Using a tablet for note-taking

More on the issue of going "high-tech" in consec, by Tony Rosado. Replacing the old pad with a tablet PC:

https://rpstranslations.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/note-taking-with-ipad-making-our-life-easier-2/?hc_location=ufi

Nuevas tecnologías para interpretación consecutiva

Estupendo resumen de un seminario sobre nuevas tecnologías de ayuda a la interpretación consecutiva.

Posibilidades muy interesantes aunque su aplicación práctica no me parece sencilla. Quizás sea cuestión de práctica. En concreto la "sim-consec" me ha llamado mucho la atención. La posibilidad de grabar al orador (con el móvil o el "boli mágico") para luego traducirle en simultánea.

http://aidagda.com/2013/05/02/el-futuro-ya-esta-aqui/

Numerosos consejos muy lúcidos para avanzar profesionalmente, de la mano de R. Lozano:

http://www.rlozano.com/blog-8-claves-de-la-progresi%C3%B3n-profesional-del-traductor

Time management: the Pomodoro technique

Time management. The Pomodoro technique: 

http://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730

Underpromise and overdeliver

This article is about time management for freelancers, and I especially liked this tip about the right attitude in your dealings with clients. Underpromise but overdeliver.

http://lifehacker.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-time-management-1627697425?utm_content=buffer16417&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Cobrar de morosos

Consejos muy completos para cobrar de morosos, cortesía de @tradjurado (Twitter)

http://www.traduccion-jurada-oficial.com/blog/2014/9-consejos-para-conseguir-que-te-paguen-siendo-traductor/

Bad things interpreters shouldn't do to themselves

Toni Rosado has selected 10 bad things interpreters shouldn't do to themselves.

I would like to highlight "Lower your fee to keep the client" and "Be timid when negotiating work conditions".

These items harm you and they also hurt the profession, everyone else in the business, that is. Like he wisely says "I am in the business of working less and making more".

Another common bad habit is "Avoid interpreter conferences". These are indeed good opportunities to learn, network and expand business.

http://rpstranslations.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/the-ten-worst-things-that-interpreters-can-do-to-themselves/

Why are translation prices so different?

There are so many good points in this sound and balanced analysis! I especially liked the 2nd half.

http://www.localversion.com/en/localization/60-translationprices.html

Localization is not particularly expensive, but your favorite translation partner will probably not be the cheapest one.

Professional translators earn 30% below average salaries in Western countries. When clients put excessive pressure on rates, they are actually choosing to work with localizers who earn even less than that, which leads to high risks of wrong translations, poor style, miscommunication, or even legal issues. ...  Chances are high that those translations end up being assigned to cheap, junior translators who will rush to translate as many words as possible, with little care and very poor results.

Accurate, specialized translations demand much more time and expertise. If your English texts are clear, natural and carefully written, your foreign users expect exactly the same in their own language.

Cálculos para ser rentable

Este colega nos ha hecho un favor con unos cálculos sencillos. ¿Cuánto hay que cobrar para que salgan las cuentas?

http://tradugeek.com/2014/02/17/calculadora-freelance/

Practical things a freelance translator should do (right now)

by Corinne McKay
http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2014/02/21/basic-business-things-every-freelancer-should-do-right-now/

Practical guide for conference interpreters (AIIC)

Quite a comprehensive practical guide, covering the before and the after of every assignment. Lots of tips.

http://aiic.net/page/628/practical-guide-for-professional-conference-interpreters/lang/1

How and when to raise your rates

by Corinne McKay
http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2014/02/10/raising-your-translation-rates-how-and-when/

Short answer: with new clients, and when you’re already really busy.
...
If 100% of potential clients accept your rates without negotiating, you could be charging more. 

And here's a neat PROZ page that shows members' average reported rates for all language pairs.
http://search.proz.com/?sp=pfe/rates

The best investments for translators

According to a Proz poll.
Some of the top choices: Proz membership, networking, software/hardware, education.
I personally liked the option "hiring a proofreader", I'm sure it's an investment that pays.


http://www.proz.com/forum/poll_discussion/263461-poll%3A_what_is_the_best_investment_you_have_ever_made_for_your_business.html

Secciones que no deben faltar en la web de un traductor

Por Elena Fernández, de Trágora
http://marketingparatraductores.com/que-secciones-no-deben-faltar-en-la-web-de-un-traductor/

Resumiendo:

PÁGINA DE INICIO (escaparate)

QUIÉN ERES (trayectoria, actualidad, CV)

QUÉ HACES (servicios)

CÓMO LO HACES (cómo trabajas, muestras)

QUIÉN CONFÍA EN TI (clientes)

BLOG

CONTACTO

A basic overview of Consecutive Note-Taking

By a former European Commission trainer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddRk2pvzsVQ

And a former EU interpreter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D_-NPSB9NE&list=PLIreXuKKKiFdCRt7Pm-KmICJg4t202mlx

Un manual para hablar en público

He aquí un completo manual de oratoria (online y gratuito), de utilidad para quienes hablan en público, como los intérpretes. Destaco los apartados sobre el miedo escénico, la respiración y la fonación.
Ojalá estos manuales incluyeran un apartado especial, "oratoria específica para charlas con intérprete de por medio".

http://www.eumed.net/libros-gratis/2007b/302/indice.htm
Vencer el miedo: http://www.eumed.net/libros-gratis/2007b/302/vencer%20el%20miedo%20a%20hablar.htm
Respiración: http://www.eumed.net/libros-gratis/2007b/302/respiracion%20diafragmatica.htm

Performance anxiety? Don't calm down, but get excited

According to this study, if you feel anxiety before a public performance (e.g. an interpreting assignment), turning that feeling into EXCITEMENT (i.e. 'this is an opportunity' or 'a challenge') is more helpful than telling yourself to calm down. Excitement is a similar emotion, whereas calmness is the opposite.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/study-fight-performance-anxiety-by-getting-excited/282886/ 

Documentación aplicada a la traducción: hay vida más allá de Google

Javier Herrera repasa muy exhaustivamente alternativas a Google para ganar en precisión.
Yo empezaré probando DeeperWeb y WolframAlpha.

http://www.lalinternadeltraductor.org/n9/documentacion-traduccion.html 

El efecto de la crisis sobre el sector de la traducción en España

Oliver Carreira nos ofrece un análisis subjetivo pero revelador:

http://www.olivercarreira.net/es/como-ha-afectado-la-crisis-al-sector-de-la-traduccion-el-caso-espanol/

Extensiones para Google Chrome con las que mejorar las búsquedas

Aquí se repasan algunas extensiones para Google Chrome que hacen más efectiva la búsqueda de contenidos. Destacan WOT y Personal Blacklist

http://bitelia.com/2014/01/extensiones-google-chrome-mejorar-busquedas