📚Education & Languages
Translator / Interpreter
Translates text and speech between languages
Translates written text or spoken language from one language into another while preserving meaning and style.
What they do
- ▹Translates books, articles, legal or technical documents
- ▹Provides simultaneous or consecutive interpreting at meetings and conferences
- ▹Checks a draft translation against the original and edits the style
- ▹Studies the specialized terminology of the assignment's field (law, medicine, engineering)
Skills you need
- ▹Fluency in at least two languages, including professional vocabulary
- ▹Strong writing skills in both languages
- ▹Quick reaction time and strong memory for interpreting
- ▹Attention to detail and nuances of meaning
- ▹Broad general knowledge across many topics
Focus on these subjects at school
A foreign languageNative language and literature
Where they work
- ▹Translation agencies
- ▹International organizations and embassies
- ▹Publishing houses
- ▹International-relations departments at companies and universities
- ▹Freelance platforms for translators
Pros
- + Can freelance for international companies and publishers
- + Wide variety of subjects — from books to business negotiations
- + In demand as the country's international contacts grow
Challenges
- − High competition in the written-translation market
- − Interpreting demands intense concentration and causes significant fatigue
Programs that lead to this profession
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