4 answers
Renzo
Student
Waimānalo, Hawaii
1
Question
Asked
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What's required to become a bilingual translator in a career.
I have the ability to speak, read and write both fluently in Japanese and English since I was born and raised in Japan almost my whole life. As far as I know for the requirements to become a professional translator in the workforce, is 1. I need a High School Diploma 2. Some sort of college or advance training degree/ certificate. If there is anything else that is required to become a successful translator, please let me know :) #career #translator
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4 answers
Michael Lee
Sales
1
Answer
Duluth, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hello, Renzo. Great questions.
I have worked as a Korean/English translator and interpreter here in the U.S. and in Korea and I would like to offer my .02.
First of all, know that you have a gift. Having the ability to communicate effectively in a second language is a unique tool that can help you throughout your career and journey. Secondly, fortify your language ability. I had grown up speaking Korean at home with my parents but as I had been born and raised in the U.S., but it was definitely a SECOND language. After college, I went to Korea and ended up living there for about seven years. This helped me improve my Korean ability to a near native level.
Secondly, get comfortable talking about a wide array of topics. I assisted in translations, both verbally and written, in large scale business projects, environmental conferences and meetings, religious literature, official government letters, etc. Being able to cater to a broader client base will be a big advantage.
Unless you are asked to be a medical or legal interpreter, most of the time, being certified or having a diploma/degree isn't necessary. It is about having the skills that your client needs and earning the confidence of your clients.
Hope this helps and best of luck to you!
I have worked as a Korean/English translator and interpreter here in the U.S. and in Korea and I would like to offer my .02.
First of all, know that you have a gift. Having the ability to communicate effectively in a second language is a unique tool that can help you throughout your career and journey. Secondly, fortify your language ability. I had grown up speaking Korean at home with my parents but as I had been born and raised in the U.S., but it was definitely a SECOND language. After college, I went to Korea and ended up living there for about seven years. This helped me improve my Korean ability to a near native level.
Secondly, get comfortable talking about a wide array of topics. I assisted in translations, both verbally and written, in large scale business projects, environmental conferences and meetings, religious literature, official government letters, etc. Being able to cater to a broader client base will be a big advantage.
Unless you are asked to be a medical or legal interpreter, most of the time, being certified or having a diploma/degree isn't necessary. It is about having the skills that your client needs and earning the confidence of your clients.
Hope this helps and best of luck to you!
Constance Wagster
Sales & Service Leader
10
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Constance’s Answer
Hi Renzo
It is excellent that you are proficient in two languages! In today’s world, having multiple languages is a solid plus for any career. If being a professional translator is your career choice, I would not take any quick steps to get there. By taking the time to become educated and well trained, you gain the ability of adaptability. Very important in today’s world… Here are some steps I would recommend you take…
1. Get certified as a professional translator. You can look up the top U.S. translation schools. Also I would recommend you join the American Translators Association. This may also help you find jobs
2. Take language proficiency tests. There is a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT), but you could look online for other tests. I would recommend you take more than one test
3. Once you are fully trained you want to begin to gain experience. Some options are visiting your local college campus. You could take classes in translation and interpretation. You could also join clubs or associations that offer opportunities to perform translation and/or interpretation.
4. Now it’s time to market yourself. Much of translation work is on a contract basis. One great way to market yourself is to start a website or blog. Make sure your resume and the rates you will charge are handy. You can also network with working professional translators.
5. Through your marketing and networking, look for other opportunities that may come along that would require your language skills.
Along the way you continue to look for professional growth.
Best of luck to you Renzo!
It is excellent that you are proficient in two languages! In today’s world, having multiple languages is a solid plus for any career. If being a professional translator is your career choice, I would not take any quick steps to get there. By taking the time to become educated and well trained, you gain the ability of adaptability. Very important in today’s world… Here are some steps I would recommend you take…
1. Get certified as a professional translator. You can look up the top U.S. translation schools. Also I would recommend you join the American Translators Association. This may also help you find jobs
2. Take language proficiency tests. There is a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT), but you could look online for other tests. I would recommend you take more than one test
3. Once you are fully trained you want to begin to gain experience. Some options are visiting your local college campus. You could take classes in translation and interpretation. You could also join clubs or associations that offer opportunities to perform translation and/or interpretation.
4. Now it’s time to market yourself. Much of translation work is on a contract basis. One great way to market yourself is to start a website or blog. Make sure your resume and the rates you will charge are handy. You can also network with working professional translators.
5. Through your marketing and networking, look for other opportunities that may come along that would require your language skills.
Along the way you continue to look for professional growth.
Best of luck to you Renzo!
Alex Aruj, PMP
Program and Project Manager
2
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
Alex’s Answer
There is little I would add add to Tatjana's answer from the standpoint of producing masterful translations. Beyond that, there are other things needed to support yourself in the industry: your soft skills that is, how you communicate and ensure a high degree of trust between you and your clients - the purpose here is to get clients to hire you again. This can't be stressed enough if you are looking to translate full-time. The ability to work with CAT/translation tools, ability to research and patience in building a client base are also important. Some translators build subject matter expertise by simply working in a field many years: medicine, engineering, publishing, you name it. I worked in a medical/life sciences translation agency and freelanced briefly for a total of 5+ years.
Check sample translation jobs on proz.com to get a taste of what's out there.
Explore atanet.org or jat.org for trade association info, networking or work opportunities
Alex recommends the following next steps:
Tatjana Greiner
Localization Producer
1
Answer
California, California
Updated
Tatjana’s Answer
Hi Renzo,
Speaking from my own experience there are many ways to start and build a career as a bilingual translator. I spent 15 years freelancing as a translator and editor and then started working in tech companies, first as a contractor, and then full time (as a localization producer). The beauty about this profession is that there are many ways to go about it, which is proven by the people you usually meet in localization departments, who come from all walks of life. The top priority, whichever approach you choose, is a deep knowledge and understanding of the two languages you speak, and a true passion for those languages. A permanent, ongoing effort to continuously read and write in both languages is key, and to educate yourself and stay on top of how these languages are evolving, new trends, common usage, etc. In order to be a good translator it is not enough to speak both languages proficiently. You need to be able to write well in both languages. You need to be extremely detail oriented, well versed in the grammar and usage of both languages, and it helps to be a good editor.
But aside from that there is another aspect, and that, I think, is the most important one. We need to understand what it means to "translate" from one language into another. This goes beyond the essential aspects of grammar and syntax to far-reaching questions of cultural customs and identities. How would you translate an English marketing text, for example, that is using puns and playful imagery and that is addressing a target audience quite informally into Japanese? What changes would you need to make to appeal to a Japanese professional audience? A good translator is not only able to speak both languages well, but to transfer the meaning of a text from one cultural context into another. This is what differentiates a "translator" from a person that is just proficiently bilingual. Not everyone who speaks and writes well in two languages is automatically a good translator.
There are many ways to go about obtaining the skills you need. One is, obviously, to get a degree in translation. You can find schools in your area that offer these courses, and you can do this online. It also depends on what type of translations you are interested in, i.e. more technical or special translations (like law, medicine etc.) or more creative translations like marketing, social media... Aside from the linguistic skills, you need a deep understanding of the field you want to work in, and that is, in my experience, often more important than, say, a degree in translation. If you want to translate in the medical field, you need to be an expert in the terminology and processes used in this industry. If you want to write for marketing, you need to understand those concepts. In general, a minimum of a bachelor degree in any related field is advisable. It can be in journalism, creative writing, linguistics, etc. Other helpful skills like proofreading or copyediting, for example, can be acquired in shorter online courses that are available and very helpful. It is up to you to put together your portfolio of expertise. You can start doing this now. And keep adding on and expand as you go along.
Good luck with your journey!
Speaking from my own experience there are many ways to start and build a career as a bilingual translator. I spent 15 years freelancing as a translator and editor and then started working in tech companies, first as a contractor, and then full time (as a localization producer). The beauty about this profession is that there are many ways to go about it, which is proven by the people you usually meet in localization departments, who come from all walks of life. The top priority, whichever approach you choose, is a deep knowledge and understanding of the two languages you speak, and a true passion for those languages. A permanent, ongoing effort to continuously read and write in both languages is key, and to educate yourself and stay on top of how these languages are evolving, new trends, common usage, etc. In order to be a good translator it is not enough to speak both languages proficiently. You need to be able to write well in both languages. You need to be extremely detail oriented, well versed in the grammar and usage of both languages, and it helps to be a good editor.
But aside from that there is another aspect, and that, I think, is the most important one. We need to understand what it means to "translate" from one language into another. This goes beyond the essential aspects of grammar and syntax to far-reaching questions of cultural customs and identities. How would you translate an English marketing text, for example, that is using puns and playful imagery and that is addressing a target audience quite informally into Japanese? What changes would you need to make to appeal to a Japanese professional audience? A good translator is not only able to speak both languages well, but to transfer the meaning of a text from one cultural context into another. This is what differentiates a "translator" from a person that is just proficiently bilingual. Not everyone who speaks and writes well in two languages is automatically a good translator.
There are many ways to go about obtaining the skills you need. One is, obviously, to get a degree in translation. You can find schools in your area that offer these courses, and you can do this online. It also depends on what type of translations you are interested in, i.e. more technical or special translations (like law, medicine etc.) or more creative translations like marketing, social media... Aside from the linguistic skills, you need a deep understanding of the field you want to work in, and that is, in my experience, often more important than, say, a degree in translation. If you want to translate in the medical field, you need to be an expert in the terminology and processes used in this industry. If you want to write for marketing, you need to understand those concepts. In general, a minimum of a bachelor degree in any related field is advisable. It can be in journalism, creative writing, linguistics, etc. Other helpful skills like proofreading or copyediting, for example, can be acquired in shorter online courses that are available and very helpful. It is up to you to put together your portfolio of expertise. You can start doing this now. And keep adding on and expand as you go along.
Good luck with your journey!