Why do we need translators in the world?
Business and industry today is not a localized phenomenon. The world is shrinking rapidly because of the Internet, and cultures are coming together more than ever before. Thus, many organizations look to translators to bridge the communication gap between proprietor and customer, and between employer and employee. Translators convert many types of documents, from web sites to literature to training materials to industry reports to news stories from English to just about any language you can think of and vice versa. It is the language translator that keeps the global business and industrial world linked together. The field of language translation is an exciting and ever-growing trend. It can provide a stimulating work environment and be an exciting career to look toward. If you know a second or third idiom or are interested in learning one, consider becoming a foreign language translator.
If you are fluent in these languages, or you hold a college degree in a foreign language, there is a niche in the business world for you. As a foreign language translator, you can provide an invaluable service to all kinds of globally expanding industries. Some of the fields that employ a foreign language translator’s services include immigration services, the health profession, colleges and universities, and many different international businesses.
To become a foreign language translator, you need to be completely fluent in one or more foreign languages, both written and conversationally. If you aren’t fortunate enough to be naturally multi-lingual, you can do this by going to college and earning a bachelor’s degree in a foreign language, such as the Spanish, French, or German. The classes you take at the college level will serve as an immersion into your studying language. Studying abroad in the native country (or countries) will also help you learn the conversational aspects of the language you are learning and educate you on the native country’s customs and traditions. This will help you be culturally sensitive and help the organization you are working to be the same.
To be a successful language translator, you also must be proficient in another field such as law, business, or a health field. This gives you a level of expertise when you are translating technical documents. In an area such as law, for example, you might need a court interpreter. This job would require you to translate court documents to witnesses and defendants that do not speak English in courtroom situations such as civil trials. In this case, it would be imperative for you to be educated on federal, state, and locals law, as well as a foreign language. If you want to become a foreign language translator, you must also receive certification from the American Translators Association. This requires passing an exam. Their website provides all of the information you need to start the certification process towards becoming a language translator.
As a language translator, you can work for a large foreign language translation firm or be a freelance translator with all of the benefits that come with it. As a freelance translator, you can set your work schedule and take on the jobs that interest you the most. However, to be a successful freelance translator, you must not mind working alone for extended periods. Language translation requires a great deal of time doing reading and research.
A foreign language translator is a meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling career. As such, you are bridging cultural gaps and bringing the world together. It requires a lot of education, knowledge, and skill. But it can make that foreign language degree you earned in college usable, and you can have a successful career.
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