Rebecca Walling

Hello,

My name is Rebecca and I am looking to offer my services as a Fr-En translator, as well as a proof-reader and editor. From my attached CV you will quickly gain an understanding of my valuable range of experience which spans from my background in languages, proofreading, utilising my second language (French) for translation and in a professional capacity and bringing with me a passion and dedication to my work.

Given my background studying English and French linguistics at university (which included core translation modules) and then latterly my training in teaching English as a foreign language, I have a strong understanding of each language. I know how to effectively and accurately convey meaning and how to adapt my translation for specific readerships.

With regards to my background in translation, this is an area in which I have honed my skills over the past five years when working in a variety of contexts. I have worked for BBC Afrique where I created draft translations of articles concerning current affairs in West Africa for eventual publication on the BBC's website. I have also translated educational brochures and leaflets from French into English for people with albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa when working for Standing Voice, as well as translating key data and correspondence from English into French when communicating with SV's stakeholders in France and Burkina Faso.

Latterly, during my time working at Language Connexion, I assisted the marketing department in writing and translating articles in French and English for their Magazine and Newsletter, which were sent to schools and clients on a bi-weekly and monthly basis. In addition to this I also created pedagogical content and resources in French and English for our language courses.
All of these roles have required excellent written and oral expression in both English and French and the ability write articulate and readable prose in both languages. I can be relied upon to translate technical content, as well as pedagogical documents for language learning.

I am confident in my proof reading skills and ability to adapt content having worked for Beauty World Confidential and for the Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations).

At BWC I was responsible for proofreading all articles that were published online and in the print magazine. I had to ensure that the formatting was correct, that the language was grammatically accurate and that it would speak to our international readership. When working at BWC I was also in charge of creating the layout for the issues of the print magazine. This meant that I used InDesign and Photoshop extensively when designing the pages and editing the photos that would feature in the print issues and online.

At the FAO, I worked on editing partnership reports between FAO and countries such as Canada, as well as editing a series of advocacy notes targeted at potential funders. These positions required impeccable attention to detail and a strong understanding of the context, purpose and audience in order to create tailored, professional documents.

I would relish the opportunity to put the skills I have learnt from these informative experiences into practice were I to be given the opportunity to work for your organisation as a freelancer.