Newbie here wondering how I can start getting practice in translation Thread poster: Nahysa Martinez Kulikowski
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I am a geologist by training, native Spanish speaker and with 20 years in the US (got my Ph.D. degree here in the US). I recently got very interested in translation. I have searched and read lots of stuff on the internet, done some very basic courses in Udemy, etc. I am currently reading 3 books about translation and refreshing some grammar. I am also doing an online training course and signed up for a certificate degree in translation from UCSan Diego, which I will start in January. Additionall... See more I am a geologist by training, native Spanish speaker and with 20 years in the US (got my Ph.D. degree here in the US). I recently got very interested in translation. I have searched and read lots of stuff on the internet, done some very basic courses in Udemy, etc. I am currently reading 3 books about translation and refreshing some grammar. I am also doing an online training course and signed up for a certificate degree in translation from UCSan Diego, which I will start in January. Additionally, I recently signed up for Translation Without Borders and went through their intro course. So, my question is: how do I actually start learning TO translate and not only ABOUT translation? I have not received any assignments from TWB and I am guessing that is because I don't have any experience in translation. Do I have to actually wait until I get my certificate to be able to start doing translations? any other ideas of volunteer work that can help me to get into actually learning and practicing translation? I am feeling so passionate about this but feel completely stuck about how to actually start doing it. I cannot make a CV as I have zero experience. Looking for advice about how to best use my time at this stage.
Thanks,
Nahysa ▲ Collapse
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Welcome! This is a recurrent theme and here on Proz.com you will find a lot of articles, posts and even courses on the subject. Happy “hunting”!
| | | | Reed James
Chile
Local time: 09:04
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
Hi Nahysa,
I would sign up on some of the platforms out there like Gengo and Motaword. As long as you meet their requirements, you should be able to start very soon. You get to pick and choose your jobs, so you don't have to worry about working on anything too difficult.
Also, tell anybody and everybody that you are a translator and please don't wait for any certificates. Certificates are nice and they enhance your CV, but it is important to remember that this is an ope... See more Hi Nahysa,
I would sign up on some of the platforms out there like Gengo and Motaword. As long as you meet their requirements, you should be able to start very soon. You get to pick and choose your jobs, so you don't have to worry about working on anything too difficult.
Also, tell anybody and everybody that you are a translator and please don't wait for any certificates. Certificates are nice and they enhance your CV, but it is important to remember that this is an open shop and that your true certificate is how good and responsible you are.
Oh, and I know that it isn't actual work as you are seeking, but it wouldn't hurt to find a mentor on ProZ.
Reed ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Newbie here wondering how I can start getting practice in translation | Nov 18, 2022 |
Reed James wrote:
Hi Nahysa,
I would sign up on some of the platforms out there like Gengo and Motaword. As long as you meet their requirements, you should be able to start very soon. You get to pick and choose your jobs, so you don't have to worry about working on anything too difficult.
Also, tell anybody and everybody that you are a translator and please don't wait for any certificates. Certificates are nice and they enhance your CV, but it is important to remember that this is an open shop and that your true certificate is how good and responsible you are.
Oh, and I know that it isn't actual work as you are seeking, but it wouldn't hurt to find a mentor on ProZ.
Reed
Thanks so much for the advice. I agree with you that I don't want to wait for a certificate before starting translating. I am just not sure how to get practice if everybody (even volunteer work) asks for experience. I am definitely checking out those platforms soon to see if they have opportunities for people brand new to translation.
Thanks again,
Nahysa
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| Fill in your profile and help clients find you | Nov 21, 2022 |
Emphasise the experience you do have - your training in geology and whatever you have been doing for the past 20 years!
I came late to translation with no certificates. Admittedly, I was very lucky, because I was able to start in-house with an agency, but I really felt I had no usable experience whatsoever - apart from being a native speaker of English and living where my source language is spoken for 20 years.
That did the trick, however. I did in fact have experience... See more Emphasise the experience you do have - your training in geology and whatever you have been doing for the past 20 years!
I came late to translation with no certificates. Admittedly, I was very lucky, because I was able to start in-house with an agency, but I really felt I had no usable experience whatsoever - apart from being a native speaker of English and living where my source language is spoken for 20 years.
That did the trick, however. I did in fact have experience of odd jobs and the health services, and a not entirely useless degree in librarianship and information (not IT, it was from the 1970s...). Certificates are fine - my employer sponsored mine. But they have to be fleshed out with a knowledge of real life.
Experience from real life and a hands-on knowledge of specialised terminology are vital for a translator.
What kinds of texts will you be good at translating?
Scientific-academic papers?
Environment and climate?
Have you any hobbies you are expert at and know the terminology for in both languages? They are often big international business!
Imagine you are a client needing the kind of translation you can offer. What would that client look for - that is what you need to show on your profile. Of course, you should not lie, but don´t undersell the skills you can offer.
Good luck! ▲ Collapse
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Nahysa Martinez Kulikowski wrote:
I am a geologist by training, native Spanish speaker and with 20 years in the US (got my Ph.D. degree here in the US). I recently got very interested in translation. I have searched and read lots of stuff on the internet, done some very basic courses in Udemy, etc. I am currently reading 3 books about translation and refreshing some grammar. I am also doing an online training course and signed up for a certificate degree in translation from UCSan Diego, which I will start in January. Additionally, I recently signed up for Translation Without Borders and went through their intro course. So, my question is: how do I actually start learning TO translate and not only ABOUT translation? I have not received any assignments from TWB and I am guessing that is because I don't have any experience in translation. Do I have to actually wait until I get my certificate to be able to start doing translations? any other ideas of volunteer work that can help me to get into actually learning and practicing translation? I am feeling so passionate about this but feel completely stuck about how to actually start doing it. I cannot make a CV as I have zero experience. Looking for advice about how to best use my time at this stage.
Thanks,
Nahysa
[You can try translating the Coursera courses, they dont ask for experince and you can even get shareable badges by translating a certain amount of words there.]
| | | | | Revision clubs | Dec 2, 2022 |
Find yourself a buddy or two in the same position and start translating texts and critiqueing each other's work.
It won't give you a qualification but it will give you some practice and you'll start to get a feel for what type of texts you're good at.
It's also good networking.
Also: some of the translation associations offer mentoring so that might be worth looking into too.
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At least start with putting your photo. Agencies would like to know who they're addressing, it kind of reassures them and then do as others said and fill in the About me section. You don't need to emphasise that you have no experience but mention any positive points you might unwittingly have- your experience in the sector you mention and any other interests which might come in handy and which you ,might develop as specialisation. Specify what you did, and as others said, it's not certificates w... See more At least start with putting your photo. Agencies would like to know who they're addressing, it kind of reassures them and then do as others said and fill in the About me section. You don't need to emphasise that you have no experience but mention any positive points you might unwittingly have- your experience in the sector you mention and any other interests which might come in handy and which you ,might develop as specialisation. Specify what you did, and as others said, it's not certificates which count at the end of the day.
Another point- re. TWB, it's not your lack of experience that they did not ask you to translate but because there might not have any tasks in your language combinations. Don't put yourself down. Find articles for Wikipedia and start translating them, put some well-chosen samples on your profile page-geology must be a very demanding and highly specialised area, so it pays really well. Don't ask for peanuts either as it will then be difficult raising your rate and if, even as a newbie, you should still produce a translation which is accurate and ready for publication. Good luck. ▲ Collapse
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