
14 Oct How to Upgrade Your Skills in Translation
How to Upgrade Your Skills in Translation
The good thing about being the best in your field is that you will never be broke. As a translator, you should always strive to stay on top of your game. Don’t get too comfortable with your current skills. This is because when you consider the nature of competition in the field, you will definitely want to read more about upgrading your translation skills. Here are several priceless strategies that will up your game.
NEVER IGNORE YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE
The reason you are a translator in the first place is that you are good at your native language. However, do not assume you are the best. This means perfecting your writing, reading, and conversational skills in your first language. Translation Service is a two-way traffic. Never forget that you can be asked to translate to your native language.
BE RESOURCEFUL
There are a variety of resources at your disposal to assist you. Here are a several:
– Books: they have the power of taking you to places you might never visit physically. Read books written in various languages to improve your mastery of conversational and writing skills.
– Movies: You will only develop your conversational skills if you listen to people talking in real life situations.
– Make New Friends: Make friends with native speakers to improve your grasp of language and culture of the source and target languages.
– Travel: The best way to learn French is to get amnesia in France. Visit countries where your translation languages are spoken.
SPECIALIZE
There is a particular subject or field that you are good at. You will find that if you specialize in translating within a given field things become manageable. Identify a field or several fields and specialize to sharpen your skills within the fields. Don’t become a jack of all translators and a master of none.
LEARN RELATED LANGUAGES TOGETHER
You might have realized that if you know French, it becomes easy to learn Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. These languages are related; they are commonly known as romantic languages. It’s not that there is anything romantic to do with them. It’s just because they have roots in the ancient Roman Empire. If you can handle at least two, learning them together will make your work easy.
GET CERTIFIED
If you value sustainability and professionalism, then you should get at least a diploma. You might have to do other subjects that you hate to earn a university degree. However, it is worth it because you will have papers to prove your skills. Consider a short distance learning translation course or a direct certification program offered by Translation WorkZone.
BASIC COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE
We live in a digital age where computers are used in virtually all fields. Some clients will want you to work online. It will help if you have basic computer knowledge to type the translation and send back the completed work via email. CAT skills shall further sharpen your readiness and efficiency to handle translation projects.
Translation is a career like any other. You can only keep up with the dynamics if you upgrade your skills periodically. The tips outlined here are relatively easy to achieve as compared to the outcome. Therefore, if you are already a translator or is considering a career in the field, these tips should always be at your fingertips.
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