into practice.
People could choose their own subject matter so I chose Italian evening classes!!!
IMHO this is a level of bureaucracy (and a cost) we can do without. Actual... See more I used to be an Architect and a fixed number of hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) were compulsory in the UK.
A whole new industry grew up around the provision of training courses but my experience was that about 5% was directly relevant to my work and about 5% of that was remembered and put into practice.
People could choose their own subject matter so I chose Italian evening classes!!!
IMHO this is a level of bureaucracy (and a cost) we can do without. Actually translating in a given field is the best training available. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Antonella Andreella (X)
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
I see now that the question has been modified, why?
I'm not sure that this new question is of any interest to me.
Is it possible to modify the question of a poll while it is on so that some replies refer to the first formulation and others to the second one?
I'ms sorry
Antonella
| | | | | First question was redundant | Dec 5, 2005 |
I imagine it was changed because there is no need to say "compulsory" when you are already saying "required" later in the sentence.
As far as I can tell, the question is now phrased better. I can't see how this would change the results, except improve their accuracy!
Russell
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Antonella Andreella (X)
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
| It's your opinion | Dec 5, 2005 |
not mine and now it's your poll and no longer mine.
I'm very very sorry
Antonella
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Hi all,
Site staff routinely edits suggested polls, changing wording, adding options, etc. In this case, the redundant contruction was my error, not Antonella's. I also corrected it midstream.
As I have pointed out on several occasions, the purpose of these"quick polls" is to stimulate conversation. They are not scientific, and this is an example.
I apologize!
| | | | Antonella Andreella (X)
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
| It was so redundant | Dec 5, 2005 |
that poll results changed.
Regards
Antonella
| | | | | it's my own business | Dec 5, 2005 |
If I look at courses offered as part of continued education, it is extremely rare that I find one that even remotely relates to the texts I mostly translate. There are just so many different areas of specialization even within a particular field, that it's simply impossible to offer relevant courses to all translators/interpreters.
Fulfilling continued education requirements is just another thing that might look good on paper, but that doesn't have any relation to the actual transla... See more If I look at courses offered as part of continued education, it is extremely rare that I find one that even remotely relates to the texts I mostly translate. There are just so many different areas of specialization even within a particular field, that it's simply impossible to offer relevant courses to all translators/interpreters.
Fulfilling continued education requirements is just another thing that might look good on paper, but that doesn't have any relation to the actual translation skills. Particularly when these requirements can already be fulfilled by attending the annual conference, as is the case with ATA's requirements. You might be supporting the local economy of the conference city, have a good time, network, attend a few half-way interesting presentations etc., but how exactly does this make you a better translator or guarantee the quality of your work?
If I want to keep my business going well and keep my clients happy, I need to keep up-to-date somehow, whether required or not. I see required continued education mostly as a waste of time (and usually also of a good chunk of money), time that I can use much better on my own tailor-made private and voluntary on-the-job "education".
It's my own business, and if I can't deliver quality translations, my business suffers. Therefore it's my own personal responsibility to make sure that I'm always on top of things. But it also should be my own business how, when and to what extent I do this.
[Edited at 2005-12-06 00:42] ▲ Collapse
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Heike Behl, Ph.D. wrote:
Fulfilling continued education requirements is just another thing that might look good on paper, but that doesn't have any relation to the actual translation skills.
Quite so, judging by the wide range of skills and "skills" exhibited by certified translators.
If I want to keep my business going well and keep my clients happy, I need to keep up-to-date somehow, whether required or not. I see required continued education mostly as a waste of time (and usually also of a good chunk of money), time that I can use much better on my own tailor-made private and voluntary on-the-job "education".
In other words, as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
| | | | | I'd like to vote yes, but... | Dec 6, 2005 |
It's impossible to define anything that doesn't end up as a waste of time as Russell Jones describes above.
I went on a very good one-day course on English Contract Law earlier this year with a popular former teacher, but the net result, apart from fresh air, a good lunch and some networking wiht the other attendees, was probably limited.
The said teacher had done such a good job the first time round that in fact I could have found all the new material as and when I nee... See more It's impossible to define anything that doesn't end up as a waste of time as Russell Jones describes above.
I went on a very good one-day course on English Contract Law earlier this year with a popular former teacher, but the net result, apart from fresh air, a good lunch and some networking wiht the other attendees, was probably limited.
The said teacher had done such a good job the first time round that in fact I could have found all the new material as and when I needed it. And on the whole it has not made a big difference so far. That sort of thing should not be compulsory!
The IoL - or CIol these days - asks members (voluntarily) to set goals and record whether they achieve them, but current affairs on the radio, TV and newspapers, reading professional journals in specialisms and individual things like that are in the long run far more valuable than glossy one-day courses.
Each translator knows what is necessary - or should - and the research for specific jobs is usually a very good indicator too.
Discussion is fine... Happy translating! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Antonella Andreella (X)
Italy
Local time: 17:56
German to Italian
+ ...
| I agree with Christine, GoodWords, Heike, Russel Jones and Dinny | Dec 6, 2005 |
of course!
And yes, there is actually a redundancy, but I'm afraid it's not in my question but maybe in the implementation of such a system ))))
Having requested to modify the original question it's not only unfair but also a pity for our community as a whole
Bye
Antonella
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