how to become a translater

There's a lot more to being a professional translator than being able to speak another language well you also need to learn key skills.

To be a professional translator you will need:

• A fluent (near-native) understanding of at least one foreign language (source language)
• A solid understanding of the culture of the source language country, usually gained by living and working there for a prolonged period of time
• Excellent writing skills in your own mother tongue
• Preferably an academic degree in the source language or in another subject which could lead to a specialist subject area
• An eye for absolute accuracy and endless curiosity!

Source: https://www.iti.org.uk/professional-development/career-development/how-to-become-a-translator

ust like any career, the road to becoming a translator is not easy. It takes dedication and perseverance and a genuine love for languages. You need the right education and a good set of skills, as follows:

1.  Language skills

The first skill you should possess is on language. You need fluency in the source language or the language you would be translating from. You must be a native speaker of the target language or the language you would be translating into. It is also necessary for you to be a good writer in the target language.

Very few people are able to translate into a language that is not native to them. To work as a professional translator, only native speakers are considered by most translation firms. Living in the country or at least spending a major part of the year in the country where the source language is spoken will help improve your language proficiency. Most translation companies make this a prerequisite.

As a professional translator, you have to be able to write very well and understand the source text, have a mastery of vocabulary and grammar and a good command of the idiomatic methods to express things and the intended meaning precisely and accurately. To become a good translator you should have a mastery of the target language and a good knowledge of the different dialects, punctuation, grammar, axioms, slang, variants, styles, jargon and its euphemisms.

2.  Computer skills

You should have good computer skills if you want to become a translator. It is to your advantage if you are adept at using several programs, especially MS Office programs, as well as desktop publishing, Photoshop and InDesign as there will be translation jobs that require using these applications. Using these applications will improve your efficiency and help increase your chances of getting employed.

Aside from the mentioned applications you also need to know how to use CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools. Knowing HTML is an advantage as well but not a requirement.

A good translator should also have good typing skills, as you would be dealing with written documents. Above-average typing speed and accuracy will help you tremendously.

3.  Business skills

Many translators today are freelancers. If this is also your aim, it is better if you have some business acumen. You should have some knowledge in marketing and sales so you can build a network, get known and get translation jobs. You have to develop tenacity because there will be stiff competition among other freelancers. You must learn to be punctual and organized as well.

Just like any career, the road to becoming a translator is not easy. It takes dedication and perseverance and a genuine love for languages. You need the right education and a good set of skills, as follows:

1.  Language skills

The first skill you should possess is on language. You need fluency in the source language or the language you would be translating from. You must be a native speaker of the target language or the language you would be translating into. It is also necessary for you to be a good writer in the target language.

Very few people are able to translate into a language that is not native to them. To work as a professional translator, only native speakers are considered by most translation firms. Living in the country or at least spending a major part of the year in the country where the source language is spoken will help improve your language proficiency. Most translation companies make this a prerequisite.

As a professional translator, you have to be able to write very well and understand the source text, have a mastery of vocabulary and grammar and a good command of the idiomatic methods to express things and the intended meaning precisely and accurately. To become a good translator you should have a mastery of the target language and a good knowledge of the different dialects, punctuation, grammar, axioms, slang, variants, styles, jargon and its euphemisms.

2.  Computer skills

You should have good computer skills if you want to become a translator. It is to your advantage if you are adept at using several programs, especially MS Office programs, as well as desktop publishing, Photoshop and InDesign as there will be translation jobs that require using these applications. Using these applications will improve your efficiency and help increase your chances of getting employed.

Aside from the mentioned applications you also need to know how to use CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools. Knowing HTML is an advantage as well but not a requirement.

A good translator should also have good typing skills, as you would be dealing with written documents. Above-average typing speed and accuracy will help you tremendously.

3.  Business skills

Many translators today are freelancers. If this is also your aim, it is better if you have some business acumen. You should have some knowledge in marketing and sales so you can build a network, get known and get translation jobs. You have to develop tenacity because there will be stiff competition among other freelancers. You must learn to be punctual and organized as well.

Steps on how to become a professional translator

If you're sure that you want to become a translator, here are the steps to take.

Step 1: Acquire an education

Aside from being proficient in at least two languages, you should take translation studies to become a translator. A high school graduate can take courses on writing and comprehension, and foreign languages. Many have a bachelor's degree, majoring in a particular language.

Many translators today are also specialists in different fields, such as business, the arts, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, finance and more. They use their being bilingual and years of experience in the practice of their profession to become translators who are subject matter experts.

Step 2: Apply for and pass certification program

After satisfying the education requirement and honing your skills, it is advantageous to get certification or accreditation to become a translator. When you are certified, you have proof that you possess the required skills to translate on the professional level. You could either get advanced degrees in translation or get professional certifications from schools around the U.S. The American Translator's Association (ATA) also offers programs to certify you as a translator. If you are a specialist in legal translation, you can get certified by the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators. Some states in the U.S. have translators' accreditation programs.

Once certified by an organization, your name is listed in their directory where clients can find your name and credentials. Although certification in the United States is not a strict requirement, it is a good thing to have if you are just starting to be a translator.

Step 3: Pass language proficiency test

You can boost your resume by passing language proficiency tests. This shows proof that you are fluent in the languages you speak. Several organizations, schools and many translation firms offer language proficiency tests for translators.

Step 4: Acquire job experience

Industry experience is important for translators who are just starting. To gain experience, you can start by working as an intern. When you have some experience, you can look for entry-level work, which will expose you to the intricacies of the translation process and the business. Experience is essential if you want to become a translator. You need experience not only to sharpen your skills in the job but also to enable you to have work samples to show prospective clients, recommendations and possibly regular employment.

Step 5: Learn to market yourself

Marketing yourself is important if you decide to go freelance or even if you are seeking permanent employment as a translator. Look for companies, firms, organizations, government agencies, hospitals, clinics and LSPs that may be looking for translators.

You can create a website, write blogs and join online groups of professional translators to start building your network. Because work may come anytime, it is prudent to have copies of your resume ready. It is also important to establish competitive rates for different types of translation work. Ask freelance translators from the online communities you've joined what rates they charge.

Step 6: Continue learning

As you start to establish yourself as a professional translator, it is very important to stay updated with translations trends, with new technologies and industry news. It is also important not to stop learning. Many translators continue their education to be a cut above the rest. A number of translators take their master's degree to improve their marketability. Continuing education allows you to either specialize or diversify.

Standing out is essential in the job, so everything you do to improve your profession helps you to stand out.

To become the consummate translator, you should also develop other traits that can help your career and label you as a true professional. Although they are not essential requirements for you to be able to do your job as a translator, these are good habits to cultivate to prepare you for the future

Step 7: Improve your knowledge of the subject

If you decide to specialize in any subject, it is critical keep up to date about your specialization. Keeping updated on developments, trends and regulations will keep a corporate translator in good stead. Specific terminology changes. Processes must be communicated explicitly and clearly. The translation of a specific subject matter requires a thorough knowledge of the language and the subject matter, so improving your researching skills is a must.

Translator can be a good career provided you enjoy translating. it requires a lot of patience, as you need to first understand it in one language and translate appropriately into other. so this being said, it will have great responsibilities to interpret aptly. yes the benefit of it would fetch you lot of travel within country or across countries. this would have lot of study initially and improvise on a day to day while on field. so i recommend if you have patience and love for travel can go with this career. all the best.