Translation Confessional

Managing your translation memories well is crucial for long-term collaborations with clients. Plus, it really improves your productivity and ensures consistency throughout your work. Click HERE to watch some short videos about how CAT tools can help you. For a few weeks here at Translation Confessional, I’m highlighting some other aspects of CAT tools, because I don’t want to overload anyone with...

The English language often lacks both rhyme and reason. It’s full of synonyms, homophones, homonyms, and other confusing words that seem to make it especially difficult to learn. Luckily, you can use the same five skills to improve your English vocabulary as you did when learning your first language: reading, listening, watching, conversing, and writing. This episode is sponsored by Grammarly . If...

Computer-Assisted Translation―that's what CAT stands for. If you're not a translator―that is, if you’re an interpreter, subtitler, copyeditor, proofreader, or fit into any other category as a language professional―odds are you're not familiar with it. Click HERE to watch some short videos about how CAT tools can help you. For a few weeks here at Translation Confessional, I’m highlighting some othe...

Today’s song is called “Tensione Evolutiva” by Lorenzo Jovanotti. It is one of my favorite songs in Italian because it always gives me a boost of energy. It came out late 2012 and, had it been released a little over a decade earlier, I would have been jumping up and down to it at Brazilian nightclubs during my college days. You can listen to the song here: https://bit.ly/TC-S01E03 After listening...

Have you ever heard of the so-called “Translation Method”? Do you have a translation method of your own? What steps do you follow when working on a translation? What other tasks do you perform while assisting a client? Is it working for you? Do you need to make adjustments, add another quality assurance step in, or maybe remove a step that is making you not use your time well? Drop me a line, beca...

I saw that the two episodes I had about subtitling during Season 1 of our Translation Confessional podcast became very popular pretty fast, so I know for a fact that many of you out there are interested in the subject. I can’t blame you―subtitling is indeed fascinating! With that in mind, I’ve put together a 30-minute online session on how to transcribe and translate subtitles on YouTube! Well, if...

Hi everybody, this is a quick message for all tech-oriented translators and interpreters out there. Let me tell you a little bit about AppSumo . It’s pretty much a hub for different apps and online programs that can help you streamline your work and become more productive and efficient. They have solutions in different categories: client management, marketing, productivity, sales, SEO, social medi...

After talking about client interactions for two weeks, let’s talk about money today. The topic of discussion today is invoicing practices. Receiving payment for your translation or interpretation work is, of course, the most important part of your business, but the process greatly varies according to the type of client you work with and where you are located. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-...

Today I'll be highlighting “Avalancha” by Héroes del Silencio. Instrumentally, it’s like a 90s rock anthem. However, I have to say I’m not 100% sure what it is about. I understand the imagery of something crashing down and taking everything with it, but not knowing who the “Us” and “You” are in this song makes it very enigmatic. Well, if you have any idea what this avalanche in particular is about...

Last week, I talked a bit about Client Education . This week, I wanted to answer a question related to the same topic, which is something that I get asked quite often by beginner translators and translation students: What is your ideal client like? *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* CHECK OUT THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: LSP.expert Get 15% off with the code RAFA Grammarly Keep your...

This seems to be kind of a hot topic for translators and interpreters. I’ve heard many colleagues saying that it’s not our place to educate clients, and that we should provide our services according to the client’s guidelines and practices. Others believe that it’s part of the job to raise awareness of what it is that we actually do, because many clients don’t quite know how translation and interp...

As promised, our MUSIC EDITION is premiering today! When I started brainstorming this first episode, I knew I had to select a song from Brazil. Once I narrowed it down to fulfill the purpose of this series, I knew exactly what song I wanted to highlight. Today we'll be talking about "Como os nossos pais" by Elis Regina . You can listen to it here: https://bit.ly/TC-S01E01 After listening to this e...

Happy New Year! I hope you had a happy and safe holiday season, and wish that 2021 will be a much smoother and overall healthy year. Since we’re still in holiday and new-year mode, and ‘tis the season for starting from scratch, making adjustments, or even reinventing yourself, let’s stick to the topic of staying organized. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* CHECK OUT THIS EPISOD...

I saw that the two episodes I had about subtitling during Season 1 of our Translation Confessional podcast became very popular pretty fast, so I know for a fact that many of you out there are interested in the subject. I can’t blame you―subtitling is indeed fascinating! With that in mind, I’ve put together a 40-minute online session on the technical aspects of subtitling, so you can learn more abo...

What is the most fundamental tool translators have? Yes, our language! And we must be the grammar and spelling police, not only when we’re working on a project, but also when we’re communicating with clients or interacting with peers online. We must use our languages well at all times. With that in mind, one tool I’ve been using for a while now, and I do use it constantly, is GRAMMARLY . I’ve acti...

Since I had so much fun podcasting throughout the year, I thought it would be a good idea to add something extra to the podcast schedule. Now, every other Tuesday, starting January 12, 2021, we’ll have a bonus episode for our MUSIC EDITION! Don’t worry, I won’t be doing any singing! I’ll just be saying the words in English after the original lyrics are sung by each talented artist. However, as I m...

To wrap up season 1 of Translation Confessional, I’m interviewing my husband about living in a bilingual home and being the other half of a binational couple. We do get into some deep conversations sometimes ―despite being married for almost 19 years, it seems we still have a lot to talk about! I hope you enjoy our conversation and get an idea of what it’s like being tied to two different countrie...

If you haven’t done so already, check Part 1 of my interview with my husband about living in a bilingual home and being the other half of a binational couple. This is Part 2 and it officially wraps up season 1 of Translation Confessional and what you’re about to hear is an edited version for audio only. You can watch a video of the actual conversation here .  I hope you enjoy it and get an id...

To wrap up season 1 of Translation Confessional, I’m interviewing my husband about living in a bilingual home and being the other half of a binational couple. Because we do get into some deep conversations sometimes ―despite being married for almost 19 years, it seems we still have a lot to talk about― I had to break up this long interview, so part 2 will be coming up in 5 days. What you’re about...

Hi everybody, this is a quick message for all freelance translators, interpreters, and language professionals out there. The end of the year is fast approaching, and what a crazy year it’s been! Not only did we face the threat of a dangerous virus, but we also had to cope with many changes in our professional setting as well. So, if you’re trying to think of ways to work on your professional devel...

Hi everybody, this is a quick message for all freelance translators, interpreters, and language professionals out there. The end of the year is fast approaching, and what a crazy year it’s been! Not only did we face the threat of a dangerous virus, but we also had to cope with many changes in our professional setting as well. So, if you’re trying to think of ways to center yourself for 2021, find...

Here's my interview in English with my bilingual children. It was weird to talk to them in English for such a long time, since I only speak to them in Portuguese. Here's what's like living in two languages in our household. If you want to get the whole audiovisual experience, head over to the video version of this interview to see us interacting in the live recording, which includes a couple more...

Last week, I had an Instagram Live with Laila Rezende Compan, translator, subtitler, and creator of Tradutor Iniciante ―a blog, Instagram account, and YouTube channel dedicated to beginner translators in Brazil. She invited me to be in one of her weekly live interviews and we talked about IT translations. At first, I thought, “What am I going to say about specializing in translations for the Infor...

We’re approaching the end of the year and I’m wrapping up Season 1 of Translation Confessional. How do you like it so far? Leave a voice message on my Anchor page to give me feedback on the podcast or share your experiences about one of the many topics I got to cover throughout the year. Click here and select ««MESSAGE»» so you can go straight into the podcast voicemail.  If you’re kind of sh...

Let’s talk about something that has been increasingly happening to translators and interpreters nowadays―we’re being targeted by scammers. I have a video on two kinds of scammers that have been targeting our industry for years: SCAM ALERT! Now, in this episode, I wanted to build on the subject and go a little further into other types of scams we may fall for, professionally or even personally. *-*...