Christopher M COLLINS

Freelance translator - French to English                                                
(Mother tongue - English)

Address
Carisbrook, The Street, Bramfield, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 9HT, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 1986 784534               
Email:
translations@chriscollins.co.uk        Mobile:    +44 (0) 794 151 8821

Qualifications
Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation (1994 - merit in 2 papers)
Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (French & English) - Cambridge University (1993)
Institute of Linguists Diploma - French (1992)
Diploma in Photography - The Polytechnic, Regent Street, London W1 (1967)

Membership of professional associations
Member of the
Institute of Linguists (MIL)
Member of the
Institute of Translation and Interpreting (MITI)

Employment
1970-88 Chairman and Managing Director, Bramfield Garage Ltd (Renault dealer)
Also director of East Suffolk Rustproofing Ltd (vehicle rustproofers) and Bramfield Heating Services (heating engineers)
1993 Teacher of French, Stoke High School, Ipswich
1995 - Freelance translator

Technical expertise
- Automotive: After an initial dream of being a motoring journalist I spent 18 years in the motor trade with total control of a small dealership. I have built up extensive technical knowledge based not only on the 'theory' of technical manuals but on the problems of putting the theory into practice in the workshop. I have translated a considerable number of Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citröen texts.
- Computers: I started learning to program in 1981, computerised my business in 1982 and have been fascinated ever since. Again, my knowledge is based on practical as well as theoretical experience.
- Also: I have translated a lot of telecommunications and civil engineering/ building texts. I have also built up a considerable store of general technical knowledge which is proving very useful.
- I have translated more than 500,000 words in each of the past few years.

Other
I have always taken writing seriously, having been a prize-winner in the 1967 Sir William Lyons Scholarship (Guild of Motoring Writers). Since then I have written, directed and acted in amateur theatre and adapted 7 Shakespeare plays. I have recently translated and directed Beaumarchais' Le Mariage de Figaro.

Equipment
2 x IBM-compatible PC
Word processing software: Word 2000, Open Office
Other software includes: Microsoft Office 2000 Professional (Access, Excel, PowerPoint)
Déjà Vu and Trados translation memory software
Termium database
Full internet access

BACK