ProZ.com Translation Forums

Subtitling test | About to take the subtitling qualification test

Rita Mirto — Wed, 22 May 2024 08:22:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rita Mirto
Post title: About to take the subtitling qualification test

I'm about to take the subtitling qualification test for Sfera, any tips for me?

Subtitling test | .

Veronica Montserrat — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:30:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Veronica Montserrat
Post title: .

.

[Edited at 2023-03-22 08:33 GMT]

Subtitling test | Subtitling Test

Abby Badong — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 01:54:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Abby Badong
Post title: Subtitling Test

Hi! Rebecca Ohara! I read about your experience taking the subtitling qualification test on sferastudios.com. May I know, what are the three levels of Multiple-Choice Tests? Were the tests limited time or timed test? Have you taken the final 1 min video subtitling test which will appear on the Sfera dashboard, after you took the 3 rounds of multiple choice? And do you need to take the tests immediately after your login has been activated?

Subtitling test | Update

Rebecca Ohara — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:38:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: Update

Hello all, sorry I haven't logged in here in some time.

I managed to pass the test for the company I mentioned earlier, though it was very hectic. I worked for them for a year before I changed clients.

Their rates are really awful and their deadlines nearly impossible although they can give you more time to work on it and just decide not to.
They can also offer up to 300% "rush fees" when no one wants to accept their offers anymore, which shows once again that they can afford to pay us properly, but just refuse to do so. Their strategy is basically spamming everyone with mails until someone responds and takes the job.
I saw this year working for them as training to get used to the industry and learn the subtitling rules, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to work with them in the long run.

Sadly, I heard that the Netflix system isn't getting better either. I never got the chance to take their test as there aren't many posts available for my language, so I can only repeat what I've heard from friends who work for them. It is pretty stressful, the deadlines are really short, the software used to translate online is often unstable and they can decide to kick people out whenever they need to "make some space."

I'm now translating for a TV channel so I don't have online companies to recommend except ZooDigital.
Their rates are pretty good compared to other subtitling companies.

I hope you all found/will find something that suits you eventually.
Subtitling isn't an easy industry to work with, it takes a lot of time to find the right thing for you, but keep going and have faith. :)

Subtitling test | Current status?

Jinchun Huang — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 03:40:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jinchun Huang
Post title: Current status?

Is the mentioned company still that bad regarding the aspect of subtitling? I took the test and failed, and also got no reply after inquiry. Was thinking about whether or not to give it a second shot while researching the Studios more carefully online, and found this topic and some other juice.

Anyone has any advice to offer, please?

Subtitling test | Not giving feedback is illegal!...

Paulo Fernandes — Fri, 07 May 2021 00:41:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Paulo Fernandes
Post title: Not giving feedback is illegal!...

Hi,
If you make a test, in Europe it is regarded as your personal data. Testers must disclose your mistakes as they do not own your data. You the translator own it! At the end of the Day it is your personal data, like a phone number or an E-mail.
I say this all the time, and it works for me ; )
Good luck!
Paulo

Subtitling test | Companies

Aïtallah RIAHI — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 19:41:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Aïtallah RIAHI
Post title: Companies

[quote]Bryan De la Hoz wrote:

[quote]Thayenga wrote:

Would you kindly point me in the right direction, please? [/quote]

The two main companies I work with:
- Feature [url removed]
- ZooDigital

Subtitling test | Point me, please.

Bryan De la Hoz — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 00:38:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Bryan De la Hoz
Post title: Point me, please.

[quote]Thayenga wrote:

Because they said that you've "failed" their test, you're being spared an annoying rat race experience on a site that's down quite often. I know because I gave it a try (yes, having passed their test) for about one week, then I quit. So just walk on. There are other companies working with subtitle translators, and they are good. [/quote]

I'd like to know which companies are those, please. I'm looking to re-enter the subtitling business and I would love to get into a good company. I think the experience I accrued while working on it should allow me to pass most tests and start working again. My first subtitling job actually came to me, I didn't look for it, so I'm actually not that skilled in looking for jobs.

Would you kindly point me in the right direction, please?

Subtitling test | Sfera tutorial

Anabel Martínez Villamón — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 14:49:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Anabel Martínez Villamón
Post title: Sfera tutorial

@Rebecca
Hi Rebecca, I'm in the same situation, not being able to access any tutorials, could you email them to me too?

Subtitling test | @Enza

Rebecca Ohara — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 09:53:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: @Enza

Hi Enza,
I don't have access to the tutorials yet but if I do, I will let you know. :)

Subtitling test | Sfera tutorial

Enza Pansino — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 16:33:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Enza Pansino
Post title: Sfera tutorial

Hi, Rebecca :)
I know this topic is a bit old, but can I get the tutorial, too?
I gave the Sfera test a try, but I failed...
Thank you in advance.

[Edited at 2018-11-27 16:36 GMT]

Subtitling test | No problem :D

Rebecca Ohara — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 19:49:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: No problem :D

Sorry Jean, I had kind of a busy Sunday and a lot of things to do today.
I should have the Sfera tutorials sent to me tomorrow during the day, depending on when my contact can send it.
I will of course mail it to you as soon as I get it! :)

Subtitling test | Thanks for letting me know, Rebecca

Jean Chao (X) — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 21:42:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jean Chao (X)
Post title: Thanks for letting me know, Rebecca

@Rebecca

Really. My dashboard only contains tests. No tutorial links or tabs whatsoever.

It's great that you could get a hold of their guidelines. Do you mind emailing me a copy? I'm still curious to know how I failed as an active Netflix subtitle translator.

Appreciate your help.

Subtitling test | Weird...

Rebecca Ohara — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 10:48:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: Weird...

@Jean Really? That's weird... Though I wouldn't be surprised, that dashboard interface is bugging quite a lot apparently. But tutorials are supposed to be available once you can take the test again.
According to the person answering me in the Facebook group, it should be under Tutorials -> Translators -> Deluxe Style Guide.

Anyway, I got in touch with someone that passed the test and that has access to the guidelines!
But really, they should fix their website though... :)

Subtitling test | @Rebecca/I got my retake test notice from Sfera back in July

Jean Chao (X) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 19:27:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jean Chao (X)
Post title: @Rebecca/I got my retake test notice from Sfera back in July

That's how I was able to get on the dashboard and saw only my 75% completed test but nothing else.

Unless they're storing these files somewhere else, I didn't see them on my dashboard.

Just for you to know.

And Jose, I like your "Aesop" fable. :-)

Subtitling test | A snappy tale

José Henrique Lamensdorf — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 09:34:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
Post title: A snappy tale

You land in an unfamiliar country, go through immigration and customs, and exit the airport. On the street, you hail what you think is a cab; at least it has a piece of newspaper written "cheap taxi" on the windshield. You step in, and the driver is a teenager. Though you think he looks too young to be driving, you don't want to appear bigoted about the local ethnic features.

You tell him the name of the hotel where you have a reservation, and ask him how much he'll charge for the ride. He says, "Any cab would charge you $50, but I'll take you there for $5. Hang tight!"

No chance for you to ask anything else. He gets the vehicle into motion screeching tires, shooting you against the upholstery. He goes zigzagging between lanes at breakneck speed.

When you eventually manage to brace yourself and fasten the seat belt - which he is not using, of course - you tell him, "Hey, I came from overseas, but driving this way in any country would cause you to lose your license!"

While doing a quick swerve and missing a lamp post by half an inch, the kid yells, "I don't have a license to lose, I'm only 15!"

You try to convince him, "But your mom or dad's car will be towed, and you'll get into all kinds of trouble."

And then he nails it, "It's not our car. It's stolen! What did you expect for a $5 ride?"

----------

Preposterous? Definitely!

Yet nowadays too many movies get subtitled like this.

Subtitling test | Curiosity kills the cat

Jean Chao (X) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 08:36:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jean Chao (X)
Post title: Curiosity kills the cat

I’m just being human, just like you spent the time to remind me not to waste my time. ;-)

Never said I was going to re-take the test and joined the rat race.

Subtitling test | Experience

Rebecca Ohara — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 08:03:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: Experience

@Jean Sfera won't let you see the tutorials or guidelines on your dashboard before the 20 days, you have to wait for them to authorize you to take the test again to have access to it. I asked the support and that was their final answer. I don't really see how that makes sense (since you could want to train on their guidelines before taking the test again) but well!

@Eliza @Jocelin Indeed, I checked their website and wow the rates really went down... I guess my best option is to look for some other companies.

@Thayenga I see what you mean, but for now I just want to get some experience. I know that with my CV right now I won't get into nice companies, because I never subtitled anything before. So, I think I'll give Sfera a last try at least. In the meantime, I'll look for something else and see if I can make it work! :)

Subtitling test | Why waste your time?

Thayenga — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 06:38:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Thayenga
Post title: Why waste your time?

[quote]Jean Chao wrote:

Maybe you could ask the Facebook Subtitling Group when and where they downloaded these materials from the Sfera website. As of just now, I wasn't able to find them on my Sfera dashboard. [/quote]

Why should anyone bother to even re-take their test or look for tutorials - which aren't really helpful -, just to get on the (rat-race) wheel for peanuts? :O

Subtitling test | Maybe not anymore

Jocelin Meunier — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 05:04:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jocelin Meunier
Post title: Maybe not anymore

[quote]Eliza Hall wrote:

Have you tried Rev.com? I started subtitling for them without a test. They pay within days via Paypal. [/quote]

I would not recommend Rev, not anymore anyway. Last week, they changed rates for English to French and went from 8$ minimum per minute to 3$ minimum. Which mean that they now pay even less than the "standard" rate in the entertainment industry (4$). Their excuse was to "increase productivity".

@Rebecca: don't worry too much about the Sfera test. As others poited out, it is heavily flawed, next to broken. Go look around the Blueboard to pick some agencies and send them your CV, they will ask you for a test anyway.

Subtitling test | @Rebecca; Couldn't find Sfera tutorials and guidelines on my Sfera dashboard

Jean Chao (X) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 21:13:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jean Chao (X)
Post title: @Rebecca; Couldn't find Sfera tutorials and guidelines on my Sfera dashboard

Out of curiosity, since I was asked to retake the test, I logged onto my Sfera dashboard to check out the tutorials and guidelines that I missed somehow. Strangely, I couldn't find them anywhere.

Maybe you could ask the Facebook Subtitling Group when and where they downloaded these materials from the Sfera website. As of just now, I wasn't able to find them on my Sfera dashboard.

Subtitling test | :)

Rebecca Ohara — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 19:13:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara
Post title: :)

Thank you all for your time and answers! :D

I know they are pretty "cheap" but I'm just looking for a company to "warm up" and get some experience before I try to work with Netflix vendors eventually!

I posted the same topic in a subtitling group on Facebook and it turns out I never had access to Sfera's tutorials and guidelines... So that might explain why I never passed their test.
They never even mentioned it, so I had no idea they had their own text guide...
I contacted the website support and since I failed the test, I won't even have access to tutorials or guidelines before 20 days when I can try their test again... Very logical. Not.
Oh well!

I'm not planning on giving up subtitling but it seems like a pretty crowded market indeed.

Anyway, thank you again for answering me! :)

Subtitling test | Try other type of translation jobs if you can

Jean Chao (X) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:08:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Jean Chao (X)
Post title: Try other type of translation jobs if you can

I've been translating for Netflix (English->Traditional Chinese) for more than two years through another vendor. Thought I gave Deluxe/Sfera a try. I passed the first three multiple-choice parts of the test the first time, but "failed" the actual subtitle translation part.

As an active Netflix translator, I couldn't believe I "failed" the subtitle translation test. Reluctantly, I tried for the second time. Guess what? I "failed" again, on the same short video. I protested to their support personnel and demanded to know how a current Netflix translator could fail the part of the test which was judged entirely subjectively. Of course they didn't and wouldn't give me any concrete feedback, but asked me to try one more time. Needless to say, I didn't waste any more energy.

That said, I passed the (Traditional Chinese->English) test by SDI Media about the same time, but after a tedious on-boarding process, a lengthy 3-hour training, and one-day practice translation on their proprietary software, I'm still waiting for their assignments three months later.

BTW, as Jose pointed out, the subtitling rates they offer ($2-3 per minute) do not commensurate with your input, especially for the documentary translation. A lot of translators don't mind the low price. And, when you do get any assignment, they want it done yesterday.

Subtitling test | Be happy :)

Thayenga — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:40:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Thayenga
Post title: Be happy :)

Because they said that you've "failed" their test, you're being spared an annoying rat race experience on a site that's down quite often. I know because I gave it a try (yes, having passed their test) for about one week, then I quit. So just walk on. There are other companies working with subtitle translators, and they are good.

Subtitling test | Rev.com?

Eliza Hall — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:01:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Eliza Hall
Post title: Rev.com?

Have you tried Rev.com? I started subtitling for them without a test. They pay within days via Paypal.

Subtitling test | Don't worry!

José Henrique Lamensdorf — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:52:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
Post title: Don't worry!

There is enough data to point towards many subtitling tests around being flawed.

The Netflix/Hermes test is widely known for that. Many successful and experienced subtitlers failed it, while a flock of parachutists with the [i]"I've never done subtitling in my life, but why shouldn't I give it a try?"[/i] attitude passed. Of course, exceptions confirm the rule.

If you are good at it, don't lose hope, keep insisting, maybe you'll get in someday. However don't expect this to be a high-paying market, as there is too much cheap competition, too many people doing it just for fun.

Subtitling test

Rebecca Ohara — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:06:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling test
Poster: Rebecca Ohara

Good afternoon,

I don't really know how this forum works yet, I just found out about it on a Google search I did.
I hope I'm not violating any "rules" by opening a new post here. :)

I'm totally new to subtitling, I've been studying it at home and been trained by a friend who has been doing this for 15 years.
I applied to work with Sfera Studios to get some first experience, and took their tests. There are 4 different tests: 3 multiple choice tests and 1 short video to translate and subtitle.

I took the test twice and got a second failure mail today.
The thing is... they don't give any type of feedback so I don't know where it went wrong, really.
I now have to wait 20 days before taking the test again.

I translated it from English to French and used the Netflix guidelines (42 characters per line, line breaks, etc.) but maybe I did it wrong?
Am I supposed to break lines or should I just type the translation as it is? The test doesn't mention anything about it...

So I thought maybe one of you had to go through this test too and figured out how it works?

Any help would be really appreciated... I'm very puzzled by all this.

Thank you!

[Edited at 2018-09-21 08:39 GMT]