The short answer has to be a firm “no”. When I started running webinars* over three years ago now, it was never my intention to usurp the important role played by training and information sessions in a classroom, seminar room or conference setting. Nothing can replace the immediate interaction with the speaker, the lunchtime chats with colleagues, or that exchange of views (and business cards) over a coffee at break-time.
But there was a definite and crying
need for an extra arrow to add to the quiver of good continuing professional
development (CPD) offered by professional institutes, universities, and
commercial enterprises.
Translators are a mixed lot. Many
of us work from home because we love the independent life-style that
free-lancing provides. Some live a long way from any city centre; many care for
children and/or elderly relatives. Family commitments and too much work often make
it difficult to get away from the office.
Webinars are a quick and easy way
of keeping totally up to the minute on every aspect of a translator’s life without leaving home or office. The only equipment needed is a reasonable PC or Mac and a good broadband connection.
Many events, such as those provided by CAT tool vendors, are free. Professional organisations such as ITI and ATA have been
putting on webinars (through eCPD) at reasonable cost for a couple of years
now, and since 2010 eCPD Ltd (my company, I declare an interest here) has run
dozens of webinars for translators and interpreters. We have covered subjects
from Terminology Management to PDF files, from Translation Techniques to
Chemistry for Translators. For a full list of webinars coming up later this
year see this link, and most of our past webinars are now available on demand. Some
eCPD webinars are free. For the sake of fairness, I mention also that ProZ
offers a programme of training webinars too.
Seats at a webinar are very
reasonably priced, usually at £20 (about $31 or €25), and anyone worried about not being able to make the live session can be assured that a recording will be made available afterwards
for viewing as often as desired@ at no extra charge.
Once they have got to grips with
the fact that they cannot actually see their audience, our speakers have reported
that they have greatly enjoyed the experience of talking to attendees who may
be logging in from Peru, Australia, Russia, or Taiwan. They find it exciting
and exhilarating. Webinars also make it possible to draw on the expertise of
experts based in many different parts of the world, the USA, Australia, France
and Spain, for example.
Attendees appreciate the fact that we try to keep the cost of webinar places as low as possible. At eCPD Webinars we are
translators ourselves and know that the translators budgets for CPD are often
tight. My colleagues and I are aware of what translators and interpreters are
asking for and try to provide training and information on topics that
translators want.
Some of the most popular webinars
have been the “Specialising in … “ series. These include sessions on financial
translation, legal translation, medical translation, sub-titling and many
others. We are currently planning a session on “specialising in technical
translation” for the new year.
This autumn sees a new venture – a
series of language-specific translation workshops (German, French and Spanish
in both directions). If these prove popular (and seats are strictly limited to
ensure that we can keep to the workshop format), we will try some other
language combinations.
I make no apology for promoting
eCPD Webinars in this blog. I strongly believe that attending webinars – from
whichever provider you choose - forms an important part of a translator’s
portfolio of reasonably priced continuing professional development (continuing
education) – especially when travelling to on-site training is difficult. After
all, that’s why I started eCPD Webinars in the first place!
And remember: "It's what we learn after we know it all that really counts." (Quips and Quotes by E.C. McKenzie ).
And remember: "It's what we learn after we know it all that really counts." (Quips and Quotes by E.C. McKenzie ).
* Webinar: a
seminar presentation or workshop made available via the Internet.
· @ For a
minimum of 90 days
