Translation Journal Update | August 11, 2014

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Written by Karen Hodgson

The information below is a condensed version of the Translation Journal newsletter 8^th April edition. To subscribe and receive the newsletter, starting next Friday, in its entirety, click here.  It is free and you will never miss any of the posted articles or special offers and discounts – they will be delivered straight to your inbox.

In last week's newsletter, we listed several noteworthy upcoming translation and interpreting conferences. Industry conferences can be highly beneficial, with attendees coming away with valuable insights into the translation and interpreting sector, as well as meeting new friends, colleagues, and clients.

Having experienced all of these benefits firsthand, I find myself wondering why I am struggling to commit to attending this year's ATA Conference in Chicago in November. It's a well-run conference with excellent speakers and workshops, and no doubt many incredible opportunities.

The issues keeping me on the fence are probably the same ones that many people face when deciding whether or not to attend a conference: time, cost, and logistics. But let's look beyond these ever-present hurdles and consider instead four great benefits to attending a professional conference.

Four Reasons to Attend Translation Industry Conferences

Attending a translation and interpreting industry conference is an investment in your professional and personal development. Participants come away with valuable insights into the translation and interpreting business, and often end up meeting new friends, potential clients, and collaboration partners.

Of course, traveling out of town to go to a conference does have its costs, both in money and in time, but the benefits are often well worth it. Here are four great reasons to attend an industry conference.

1. To stay up-to-date
The translation and interpreting industry has seen rapid (some might say overwhelming) advances in new technology: voice recognition applications, project management software, CAT tools - the list goes on and on.

Fortunately, many conference speakers specialize in these new technologies and have already spent considerable time sifting through information from a wide variety of sources in order to present you with the latest information and best recommendations.

In addition, most conferences will have an area where vendors and suppliers can show their products. These vendors can be a valuable resource for learning more about the current business climate and discovering new innovations in order to stay ahead in this competitive industry.

2. To share knowledge
A professional conference is essentially a nonstop exchange of knowledge, and you and your colleagues are valuable contributors to this information stream. People who share a common profession are more than happy (thrilled, really) to share their tips. From where to find the latest and greatest glossary to which tool will best convert PDF files to editable text, you can find the answers to all of your questions - all you need to do is ask!

3. To make connections
Conferences offer a great opportunity to meet new friends, colleagues, and clients. Meeting your competition can be incredibly informative, and will often even lead to finding new clients and projects through networking and referrals. By connecting with others in your profession, you open yourself up to new ideas which can go on to help you to re-energize and refocus your career goals.

4. To have fun (remember fun?!)
Conferences allow you to break away from your daily routine and can be great fun if you go in with a positive, curious mindset. Why not take the opportunity to get away and experience the adventure of a new city? Remember, while attending a professional conference will ultimately benefit your work, the conference itself isn't work. Lighten up - you can learn a lot and have a great time while you're at it!

To receive the Translation Journal weekly newsletter, click here. 

Recent Contributor Spotlight:

Our current issue of the Translation Journal features the article "Investigating the evolution in the language teaching component of the translation curriculum in ASTI: Status, Scope, and Results" by Dr. Sakwe George Mbotake.

This article "investigates some of the major changes in the language teaching component of the translation curriculum in the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI) of the University of Buea, Cameroon, since its inception in 1986 and assesses their effect on the translation performance of trainees." Click here to read more.

Technology Tip: 

Translators and interpreters need all the organizational help we can get, and Tasker is one of the most powerful productivity apps available today, capable of turning your smartphone into a fully automated superphone! It works by allowing you to script actions for your phone to perform when specific conditions are met.

Some possible actions include having an LED light flash when a text message comes in, or for your phone's brightness to change according to the time of day. You can create home screen buttons to easily switch between various action sets, such as "at work," "on-the-way-home," or "at home."

With over 200 actions to choose from, there are too many to list here, but consider checking out Tracker for yourself. Just remember, to get the most out of this great app, plan to spend some time getting to know all of its features.

Have a great week!