Working as translator/interpreter

[88487]

Originally Posted by RobinMask

I believe Kasomi is studying to be a translator, and if I'm right I believe Nyororin has mentioned doing some translation work in the past. These two members are the only ones I know for certain, but I'm sure other members have mentioned it in the past, so perhaps they would reply to this thread when they see it . . .

If you look in the "Member List" option at the top of the forum page you can search for these two people I mentioned, and then send them a private message via the forum.

I think a private message is the best way to ask questions initially, and if they feel inclined they might perhaps exchange emails/IMs, but as the private messaging on the forum is effective enough at corresponding there perhaps wouldn't be a need for that. Either way I wish you luck at finding the answers you need

Thank you very much!

[MMM]

Being a translator or interpretor is not going to buy you a ticket to Japan. I have worked as a professional translator for several years, and have had several clients in Japan, none of which needed me to be in Japan to do their work. It's all done through email, and I have never met or spoken with many of the people who hired me.

An interpretor might be a different story, but rarely do I see non-Japanese interpretors in Japan (and I am talking English-Japanese here). Unless you were working at an embassy, I think it unlikely you would have enough steady work to merit or allow a move. You could, however, be hired to go on business trips with business people doing business in Japan.

[KuranUSA]

Dutch will help you a lot, because a good many Dutch companies have bases in Japan.

French would also help, as it is the international trade language, and is spoken by almost as many people the world over as English is.

[88487]

Originally Posted by MMM

Being a translator or interpretor is not going to buy you a ticket to Japan. I have worked as a professional translator for several years, and have had several clients in Japan, none of which needed me to be in Japan to do their work. It's all done through email, and I have never met or spoken with many of the people who hired me.

An interpretor might be a different story, but rarely do I see non-Japanese interpretors in Japan (and I am talking English-Japanese here). Unless you were working at an embassy, I think it unlikely you would have enough steady work to merit or allow a move. You could, however, be hired to go on business trips with business people doing business in Japan.

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to try anyways, and if I won't become able to live in Japan I will just become a translator or interpreter in my own country and take loooong holidays. I'll see if I'll become one of the lucky or one of the unlucky ones.

[88487]

Originally Posted by KuranUSA

Dutch will help you a lot, because a good many Dutch companies have bases in Japan.

French would also help, as it is the international trade language, and is spoken by almost as many people the world over as English is.

Luckily I speak dutch perfectly, and my french is pretty good too. This gives me a small sparkle of hope :­D

[atheistwithfaith]

As MMM said, you can do translation work anywhere - there aren't that many 'office' jobs for translation. You also need to be at a native level of fluency in English, and near-native level in Japanese. If you were going to do a masters, you might be better off doing linguistics rather than English.

[WingsToDiscovery]

Originally Posted by 88487

..... orly

yah rly. Otherwise you would have done it. You don't need a classroom to study.