Are you a part of a translation course? Then you probably want to learn a few tips and tricks on how to make translation easy and efficient for you. We can help you. It can seem like a challenging and daunting thing to do, however, translation can be easier than ever with the help of a few simple tips. The tips we provide you with today can help you make the best of your translation course. So without further ado, let’s get started:
Tip Number One
Make sure to learn the relevant terminology and you will navigate through translation with a lot more confidence and knowledge. You may struggle to understand terms specific to this field in the beginning, terms like Localisation, Source-Text, Target-Text, Source-Oriented and Target-Oriented, Source-Language and Target-Language, and so on. However, once you make sure you are familiar with these terms and what they mean, the translation will become significantly easier for you. The best way to learn all the main terms in the field of translation is to simply find an online glossary. It will become a lot easier for you, we guarantee.
Tip Number Two
Besides getting familiar with the common translation terms, you also want to familiarize yourself with the most common translation techniques. This will give you a good idea of where to start from what to do, what technique you can use under certain circumstances, what technique works the best for you. It is a good idea to have a look at the different translation techniques.
Tip Number Three
Start thinking about your specialization, what do you expect from your translation course, how do you imagine yourself developing in this field once the course is over. No matter if it comes to an undergraduate or a postgraduate course in translation, soon you will find yourself wondering how to continue and whether to specialise or not, in which field to do that if you choose to specialise. Many translators recommend that at least in the beginning you should be a generic translator in order to gain some experience and then continue with specialisation.
However, this is not how it necessarily work for everyone. In fact, some people would do better if they think about their specialization quite early in the process and have a good idea of how they will continue next. Specialization has, of course, its pros and cons and it is all down to the individual person and case and what they would like to do. Consider all pros and cons and decide for yourself. Also, make sure to consider whether you would like to be a translator only, an interpreter only, or both, as this is an important part of your specialization too.
Tip Number Four
Get some work experience as soon as possible. Of course, studying is important, however, having some practical and real experience in the field is very valuable and can help you a lot to either develop as a specialist and start your future career or try out different things and see what part of translation you like the most and what direction you would like to continue developing in. Gaining experience quite early is essential for every young specialist, no matter the field. At the end of the day, once you finish your course and start looking for a job, all employers will ask you about the work experience you have and it will be really amazing if you can mention at least a few projects you have worked on. Some easy and quick ways to start gaining experience in the field include:
• Offering your friends and relatives to do some translation work for them
• Translate and add subtitles to TED videos or other platforms allowing you to do that
• Translate for organizations, which will accept your help and volunteering in this field
• You can also opt for asking your university if they can offer some work for you to do
• Improve your writing skills in different ways, so once you start translating, you will be able to create even better-written texts
Tip Number Five
Now is also a great time to start considering whether you would like to be a freelancer or a translator who works for an employer. Indeed, both options have their big pros and big cons. On one hand, working as a freelancer is definitely a long and challenging path until you are able to prove yourself as a reliable specialist and make your name work for you. Freelancing is, for sure, making you go out of your comfort zone and it will hardly pay the bills in the beginning, however, it will provide you with an amazing experience, teach you a lot of things, help you shape yourself as a specialist faster, provide you with an additional set of hard and soft skills you wouldn’t be able to learn otherwise, and, of course, will eventually turn you into your own boss. However, freelancing is, for sure, not everyone’s cup of tea. Therefore, you opt for a safer and more comfortable choice as working for a company.
