Vital Implementation Issues in Translation

1
Vital Implementation Issues in Translation
2007 Annual Conference

• Erika Irby
• Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc.

2
Introduction

• Effective translation systems help maintain
• the validity of exams. This presentation will
• explore
• Translation service vs. bilingual SMEs
• Translation guidelines and security
• Administrative polices and procedures

3
Who should translate?

• Should translation be performed by
• Bilingual SMEs
• Workshop setting
• Electronically
• Security
• Translation Service
• Font
• Grammatical differences in language
• Terminology lists
• Security

4
Bilingual SMEs vs. Translation Service

• Bilingual SMEs pros
• Content accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Workshop setting

• Bilingual SMEs cons
• Finding qualified SMEs
• Possible bias of SMEs
• Cost of workshops
• Time involved
• Coordinating editing and reviewing between SMEs

5
Bilingual SMEs vs. Translation Service

• Translation Service pros
• Language accuracy
• Less time involved
• Lower cost
• Readily available
• Experience

• Translation Service cons
• Lack of content expertise
• Security issues

6
Solutions

• Use bilingual SMEs to create terminology lists
• Use translation service for forward translation
• Use bilingual SMEs to review and approve all
  translation

7
Translation Service Guidelines

• Use SME created terminology list
• Determine appropriate fonts
• Grammatical procedures
• Completion items may need to be rewritten as
  question items
• Security procedures
• Encryption
• Affidavits of Nondisclosure and Contracts

8
Which items to translate?

• The entire bank
• Pros
• Only need to translate new items
• Cons
• Cost
• Time

• Exam only
• Pros
• Saves time
• Less immediate cost
• Old items might not be used anyway
• Cons
• Continually translating more items

9
Simultaneous Administration

• Waiting for the completion of translated exams
  may delay release of English exams.
• Not waiting for translated exams may be unfair to
  some candidates.

10
Conclusion

• Use both a translation service and bilingual SMEs
  
• Contract with translation service
• Bilingual SMEs for review and approval
• Maintain security throughout process
• Encrypt documents
• Affidavits of Nondisclosure
• Establish administrative procedures
• The complete bank or by exam
• Simultaneous administration

11
Speaker Contact Information

• Erika Irby, Project Coordinator
• Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc.
• 2494 Bayshore Blvd., Suite 201
• Dunedin, FL 34698
• 727-738-8727 ext 2112
• eirby_at_smttest.com