Tools and Technology in Translation

This book is the result of a ten-week online class I started teaching back in 2010 as part of the Professional Certificate in English/Spanish Translation and Interpretation offered by the University of California San Diego Extension. Entitled "Tools and Technology in Translation," the objective of the class is to provide practical advice about the technology and business side of our industry. The main purpose of this book is to lift the curtain, look into what happens behind the scenes, and address a crucial question that beginner translators and interpreters always ask themselves: "Do I have what it takes?" As we all know, being bilingual isn't enough to start working as a professional translator and/or interpreter and, throughout the UC San Diego Extension Program, instructors make all possible efforts to identify the niche that students could consider when putting their language skills to good use and not only build a solid business for themselves, but also help clients achieve their goals, in addition to serving the community as well. As a secondary goal, I hope the contents shared here are useful to help established translators and interpreters, as well as educators, to get a better idea on the profile of newcomers in the language industry, so we can better manage our mentoring efforts and help strengthen the T&I community.