Tag Archive: career advice

March 8, 2017

Career Advice: Am I a Potential Translator?

If you speak foreign languages (or if you are studying foreign languages), you might consider a career in translation. This blog post outlines what it takes to become a translator and helps you decide whether this type of career is suited to your skills and personality. It gives you tips on how to train to be a translator and how to start out as a freelance or in-house translator.

What is translation?

Translation is the process of converting a text in one language to a text with the same meaning in another language. As a translator you may translate short texts such as articles or leaflets or longer texts like reports, instruction manuals or novels. Translators usually specialise in one (or more) area(s) of translation, such as literary, legal or technical translation, as they need to have developed knowledge of the field and specialist vocabulary to be able to translate accurately and authentically.

What is a career in translation like?

Working as a translator can require you to meet short deadlines and work with lots of different clients on various different projects. Many translators work freelance for a number of clients. To be a successful freelance translator you will have to promote yourself as well, perhaps through social media or a website. You might need an accountant to help you manage your finances and complete your tax return. Freelance translators either charge by the word or by the hour. It is good to charge the going rate for your work as charging too high will put clients off and charging too low will expose you to accusations of unfair competition. You can look on the ProZ website for an idea of average rates. It is also possible to be an in-house translator for a company or work for a translation agency who take on translation tasks for other businesses or organisations. Even as a freelance translator you may have face-to-face contact with your clients so it is important to have good people skills as well as good writing skills! You can read more about working as a translator on the National Careers Service website. There are tips on becoming a freelance translator on the ITI website.

Is a career in translation for me?

To be a successful translator you need to know your native language very well and speak at least one foreign language fluently. It is good to have had experience of the life and culture in the country (countries) where they speak the language you are translating from (and into) as well. You will also need to have an eye for detail and accuracy but also flair and creativity, as you will be crafting texts that are not only accurate but also readable and enjoyable. You will need to be able to work under pressure sometimes and keep to deadlines. You will need to be organised so as to keep track of your projects and clients. Translation can be a solitary career, so bear this in mind – but it doesn’t have to be: instead of (or as well as) being a freelance translator, you can work in an office with other translators. Even if you are self-employed there are forums you can join, such as the ones offered by ProZ or translatorscafé and it is likely that you will collaborate online on translation projects with other translators. It is important to be confident with computers as not only will you be using them to write your translations and communicate with your clients, translators increasingly make use of Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools like Trados or Smartling that facilitate and speed up the task of translating. For example, CAT tools can store your past translations so you can insert the same translation of the same phrase, keep terminology lists for you and allow you to dictate translation instead of typing it.

To find out whether translation could be for you, try translating every day and see how you feel. Try to attend a workshop on starting out as a translator where you could speak to qualified translators about their work. These may be offered by the Institute for Translation and Interpreting (ITI) or perhaps your local university. If you know any translators, ask them what they like and dislike about their work.

How can I train to be a translator?

Translation courses are usually offered by universities and can be at BA, MA, Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma level. To work as a translator, you should usually have a degree and will probably need a postgraduate qualification in translation, but you can also develop your skills through practice. Many universities offer BA courses in translation studies that give you an idea of what the translation profession is like and some practical training, such as this one at Cardiff University or this one at Swansea University. There are a number of MA translation courses in the South West, such as the MA in Translation at UWE, the MA in Translation at the University of Bristol (and a specific MA in Chinese-English translation), the MA in Translation at Cardiff University, two different MAs at Swansea University, the MA Translation at the University of Exeter or several different MAs at the University of Bath. If you are not in the South West, you can look here for a comprehensive list of translation courses in the UK.

If you wish to take the Institute of Linguistics Diploma in Translation (DipTrans IoLET), you can train via distance learning with a tutor who communicates with you via email and phone (e.g. at Birmingham or City University London) or with some private teachers. There is a list of institutions offering training for the DipTrans on the IoLET website. You can get tips on studying for and passing the exam online, such as this post. There is usually a cost for doing a translation course, for which you can take out a loan if you wish. You could see taking the course as an investment.

If you wish to specialise in a certain type of translation (e.g. technical translation, legal translation, medical translation), it can be helpful to have a qualification in that field as well, or working experience in the field.

How do I find work in translation?

You can apply to work for a translation agency or advertise yourself as a freelance translator to potential clients by contacting them directly or through social media. You could attend translation industry events to network with other translators. You could also attend non-translation industry events to introduce yourself as a translator to prospective clients. If you have had other jobs in the past, your former employers may be interested in giving you translation work. You can also volunteer to gain experience and make a name for yourself. Many NGOs are looking for volunteer translators. There are also specific volunteer translation platforms, such as Translators without Borders and Trommons. More tips are available on these blogs.

Do I need to join a professional association?

In the UK, there are two main bodies translators can become members of, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL). Qualified membership of these bodies (MITI and MCIL) is seen as proof of a certain level of professionalism. This is because members commit to maintaining their skills through continuous professional development (CPD) and reviews by their peers. It is not compulsory to be a member to practise as a translator, though. There is an assessment fee and an annual fee for membership of these bodies. There are also other categories of membership which do not require the same level of CPD commitment but give you access to a community of translators, materials and events. You can find a lot of tips and testimonials on the journey to becoming a qualified member of these two organisations online, such as “My journey to becoming a Qualified Member of the ITI”, “Joining the ITI as a Qualified Member (MITI) – how was it for me?”, “6 Top Tips for Translators to Achieve Chartered Linguist (Translator) Status”, “Becoming a Qualified Member of the ITI” and so on. To help you decide which exam to take, you can read blogs by translators who have already done it, such as this one or this one.

Good luck!

We hope this has helped you make up your mind as to whether translation could be a career for you. Good luck!

Written by Suzannah Young

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March 1, 2017

Career Advice: Am I a Potential Language Teacher?

If you love languages or have enjoyed learning a foreign language, you might want to share that enthusiasm and enjoyment with others by training to be a language teacher. You can teach languages at a variety of levels. You can teach primary or secondary school children, university students or business employees. You can also teach adults who want to learn for fun. Learning languages broadens learners’ horizons, fosters their tolerance and improves their communication skills. Language skills also stand learners in good stead when they are applying for higher education or jobs. Globalisation has made learning languages more useful today than it has ever been. You can help people be a part of that through teaching languages.

What is teaching languages like as a career?

Language teachers help students learn to converse, read, write and even study in a new language. As well as teaching students about the structure of language (grammar, vocabulary), language teachers may teach students about culture and society in the countries where the language(s) they teach are spoken. They may teach whole courses in a different language. They will use a variety of (often self-produced) teaching resources, various teaching methods and may teach small or large groups. Language teachers often set up or supervise foreign language clubs and other language-related extra-curricular activities such as trips abroad. They may also have to do admin work.

Teaching methods include group work, discussions, audio-visual materials, role-play and games. Teachers enable students to use language in real-life situations like using public transport, eating at a restaurant, making friends and giving their opinion on a topic. Teachers need to help students get the balance right between ‘fluency’ (the ability to make yourself understood, perhaps with some mistakes) and ‘accuracy’ (using correct grammar, expressions or vocabulary). The most popular languages taught in UK schools are Welsh (in Wales), French, German and Spanish, but others are taught too, depending on the school. These include Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, Panjabi, Russian and Urdu.

Depending on which type of educational establishment you work in, as a language teacher you could have a full-time job with contact hours throughout the day or you could teach during the evening. You would mainly find evening work if you teach at an adult-learning centre or private language school. Language teachers earn relatively competitive salaries. Teachers in UK state schools are paid according to their qualifications, experience and responsibilities. Some teachers supplement their income by teaching privately, marking exams or writing textbooks. They can be employed by a school or work freelance for different schools or businesses.

Outside contact time (teaching in lessons), teachers have lesson preparation time, time for marking pupils’ and students’ work and time for assessing and evaluating their performance through designing tests and writing reports on their progress. This includes meeting pupils’ parents at parents evenings.

Is teaching languages a career for me?

Teaching languages can be a demanding job but it can also be rewarding. It is good for people who like personal interaction in their careers. It can also be flexible, depending on the type of teaching establishment. You may get the opportunity to teach in other countries. You could even teach languages online, such as here.

School teachers in the UK teach every weekday for 39 weeks of the year. Because of the amount of marking required, secondary school teaching has quite long hours and marking can take up some of teachers’ holiday time or evenings and weekends. Language teachers who work in private schools or at a language agency have variable hours and can decide their own schedule. Depending on whether they work in a school or privately, teachers may teach in classrooms, in their homes or in cafes or community centres.

While language teachers must have language and teaching skills and certification to prove that, they may also need certain personality traits. Patience, creativity and ICT skills help produce a productive learning environment for language learners. Enthusiasm, energy and confidence can make lessons interesting for learners. Organisational and communication skills can make the job easier. Of course, it is also good to enjoy sharing knowledge and have an interest in language and culture in general as well as in the specific language you are teaching.

At work, you will be required to conform to school regulations and performance objectives, as well as national curriculum and examination requirements. You may have to deal with challenging behaviour from students. As a general rule, you need the authority to direct a group of people. Teaching adults can be demanding but teaching children is generally more stressful. You will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if you will be working with children or vulnerable adults. You may also need to keep track of your finances if you are a freelance teacher.

How do I train to be a language teacher?

If you want to teach languages, you are usually required either to be a native speaker of the language you want to teach or to have a degree in it. This is because you need to be competent in the language as well as having teaching skills. You can also prepare to be a language teacher by spending time in countries that speak the language you wish to teach. You could do this by working, volunteering, studying or traveling in a country. Doing teacher training on the job or working with groups of people can help develop your teaching skills. Some employment and skills fairs have information about training to teach.

In the UK, if you want to teach languages in state schools, you usually have to gain Qualified Teacher Status through initial teacher training. There are a few ways to do this. One way is to do a degree and then do a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). Courses are usually one-year full-time and two years part-time. You could get a bursary or scholarship to do this. After their PGCE, newly qualified teachers must complete three terms of teaching, usually within one school year. Some PGCE courses are available as flexible learning. For example, you could do distance learning with some teaching practice and campus study. The other way of qualifying is to train in a school after your degree instead of doing a PGCE. These employment-based routes, where you earn a salary, include School Direct, school-centred initial teacher training and Teach First.

If you don’t have a language degree, or need to refresh your knowledge, you could complete a subject knowledge enhancement course before you start your teacher training. Once you have started teaching, you will also do continuous professional development training throughout your career.

How do I get a job as a language teacher?

Private language agencies and schools are the biggest employers of language teachers. You can check local schools listings and contact them directly to see if they have any vacancies. State school vacancies are also advertised by local authorities and in the local and national press, including The Guardian and The Times Educational Supplement. They are also available online, such as on www.jobs.ac.uk and other job sites. There are also job boards, such as eTeach.

Where can I find out more?

More information on becoming a language teacher is available from the DfE Get into Teaching website, the Association for Language Learning, UCAS Teacher Training, Careers Wales, My Job Search and PlanIt Plus. This blog follows a graduate who decided to retrain as a language teacher and talks about the experience of being a language teacher. It may help you decide whether you should do the same.

Good luck!

Written by Suzannah Young

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May 18, 2016

Careers Advice: Working as a Translator or Interpreter

When you learn a new language, one way you might like to put your skills to good use is by becoming a translator or interpreter. Translation is turning a text written in one language into a text in another language and interpreting is conveying a spoken or signed message in a different spoken language. In this post we give you tips about how to train for both professions. They are both careers that can take you round the world or can allow you to work from your own home. You will find more tips on how to work as a translator or interpreter in this webinar.

Training as a Translator
There are many different translation genres, such as legal translation, medical translation, technical translation, scientific translation, literary translation – to name but a few – and it is possible to specialise in one or more.

Various universities in the UK and abroad offer translation courses, including the University of Bristol, which offers an MA in Translation and the University of Bath, which offers an MA in Translation and Professional Language Skills.

The Chartered Institute of Linguistics Diploma in Translation (DipTrans IoLET) is a postgraduate diploma available for many language combinations. You can study for it at a school or through distance learning.

If literary translation is your thing, you can go to the British Centre for Literary Translation international summer school in Literary Translation and Creative Writing.

There are also numerous events that allow you to network with other translators and improve your career prospects, including the British Library Translation Day. You can read about the 2015 edition on the British Library website.

Training as an Interpreter
Just as translation takes various forms and translators can specialise in different genres, there are different types of interpreting that require different types of training.

To do public service interpreting, which, in the UK, means interpreting in the areas of law (courts, solicitors, immigration), healthcare (hospitals, clinics, GP practices) and local government (housing, social work, education, etc.), you can train for an IoLET Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) for one of the three domains.

To interpret for the police, you can train for the IoLET Diploma in Police Interpreting.

You can also do a BA or an MA in Interpreting (such as this one at the University of Bath) – as long as public service interpreting skills are emphasised – or a Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting.

Another type of interpreting is conference interpreting, that is used in business and government environments, which can be studied for at universities around the world. Check here for a list of eligible schools. There is also advice on the European Commission website on how to become a conference interpreter; the European institutions are one of the main places that employ conference interpreters, alongside the United Nations, NATO, and other international bodies.

Membership of Professional Bodies
Like other professions, translation and interpreting have professional associations that you can be a member of. Membership of the Chartered Institute of Linguists gives you access to networking opportunities, professional development, a magazine subscription and other benefits as well. Membership of the Institute of Translators and Interpreters is available to individuals and organisations and includes benefits such as subscription to the ITI Bulletin professional journal, discounted events attendance, networking opportunities and access to job adverts.

Written Suzannah Young

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