Employment Abroad: The View from Holland  

On the basis of my experience moving from the Boston, Massachusetts, area to the Netherlands three years ago, I’d definitely encourage you to consider employment here, or any other place that truly beckons you.

Peltz, Donna. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Regional>Netherlands

English for Specific Purposes: The Development of Technical Communication in China's Universities    

Along with China’s rapid development in science and economy, technical communication between Chinese and Westerners is becoming more and more important. The purpose of this study is to promote the teaching of technical communication in China by introducing it into China’s college English for specific purposes. Postgraduate classes from grades 2001 to 2004 at Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing were assigned to study English for Technical Communication, a course that integrated the concepts of technical communication into English for specific purposes. In the survey of Grade 2004, over 96% of the graduates claimed that it was necessary for them to study English for Technical Communication; more than 90% of the students confirmed that the course was practical; and 90% of them claimed that the course had significantly improved their abilities in technical communication. Therefore, introducing technical communication in English for specific purposes would be a feasible way to develop the teaching of technical communication in China.

Duan, Ping and Weiping Gu. Technical Communication Online (2005). Articles>Language>Regional>China

Escrever Um Artigo Científico: Das Partes Para O Todo

Apresentam-se, de forma sintética, os principais cuidados a ter na escrita de um artigo científico. Para esse efeito, descrevem-se e comentam-se, sequencialmente, as sucessivas componentes de um documento desta natureza. Pensa-se que esta abordagem constituirá um bom auxiliar para os autores que pretendam reforçar a coerência e adequação dos seus artigos científicos.

Dias de Figueiredo, Antonio. Universidade de Coimbra (1998). (Portuguese) Articles>Scientific Communication>Regional>Portugal

Ethical Intercultural Technical Communication: Looking through the Lens of Confucian Ethics      

Studies of intercultural communication focus little on the ethical principles that inspire specific communication practices.  The ethics of Confucius (including the virtues of goodness, righteousness, wisdom, faithfulness, reverence, and courage), however, genuinely illuminate communication behaviors within China.  Analysis of a cultural artifact of technical communication reveals the substantial insight offered by the lens of ethics.  A comprehensive understanding of differences in ethical perspectives is necessary to achieve ethical intercultural technical communication.

Dragga, Sam. Technical Communication Quarterly (1999). Articles>Writing>Regional>China

European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations

EBLIDA is the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations. We are an independent umbrella association of national library, information, documentation and archive associations and institutions in Europe.

EBLIDA. Organizations>Documentation>Regional>Europe

European Design for All e-Accessibility Network

The European Design for All e-Accessibility Network is a network of 160 organisations in EU member states. The goal of the network is to support all citizens' access to the Information Society.

EDeAN. Organizations>Accessibility>Regional>Europe

The European Language Resources Association: Promoting Language Resources in Europe

The European Language Resources Association (ELRA) was founded in February 1995 as a membership association, by a number of leading academic and private-sector bodies in co-operation with the European Commission. As a non-profit making organisation, ELRA aims to serve as a focal point for the collection, marketing, distribution and licensing of language resources, as well as being a provider of general information in the field of language engineering. Day-to-day operations are run by the European Language Distribution Agency (ELDA), while the strategies and plans of ELRA are set by the member-elected board.

TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Regional>Europe

European Union Interinstitutional Style Guide

One of the European Union’s vital tasks is to circulate and disseminate information in 11 languages. People are not generally aware of the scale and complexity of this task, and the ever-increasing amount and multilingual character of the documentation to be distributed, and it is only through continual development of the techniques used and constant rationalisation that the task can be accomplished each day. The Interinstitutional style guide has been produced with these things in mind.

European Union (2004). Resources>Style Guides>Regional>Europe

Exchanging Medical Information with Eastern Europe Through the Internet      

The American International Health Alliance, a national not-for-profit healthcare organization initiated in 1992, uses Internet technologies to aid in the exchange of medical information between healthcare providers in the U.S. and their colleagues in Eastern Europe and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. A major role in the exchange is played by Information Coordinators--physicians, nurses, or administrators in the partnership institutions in the region. Through a questionnaire distributed during a training session in the U.S. and e-mail exchanges, we interviewed these Information Coordinators to learn how Internet technologies are being introduced, disseminated, and adopted in their institutions. We then applied Everett Rogers's theory of the diffusion of innovations to help interpret their responses. Although now only in its preliminary stages, this study shows that technical communicators must be aware of the cultural influences--economic, political, ethnic, and institutional--that accompany technology as they communicate about such innovations across borders of culture, expertise, and ideology.

Daniels, Julie K., Ruth J. Cronje and Beth C. Sokolowski. Technical Communication Quarterly (1998). Articles>Scientific Communication>Regional>Eastern Europe

Fachzeitschrift Technische Dokumentation

A website for technical publications writers and editors.

Doku.net. (German) Resources>Directories>Regional>Germany

Field Trip: Urban Typography

Kenn Munk designs wonderfully different fonts and dingbats, some of which are inspired by urban typography. Travel to his neighbourhood, Frederiksbjerg Denmark, for an insightful visit with typography of bygone days.

Munk, Kenn. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Design>Typography>Regional>Scandinavia

Finding Solutions For Your Challenges: All Canadian Multidisciplinary Progression  

Learn lessons from this all-Canadian cast of contributors:

La Formation au Métier  

Voici une liste de différentes formations au métier de Rédacteur Technique ou proche de la Communication Technique.

Redtech (2002). (French) Academic>Education>Regional>France

Franglais in Canada: Does It Facilitate or Impede Clear Expression?

Pits the Pragmatic Many against the Snobbish Few in an attempt to discover what, if anything, Franglais contributes to clear expression. Is lexical and grammatical cross-pollination a sign of the type of dynamic evolution that enhances communication or a sign of a form of bastardization that impedes clear expression?

Mayotte, Anne-Marie. Writer's Block (2000). Articles>Language>Regional>Canada

From an Employer's Wish-List to Your CV

In this column I'll give you my strategy for preparing a CV and point you towards useful resources, but first of all let me assume that you are planning to start your career within the UK job market. CV styles vary across the world.

Science (2003). Careers>Resumes>Regional>United Kingdom

German Academic Programs In Technical Communication    

While research in international technical communication has flourished during the last 10 years, there has been little published on technical communication programs outside the United States. This article addresses this need by describing 12 representative academic technical communication programs in Germany, including Germany's first master's degree program. While there are no statistics on the number of technical communicators working in Germany, tekom (Gesellschaft für technische Kommunikation), the German professional society for technical communication, estimates roughly 4,400 members. While German academic programs in technical communication share many features with their counterparts in the United States, German academic programs do stress internships, foreign language study, and study abroad exchange programs more than technical communication programs in the United States.

Smith, Herb J. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2004). Articles>Education>Regional>Germany

German Academic Programs in Technical Communication  

In June 2000, FORUM 2000 was held in London. As the founding member of INTECOM, one of the sponsors of the FORUM conferences, Germany has experienced a major growth in the technical communication profession. As of 1999, there were more than 2000 members in tekom, the German Society for Authors and Writers of Technical Documentation (5). Likewise the number of institutions offering technical communication programs is growing. In 1991, Fachhochschule Hannover began offering the first technical communication program. The purpose of this article is to describe some representative German technical communication programs.

Smith, Herb J. STC Proceedings (2001). Academic>Education>Regional>Germany

A Glimpse of China's Future at User Friendly 2005

After participating in UF2005, I'm left with the impression that the design and usability professions in China are developing at a breakneck speed.

Barlow-Busch, Robert. UXmatters (2006). Articles>Usability>Regional>China

Global Communication: Building a Bridge between Ohio and Japan  

In 1999, an alliance was formed between the Central Ohio and Tokyo Chapters. This unique relationship, the only STC sister chapter, was based on the desire to share information about our profession, our industries, and our cultures. This presentation addresses the challenges and rewards we discovered in forging this globe-crossing bond.

Kauppi, Michael, Brenda McGuire, Laura Modisette and Sue Wolford. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Communication>Regional>Japan

Going Solo  

These workshop notes list many of the things that you will need to consider if you intend to become a freelance technical communicator in the UK. The main topics are: your motivation; getting help with your business; legal and administrative issues; business infrastructure; working practices; advertising and publicity; office environment. The workshop was presented at the ISTC Conference, Bosworth, 2002.

Unwalla, Mike. TechScribe (2002). Careers>Freelance>Regional>United Kingdom

Good Opportunity for Technical Communication Service Providers

When I tried to look at the salary survey from the point of view of a Technical Communication Service Provider (TCSP), I noticed quite a few interesting points.

Pandit, Makarand M. Indus (2005). Careers>Consulting>Regional>India

Graduate-Level Technical Communication Instruction in the United Kingdon   

This paper describes the results of a study of graduate technical communication programs in the United Kingdom begun in the Fall of 1998. The study intended to 1) describe the general structure of graduate instruction in technical communication, and 2) to analyze the field according to 3 key topics in technical education in the UK: What is the international orientation of programs? What are the subject-matter components of technical communication programs? What delivery methods and other classroom practices do the programs embody The formation in these four areas can be useful to a number of readers. Those in the education can benefit by comparing practices in the U. S. A. to those in the UK, especially comparing delivery methods and subject matter. Practitioners of technical communication seeking employment in the UK or European Union markets can benefit by learning the requirements of work in these areas. Members of professional societies such as the Society for Technical Communication can benefit by learning about the state of the profession of technical writing in the UK as it is supported by and reflected in the education of advanced practitioners.

Barker, Thomas and Anna Sallee. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Education>Regional>United Kingdom

GRApES: Group for Research in Applied English Studies  

GRApES is a group of applied linguists and rhetoricians in the English Department at ISU who meet regularly to discuss their various research pursuits, looking for areas of mutual interest in terms of methodology and theory. As you will see below, the group is quite diverse in interests and expertise. Our goal is to collaborate on joint research projects. Feel free to contact any of us about our research.

Iowa State University. Organizations>Writing>Regional>Iowa

Ground Floor Perspective on the Usability Job Hunt

This is a guest written article by Berna Tural, a recent college graduate from Carleton University in Ottawa. She is looking for a job in the usability field. I asked her to tell me more about her experiences so that WebWord readers would understand what it is like to be on the ground floor in usability. Similarly, I wanted people to see the other side of the hunt. 

Tural, Burna. WebWord (2001). Careers>Usability>Regional>Canada