Becoming a translator of written texts takes practice, skill and patience.
Remember, translators write, interpreters talk. The following is a list of tips to help you enter the world of written translations.
Steps
Step 1. Learn at least one, preferably two foreign languages
If you still can't speak the language fluently, learn it. To give you an idea of the level you want to achieve in a language, you should be faced with a word you do not know in the foreign language not as often as in your native language. To be successful, a foreign language is certainly not enough. Make sure you practice your languages as often as possible by reading, watching movies and television, listening to music, making friends with mother tongues, traveling, etc.
Step 2. Perfect your native language
Most translators work exclusively with their native language as this is the language in which most people express themselves best. To do this, you will need to commit to reading, writing and speaking as much as possible --- feel comfortable with your language.
Step 3. Get a qualification
Get a degree in foreign languages, in translation and interpreting, linguistic and cultural mediation, foreign literature or language science and pass all the exams you may need, depending on where you decide to work, for example the EPSO exams if you decide to work in the European Union.
Step 4. Practice and experience
Most (or virtually all) universities include a compulsory internship in their study programs. If yours doesn't, find another way. Do an internship with a translation organization or company, or try asking some of your professors who are also translators, they might let you work with them during your studies.
Step 5. Set goals
Decide what you want to do. Do you want to translate books? Do you want to be a translator for a large organization? Do you have your own business? Make a decision.
Step 6. Immediately enter the world of work as soon as you finish your studies
This depends on what kind of translator you want to be. If you want to translate books, contact a publishing house. If you want to work for an organization, find one and contact them. It might also be a good idea to do an internship in this very organization before you graduate, you could make a good impression and get hired. If you want to start your own business, well, you're going to have to look for clients.
Step 7. Try to be professional
Try to be fast, get the right price for your translations and keep the quality of your work high. Also, be professional and don't take jobs you aren't prepared for and don't take too many jobs at the same time. You don't want to be taken for someone who doesn't meet deadlines.
Advice
- Speak and read in your languages as often as possible.
- To practice, translate Wikipedia pages.
- Translate wikiHow articles into other languages. This is of great help to both you and wikiHow readers.
- There are many TV channels in French, Spanish, Chinese, English etc. Look for them and try to translate the programs while watching them. To practice even more effectively, write down your translations.
- Pay attention to the nuances, idioms, and cultural differences of a language. If you study French for example, don't just focus on France, consider the dialects and cultures of Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland, Algeria, etc.
