ABOUT ME
18 years’ experience translating, with over 12 years working in the translation industry. I started out as a volunteer translator for the Institute of Race Relations in 2002, and following further postgraduate study and training, I progressed to my first in-house role in 2008. My industry experience has included positions at prestigious translation companies, including Life Sciences Lead Translator at SDL International and Translator/Reviewer for Medical Translation Services at RWS Group. I also designed, taught and assessed the Advanced Spanish to English Translation module of the MA in Translation Studies at the University of Sheffield.
Highly qualified. I am a holder of the Chartered Institute of Linguists’ Diploma in Translation, the gold standard in professional translation. Having whetted my appetite for the industry during my role as Specialist Reader, supporting a disabled student on the MA in Applied Translation Studies at Leeds University, I proceeded to embark on the DipTrans Preparatory Course at City University, London. I later undertook medical translation training in-house at RWS, and studied an Open University module, ‘Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story’, to deepen my knowledge of the subject area.
My undergraduate degree was BA Joint Honours in French & Spanish at Leeds University, graduating in 2003. I am also qualified with the Cambridge University CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), another gold standard.
As I am so passionate about the finer details of style and grammar of the English language, you will be sure to receive translations of impeccable quality.
Broad linguistic experience. My linguistic background is made up of a rich tapestry of work experience, travel and residence abroad. In 2010, I taught for the British Council, Dakar, Senegal, during which time I helped overhaul the Translation Unit of the British-Senegalese Institute, in collaboration with the Director for National Education. My successful contribution to their department led to increased translation capacities and streamlined QA procedures.
I have also worked as an English language assistant in Burgundy, France, and spent several years studying and working in Spain (Granada and Almería provinces), as well as in Portugal. My translation work experience has been complemented by additional jobs as a Beginners’ Spanish language tutor to mature learners and people with learning disabilities, as well as an NHS Primary Care Trust medical interpreter and legal interpreter to asylum seekers. By drawing on this wealth of direct linguistic experience, above and beyond the realms of academia, I enjoy providing the high-quality service upon which I pride myself.
Advanced user of the latest translation technologies including SDL Trados Studio, Memsource, XTM, TWS, Polyglot and Smartling. Versatile with IT resources and able to handle high volumes of text confidently and efficiently.
Past linguistic projects have included terminology management for a 250,000-word project, developing style conventions and determining terminology approaches to ensure linguistic consistency across a multi-disciplinary team of linguists; language quality evaluations, analysing errors encountered during reviews of other linguists’ work and providing detailed feedback; account lead for major medical devices firm; principal translator for major pharmaceutical packaging firm; producing marketing slogans, writing to character limits and editing texts for a specific target audience; language analyst for pharmaceutical client in FTSE 100 index.
QUALIFICATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS
- Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation, with preparatory course at City University, London, 2008-2011
- Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults), 2010
- BA Joint Hons French & Spanish (2:1), Leeds University, 2003
- The Open University: Module SK185 ‘Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story’, 2012
- Member of the North West Translators’ Network
- Covered by Hiscox Professional Indemnity Insurance