he purpose of this paper is to provide information about distance and online courses for translators around the world.
Translators seem to be ideal candidates for online and distance courses as they are often already working as translators or in another profession when they decide to enroll for a translation course. Also, as continuing education is extremely important in our profession, distance and online courses can be an interesting alternative to traditional education for those who cannot attend a classroom. Furthermore, such courses can prove of interest for people with a degree or experience in another field, such as law, medicine or engineering for example, who have the necessary language skills to work as translators but would like to earn a certificate or degree in translation as well.
Most courses offer a limited number of language combinations, essentially major European and Asian languages. Obviously, minority languages are rarely offered due to lack of demand.
The courses that are offered for translators range from very basic introductory courses to internationally recognized masters degrees and doctorates. Some are suitable for beginners or language learners, others prepare for official exams or a university degree, still others might be considered as refresher or continuing education courses.
The following list also includes some courses for interpreters, subtitlers and terminologists.
Argentina
- Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
http://www.traductores.org.ar/mostrarcursos.asp?m=3&y=2006&tipo=DIS
At the time of writing, the list of courses was not available yet.
Australia
- University of Western Sydney
Master of Arts (Translation and Linguistics)
http://handbook.uws.edu.au/hbook/course.asp?course=0A59E
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.
Languages: Arabic - English, Chinese - English, Japanese - English, Spanish - English, Vietnamese - English
French, German, Indonesian, Italian and Korean may be added subject to demand.
Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree, IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent.
Canada
- Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface
Certificat de traduction (Translation certificate)
http://www.ustboniface.mb.ca/cusb/ctra/index.html
Duration: 3 years (flexible)
Languages: French - English
Entry requirements: Entrance exam.
- University of Toronto - School of continuing studies
Certificate in continuing studies in professional translation
http://learn.utoronto.ca/uoft/internationalLanguages/index.jsp
Duration: 50 hours per course - up to 10 months
Languages: Cantonese - English, Mandarin - English, French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Japanese - English, Korean - English, Portuguese - English, Spanish - English
Paper-based home study. French is available online.
Students can start courses at any time.
- Université du Québec à Montréal - Télé -université
Programme court d'initiation à la traduction (Short introductory program to translation)
http://www.teluq.uquebec.ca/sed/xml/sabplXml.php?p_no_url= 1&p_etb_code=TELUQ&p_cycle_inf=1&p_cycle_sup=3&p_prg_code=0358&p_herit=etu&p_ref_xslt=siteweb/etudes/xml/info_prg.xsl
Languages: English - French, Spanish - French
Finland
- The English Centre Helsinki
Finnish to English translation course by distance learning
http://www.englishcentre.fi/en/ecen99.htm
Intermediate and advanced level.
France
- University of London Institute in Paris
Initiation classes in French and English translation - Contemporary French language and culture through translation
http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/ictranslation/index.html
Languages: French - English
Certificate in translation
http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/cert_trans/index.html
Languages: French - English
Entry requirements: French language test and translation test.
Includes seminars in Paris on Saturdays a few times a year.
English and translation by distance learning
http://www.ulip.lon.ac.uk/courses/distance/index.html
Languages: French - English
Different levels available from beginner to English teacher.
Entry requirements: English language test.
Includes seminars in Paris on Saturdays.
Diplôme d'université en terminologie (University diploma in terminology)
http://www.uhb.fr/langues/cfttr/msie/du/du_term.html
Duration: 1 year
Languages: English - French
Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree or professional experience.
Includes at least one session in Rennes as well as automatic registration for the Autumn University in terminology.
Diplôme d'université de traducteur généraliste à orientations spécialisées (University diploma in general translation with specialization courses)
http://www.uhb.fr/langues/cfttr/msie/du/du_trad.html
Duration: 1 year
Languages: English - French
Entry requirements: 2 years of University studies or equivalent, or professional experience.
Includes at least one session in Rennes as well as the participation in the Summer University in translation.
Includes general, para-technical, economic and legal translation.
Germany
Diplom-Wirtschaftsübersetzer FH (Diploma in economic translation)
http://www.akad-fernstudium.de/fs/detail/288
Duration: 4 years, accelerated course: 3 years
Languages: English - German, French - German, Spanish - German
Distance and online course.
Possibility to start at any time.
Staatlich geprüfter Übersetzer (State-examined translator)
http://www.akad-fernstudium.de/fs/detail/254
Languages: English - German, French - German, Spanish - German
Vorbereitung auf die staatliche Übersetzerprüfung Italienisch (Staatl. Prüfungsamt) und den öffentlich-rechtlichen Abschluss „Geprüfte(r) Übersetzer/in (IHK)" im Selbststudium (Preparation for the State exam in Italian translation and the degree of "Examined Translator" by self-study)
http://www.reinoldskrabal.de/studienangebote.htm (scroll down)
Languages: Italian - German
Fachzertifikat „Gerichts- und Behördenterminologie" (in deutscher Sprache) für ÜbersetzerInnen und DolmetscherInnen aller Sprachrichtungen (Certificate in German legal and administrative terminology for translators and interpreters of all language combinations)
http://www.reinoldskrabal.de/studienangebote.htm (scroll down)
Greece
Distance learning program
http://www.hau.gr/hau/en/edu_trans_distance.html
Includes a two-year program in general-specialized translation and the preparatory course for the diploma in translation.
Different levels available.
Languages: English - Greek
- Centre for English Language & Training
Diploma in translation
http://www.celt.edu.gr/diploma_in_translation_eng.htm
Duration: 1-2 years
Languages: English - Greek, Greek - English
Approved by the Institute of Linguistics.
Ireland
http://www.wls.ie/tranbroc.htm
Certificate in translation
IOL diploma in translation
Languages: French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Spanish - English, Portuguese - English
English - French, English - German, English - Italian, English - Spanish
Other language combinations are being developed.
- Dublin Institute of Technology
Online translation programme
http://www.dit.ie/DIT/study/parttime/courses/k254.html
Duration: 1 year
Languages: French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Spanish - English
Entry requirements: University degree in foreign languages or equivalent.
Italy
- Università degli Studi di Genova
Master a distanza in traduzione specializzata in campo giuridico (Distance master in specialized legal translation)
http://www.perform.unige.it/aree/traduzionegiuridica-scheda.html
Duration: 25 weeks
Languages: French - Italian, German - Italian, English - Italian, Spanish - Italian (the program can be followed in one or two language combinations, Spanish - Italian can only be chosen as a second combination)
Master a distanza in traduzione specializzata in campo economico, della banca e della finanza (Distance master in specialized economic, banking and financial translation)
http://www.perform.unige.it/aree/corsi/trad_spec.html
Duration: 25 weeks
Languages: French - Italian with the possibility to add English - Italian or German - Italian
- Università Ca Foscari Venezia
Corso di perfezionamento annuale a distanza in traduzione automatica e traduzione assistita all'elaboratore (Advanced annual distance course in machine translation and computer assisted translation)
http://157.138.41.87/TATAE/index.html
Duration: 18 weeks
Netherlands
Online compact subtitling course
http://www.subtitlingworldwide.com/
Duration: 3 months
Languages: English - Portuguese, English - Dutch, English - any language, any language - any language (in the case of major European languages, students can get feedback on their subtitles, for other languages, mainly on timing)
HBO vertaler engels (English translator)
http://www4.loi.nl/Hogeschool/Talen/PRD_000720
Duration: 4 years (it is possible to complete the program faster)
Languages: English - Dutch
NVAO accredited.
Spain
http://www.traductores.sampere.es/esp/index.html
Iniciación a la traducción bilingüe (Introduction to bilingual translation)
Languages: English - Spanish
Diploma de traducción bilingüe (Diploma in bilingual translation)
Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, German - Spanish, Italian - Spanish
Traducción bilingüe - nivel profesional (Bilingual translation - professional level)
Languages: English - Spanish
Master en traducción bilingüe (Master in bilingual translation)
Languages: English - Spanish
Diploma en traducción jurídica (Diploma in legal translation)
Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, German - Spanish, Italian - Spanish
Traducción jurídica - nivel profesional (Legal translation - professional level)
Languages: English - Spanish
Master en traducción jurídica (Master in legal translation)
Languages: English - Spanish
Seminario traductor free-lance (Freelance translator seminar)
Traducción especializada (Specialized translation)
- Telecomunicaciones y tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (Telecommunications and information and communication technologies)
- Unión Europea (European Union)
- Economía y gestión de empresas (Economics and business administration)
Languages: English - Spanish
Como profesionalizar la traducción (How to professionalize translation)
http://www.torsimany.com/docsesp/s_index.htm
Técnicas de traducción asistida - Trados (Computer assisted translation techniques - Trados)
Terminología - obtención y gestión (Terminology - acquisition and management)
Traducción y correción de páginas y sitios web (Translation and proofreading of websites)
Fiscalidad para traductores, correctores y autores (Taxes for translators, proofreaders and authors)
Buscar recursos lingüísticos en Internet (Finding linguistic resources on the Internet)
Utilidades avanzadas de Internet: transferencia de archivos (Advanced Internet tools: file transfer)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona
Online postgraduate certificate in technical translation and electronic tools
http://isg.urv.es/publicity/masters/courses/etools.html
Duration: 10 weeks
Online postgraduate certificate in editing and revising technical texts in English
http://isg.urv.es/publicity/masters/courses/editing.html
Duration: 8 weeks
Programa interuniversitario de doctorado en traducción, sociedad y comunicación (Inter-university doctorate in translation, society and communication)
http://www.ugr.es/~dpto_ti/phd/phd01.html
Students can follow part or all of the program online.
- Teleservicios Editoriales S.L.
Traducción de audiovisuales - Técnicas y herramientas para el subtitulado (Audiovisual translation - Techniques and tools for subtitling)
http://www.tsedi.com/traducciondeaudiovisuales.htm
Duration: 8 weeks, starting every Monday
Languages: English - Spanish
Traducción de libros técnicos (Translation of technical books)
http://www.tsedi.com/traducciondelibro.htm
Duration: 100 hours
The course is organized every time there are at least 10 students interested in taking the course.
- International House Barcelona
Translator training course
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/introdistance.html
Duration: 8 modules - 2 weeks each
Languages: Spanish - English
Institute of Linguists diploma preparation course
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/ioldistance.html
Languages: Spanish - English
Course in translation into English for non-English translators
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/translation/reverse.html
Duration: 6 months
Languages: Spanish - English
Curso de traducción general (General translation course)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/cursogeneral.htm
Duration: 4 parts - 3 months each
Languages: English - Spanish
Curso de traducción comercial (Commercial translation course)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/traduccion_comercial.html
Duration: 3 parts - 3 months each
Languages: English - Spanish
Curso de traducción jurídica (Legal translation course)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/juridica.html
Duration: 12 months
Language: English - Spanish
Curso de traducción técnica (Technical translation course)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/cursotecnica.html
Duration: 3 months
Languages: English - Spanish
Prácticums (Practical translation)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/practicums.htm
Duration: 2 months per module (7 different modules available plus 1 a la carte)
Languages: English - Spanish
Cours de traduction général (General translation course)
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/traduccion/frances.html
Duration: 4 parts - 2 months each
Languages: Spanish - French
http://www.iula.upf.es/iulonluk.htm
Introduction to terminology online postgraduate course
Duration: 6 weeks
Online postgraduate diploma: terminology and professional needs
Duration: 6 weeks
Online master on terminology
Duration: 18-24 months
Online workshops on terminology
Duration: 6 workshop - 3 weeks each
Working language for all courses: Spanish
- Fundación para la Investigación y Desarrollo de la Cultura Española
http://www.fidescu.org/pgCurT.htm
Traducción profesional (Professional translation)
Duration: 3 modules - 3 months each
Preparación para el examen de intérprete jurado (Preparation for the sworn interpreter exam)
Duration: 6 months
Cursos de especialización (jurídico-económica, científico-técnica, literaria-periodística) (Specialization courses: legal-economic, scientific-technical, literary-journalistic)
Duration: 3 months per specialization
Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish, Portuguese - Spanish
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Especialista universitario en traducción inglés - español (Academic specialist in English -Spanish translation) (go to índice alfabético de especialista universitario -> traducción inglés - español)
http://www.uned.es/vep/cursos/especializacion/formalizacion-matricula.htm
Duration: 7 months
- International Centre - Bilbao
Translation
http://www.internationalcentre.net/ingles/servicios/cursos/programa/especiales/esp_traduccion.jsp
Two options: General course and Institute of Linguists' exam
- Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
Postgrado de traducción audiovisual virtual (Postgraduate course in audiovisual virtual translation)
http://www.fti.uab.es/onptav/
7 modules are available. 4 modules are required to obtain a Diploma, 7 to obtain a Masters degree. Possibility to start at any time.
Languages: English - Spanish
Taller de traducción literaria (Literary translation workshop)
http://www.escueladeletras.com/cursos_en_linea/traduccion_literaria.php
2 levels available.
Languages: English - Spanish, French - Spanish
- Escuela de escritura Madrid
Traducción teatral (Theatre translation)
http://www.escueladeescritura.com/3_cursos_06.htm
Duration: 12 weeks
Languages: Spanish - English - Spanish
UK
Preparatory courses for the Institute of Linguists' Diploma in Translation
http://www.city.ac.uk/languages/dtdl.html
Languages: French - English, German - English, Italian - English, Spanish - English, Portuguese - English, Dutch - English, Arabic - English, Polish - English, Russian - English, Turkish - English, Czech - English
English - French, English - German, English - Italian, English - Spanish, English - Portuguese, English - Dutch, English - Russian
Postgraduate certificate in translation skills
http://www.city.ac.uk/languages/PGCTS.html
Duration: 2 years
Languages: Spanish - English
MA Translation studies open distance learning
http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/prospectus/ODL/odltransinfo.htm
Duration: minimum 30 months, maximum 5 years part-time
- University of the West of England
Postgraduate diploma in translation / MA in translation
http://info.uwe.ac.uk/courses/viewCourse.asp?URN=11474&stream
Languages: Spanish - English, French - English, German - English
Entry requirements: Degree or professional qualification.
High level translation French - English distance learning course
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/translate/index.php
Duration: 9 months
Entry requirements: Test
The course consists of two modules which can be taken together or independently.
High level translation Spanish - English distance learning course
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/languages/spanish/online/index.php
Duration: 1 year
The course consists of two modules which can be taken together or independently.
Home study course for the Institute of Linguists' Diploma in translation
http://www.s-james.dircon.co.uk/
Languages: English - French, English - German, English - Greek, English - Italian, English - Japanese, English - Spanish, English - Swedish, English - Russian
French - English, German - English, Greek - English, Italian - English, Japanese - English, Spanish - English, Russian - English
Other language combinations available upon request.
Diploma in public service interpreting
http://www.stc.ac.uk/courses/Languages/languages.html
Preparatory course for the Institute of Linguists' exam.
Languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Kurdish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Sylheti, Turkish, Urdu.
Two options available: Health and Legal services.
US
Certificate in translation
http://www.scps.nyu.edu/departments/certificate.jsp?certId=157
Languages: Arabic - English, French - English, German - English, Spanish - English, English - Portuguese, English - Spanish, General translation
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
French professional development online translation courses
http://www.continuinged.uiuc.edu/outreach/frenchProfDev.cfm
Entry requirements: BA in French or equivalent.
- University of Hawaii at Manoa
Chinese - English translation
http://cits.hawaii.edu/ (go to "Courses currently offered" and scroll down to 2006 Spring semester courses)
Duration: 11 weeks
Web-based course, entrance exam required.
Japanese - English translation
http://cits.hawaii.edu/ (go to "Courses currently offered" and scroll down to 2006 Spring semester courses)
Duration: 11 weeks
Web-based course, entrance exam required.
Babel University Professional School of Translation (Japanese institute established in Hawaii)
Master of science in translation
http://www.babel.edu/english/mst.html
Majors: literary arts and film translation, business & management translation, technical and scientific translation, international paralegal translation
Duration: 2 years
Languages: English - Japanese, Japanese - English
Note: This list does not claim be to exhaustive.The information about the programs listed was valid at the time of writing (March 2006), but may change at any moment.
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