Learning translation with ITBM (Part I)

As I have mentioned in my previous post, I recently completed a professional course in general translation, hosted by ITBM. I have only been professionally translating in the past year or so. It started when I was thrown into a BM environment when I started a new job. I started at ZERO. I mean, I was used to translating subtitles for videos at another job, but in colloquial language, and I wouldn't say I had quite the grasp of BM. And then, I was given the task of translating news articles at this new job. It was quite the transition.

However, I was lucky because I had a mentor whose love for the language and skills in translation consumed me. I fell in love ... with the language and translation! So, I decided that was the path to embark on. Getting formally educated in translation would be my first step. Now, I must say, completing this course would not make me an expert, but it helped tremendously in laying the foundation for my wavering experience. 

Prior to taking the course, apart from a few friends sharing, I couldn't find any other account of the experience. So I thought I'd share mine, as a reference for prospective students.

I will make separate posts on this topic because I have attention problems (haha! No, but really ..)

Let's start with the basics:

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DURATION: ITBM offers 2 options for the course – part-time and intensive. 

• Intensive: Lessons would be held over 10 consecutive days. This would be tricky for those with other full-time commitments, as they are full-day lessons.

• Part-time: I chose this option because I work full-time. Lessons were held once a week (on Saturdays) over the course of 10 weeks. Our day started at 9am and ended at 5pm, with a lunch break and other breaks as decided by the instructors.

I must note here that this time around, the course was conducted entirely online. In the past, it was conducted physically, meaning one would have to physically attend lessons somewhere (I'd assume at ITBM). I can't say for sure when or if the course would go back to being conducted physically.

REGISTRATION: You can find courses offered by ITBM listed here. I registered for Kursus Penterjemahan Am (Sambilan) a few months early (because I forget things) but you don't have to. Registration would only be finalised a few weeks before lessons start.

Since the course was conducted online, all course materials were delivered to my home by the week before the course starts.

FEES: I paid RM1,500 for this course, but not all in one go. Paid RM500 as deposit and the rest a week before the final exams.

*Note: ITBM courses are not eligible for tax relief, bummer!

INSTRUCTION LANGUAGE: The course was taught in Bahasa Melayu, so working proficiency in the language is critical. Practice work we did during lessons as well as assignments to be submitted involved translations in ENG-BM and BM-ENG.

COURSE STRUCTURE: Lessons were conducted via Google Meet and the link was provided at the start of the course.

Over 9 lessons, we were taught translation in theory and in practice. We learnt linguistics basics as well as translation methods, procedures and techniques in the first few lessons. We also had a lesson in BM (Bahasa Melayu dalam Terjemahan).

Later in the course, we learnt and practised translation for general text as well as in the fields of creative literature, science & technology, legal, and mass communication. We also needed to submit assignments for these lessons through Google Classroom.

In the final week, we sat for our exam, in 2 parts (theory and some practical in the morning; more practical exam in the afternoon). As with the lessons, the exam was from 9am to 5pm.

LEARNING MATERIAL: As I mentioned earlier, course materials would be delivered to your home, or picked up from ITBM, if you wish to do so. You could also request soft copies. Separate modules are provided for each lesson. Plus, they would also send you some ITBM publications on the topic of translation.

The holy grail of
BM vocabulary

Instructors would also suggest further reading materials, but you'd need to get them on your own. I got myself Kamus Dewan Perdana, Glosari Pengajian Penterjemahan, and Kamus Peribahasa Melayu – these are not compulsory, I just found them to be helpful.

INSTRUCTORS: The host of instructors included academicians and professionals with decades of experience. They were very helpful and keen to share the knowledge. I would highly suggest for you to interact with them, ask questions, share your own experience. It would be helpful for everyone.

Okay, so those are the basics. I will continue sharing my learning experience in coming posts. Until then!