Todd Harkin
Todd Harkin tried out
the Translators 101 platform.
Read his review on it.
Newbies have a minimal selection when it comes to finding events that are beneficial to someone working to and from Portuguese. I am fortunate because my wife is a 20-year veteran in the translation field, but she’s also very busy and can’t just sit there and answer every single one of my multitude of questions. Many beginners to translation and interpretation may not even know of the existence of professional associations, such as the American Translators Association (ATA) or the Brazilian Translators Association (ABRATES). Then, in walks Translators101 with the help of founder, William Cassemiro, former ABRATES president.
Translators101 is a live events and online platform that holds events focused on the education and improvement of translators and interpreters. It fosters a welcoming culture, treats everyone with the utmost respect, and is centralized on creating interactive, face-to-face, and online events and courses at an affordable price. Its sights are set on the beginning translator and interpreter and they use technology to promote interaction and facilitate the learning of how each aspect of our market and profession works.
Translators101 emerged from an observation that greatly saddened William while participating in organizing ABRATES conferences: seeing people who would like to attend the conference but were unable to do so while still preparing for the market. He went to an American Translator’s Association conference at the beginning of his career and quickly realized the beneficial change that such events bring to anyone willing to learn and network with more experienced professionals.
During his time at ABRATES, he could understand the problems that most beginners face and for which they do not always get help. “The lack of kindness and welcoming for beginners is enough to leave anyone who has a shred of empathy, who remembers the doubts and difficulties they faced, very ashamed,” said William during our chat for this article.
William faced difficulties early in his career, as did we all. He was lucky to meet people who helped him because they understood that part of a professional’s responsibility (especially in an unregulated area) is to help newbies to enter the market. Help them to completely understand how it works and, especially, how it doesn’t, and the pitfalls to avoid. We all win this way. A market with better-oriented professionals is better for everyone, including clients.
Conference costs may not be too high for professionals (depending on their income, of course), who typically already see such events as what they really are: investments in their career. For those just beginning their careers or still studying, we cannot deny that it’s a lot, and it is even prohibitive. When William’s term as president of ABRATES ended in July 2018, he recognized that barrier and created Translators101, with the following principles in mind:
- Respect and welcome the beginner
- Facilitate access to professional events
- Support them when they have questions
- Partner with high-level courses to offer discounts
- Offer the lowest event costs in the world of translation and interpretation
Access is unrestricted. You don’t have to be a student or a novice to participate in Translators101 events. Many experienced professionals are subscribers and have been delighted, and so have I, especially with learning about other areas in which we do not yet operate. You may attend their sessions in person or watch them later, after they are uploaded to their online platform.The subscription allows you to watch whenever and as often as you want, from anywhere in the world. It is truly a hassle-free membership. You can subscribe today and leave tomorrow, but it is very rare for someone to halt their subscription. I haven’t stopped yet, nor do I intend to. The benefits I reap are far too valuable.
Translators101 does not look for just an excellent speaker. Only those who demonstrate they understand the importance of welcoming beginners are chosen. William insists that the speakers are paid, something contrary to the area norms, and Translators101 is changing that. He asks only one thing: They need to know that no question from the beginner can be left unanswered and that it must be answered with the utmost respect given to the newcomer. William emphasizes, “respect the beginner is the motto at Translators101.” They are committed to offering resources, tips, and answers that will make all the difference in training, and do so in different formats. They have all this to offer, and great professionals to explain it.
Translators101 is a diamond in the rough. They are committed to being the world’s source of educational and technical information on Portuguese language translation for those just beginning their careers, those who are already professionals, and those who work with our language but who are far away from Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. They believe that maintaining contact with the mother tongue is essential for those who work abroad. If that contact is through lectures that also bring more knowledge about the profession, the gain is even more substantial.
They consider it a pleasure and an honor to welcome PLD friends into their group of subscribers. I became a subscriber a year ago and can only see the benefits it brings not only to my work, but to the future of the translation, interpretation, and language professions as a whole.
Todd Harkin is a Portuguese > English translator from Missouri (USA), specializing in food, sustainable development, and medical/pharmaceutical content, as well as cultural equivalence in translation. He transitioned to a full-time career in translation in 2018, after more than 25 years in the food industry in different countries. Todd has a Bachelor’s Degree in Gastronomy and Hospitality Management and Certificates in Portuguese as a Second Language (Mackenzie University), Medical Translation (Escola de Tradutores), Technical Translation (Geronymus), and Conference Interpreting (Escola de Tradutores). He is currently studying English-Portuguese Translation in the Graduate Program of Estácio University. A formally trained and certified Chef, Todd is the personification of a foodie translator.
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