What exams are taken for an English translator. Translator - the pros and cons of the profession, what you need to take for a translator. Success story of Faina Musayeva

Learning foreign languages, even one, paves the way for becoming a translator. And this makes it possible to receive a good income: the profession is in demand at all times, and the demand for services does not lose relevance, despite the spread of technologies and machine translation tools.

Do you want to be a translator? It is not difficult if you are ready to show purposefulness, diligence in mastering knowledge and skills, act clearly and actively according to a predetermined plan.

Stage 1. Goals and specialization

People come into this or that profession for different reasons. Self-realization, doing what you love and getting a good income, meeting new, interesting people, traveling around the world - these are the main goals of those who want to become a translator. They may be different. The main thing is that they be, otherwise you will not understand which direction to choose and what results to focus on.

Goals need to be specified, for which you have to choose a professional specialization.

What would you like to work as: an interpreter or a translator?

Cases where a person works either as an interpreter or as a translator in approximately the same proportion are quite rare. When choosing the profession of a translator, over time, a person will decide which type of translation he likes best or just suits him better. Someone likes to calmly translate at home, someone finds it boring and monotonous, and he tries to work more orally. Let's look at the main directions in interpretation and translation.

I want to become an interpreter

As a rule, interpreters are sociable, stress-resistant people who are not afraid of public speaking and have a good working memory.

When you need to translate orally, do it sequentially or synchronously. If you want to work as an interpreter, this does not mean that you just need to choose one of the options. "Synchron" is the highest degree of skill, not all people are initially suitable for such work, not everyone can master it at all, and not everyone wants to.

Who are consecutive interpreters?

A consecutive interpreter works like this: the speaker pronounces a small part of the speech (sentence, complete thought, logical block), the interpreter translates, then the speaker pronounces the next part.

As a rule, consecutive interpreters are paid by the hour. The rate depends on the language, city, type of event and your qualifications.

This is what consecutive translation looks like

Who are "synchronists"?

The simultaneous interpreter translates almost simultaneously with the spoken speech (with a delay of 6-7 seconds). Not only will you have to not only understand speech perfectly and almost learn to think in a foreign language, you will also need to master working with special equipment. To the qualities of any interpreter listed above, add an excellent response, attentiveness and utmost concentration - all this you will need during simultaneous translation.

Simultaneous interpreters work in pairs, changing every 30 minutes. But even so, they have hourly wages and the rate is 1.5-2 times higher than for consecutive interpreting.

This is what simultaneous translation looks like

Success story of Faina Musayeva

The desire to become a translator appeared in the 11th grade, and I applied to St. Petersburg State University, to the Department of English Philology and Translation. After studying for 5 years, I decided to continue my education and entered the new master's program of our department: "Innovative Translation Technologies - English". Now this program is called "Simultaneous Translation".

In 2008, when I was a 4th year student, I was first invited to work as a consecutive interpreter at an Indian industry exhibition, and I got a company that produced transformers. Product presentations, business negotiations - it was very interesting to translate for the first time not in a classroom, but at real meetings with potential partners. On the last day of the exhibition, my company signed an agreement of intent with a large Russian enterprise, which the director was extremely pleased with. I went to my first simultaneous translation a little later, it was dedicated to international relations.

Now I work with almost any subject, and I am glad that I have chosen a profession that allows me to constantly study, learn something new and meet a lot of interesting people. Over the past nine years, I have worked with prominent scientists, Nobel laureates, leading political figures, heads of multinational companies, representatives of famous universities and international organizations.

As for advice and recommendations, I would like to draw the attention of novice translators to the importance of obtaining a specialized education and the choice of companies with which they plan to cooperate. I have been working with the TranExpress translation agency since 2011, and I can note the professional work of project managers who are interested not only in successful work with clients, but also in creating comfortable working conditions for translators.
Faina Musayeva, simultaneous and consecutive interpreter

I want to become a translator

It is much easier to become a translator. Now anyone who has a computer can translate, and the level of skill is checked by completing a test task, and not by appearance or the presence of diplomas. That is, you can work from home, you can even anonymously (if it matters to you). If you are an introvert mentally and would like to work in a calm, comfortable environment, try yourself as a translator.

After analyzing how work is organized in our bureau, we would divide translators into 3 categories:

Translators of personal, template documents

Many people need a translation of their personal documents for university admissions, employment, visas, travel abroad and other purposes. Documents are repetitive and translators often use ready-made translation templates.

It is important to note that having a diploma of language proficiency at a professional level is a prerequisite for working as such a translator.

Template documents are translated at a low fixed rate.

Translators of general texts

Translators who have just received an education or are not yet confident in their abilities begin their journey with texts on a general subject. It can be correspondence, simple presentations, journalism.

Keep in mind that payment for general texts is carried out at minimum rates.

Translators of specialized texts

Working with specialized texts (medical, legal, technical, etc.) requires competence in the relevant field. Therefore, the direction is well suited for those who have already taken place in some profession (not a philologist), want to work at home or are looking for a part-time job in their specialty. Pure linguists start working with specialized texts only after they have accumulated a significant amount of knowledge on the subject.

Highly specialized texts are the most expensive

Yes, we deliberately did not include literary translations in any of the categories, because this is an exclusively creative direction. It is hardly possible to give any recommendations on how to become a translator of poetry. And the translation of works of art is rarely a translation as such.

Success story of Alexander Churakov

The choice of profession was not unexpected, since the desire to realize oneself in this area appeared by itself and did not disappear after graduating from school, and later from the university with a degree in linguist-translator. The university offered an internship program in the USA, after which I became even more determined to become a translator.

He started translating in his free time from his main job in 2010, when, in order to get a general idea of the profession, the requirements and methods, he got a job in a translation agency at a notary. Among the clients rarely, but still came across customers who wanted to personally control the entire process of order execution and agree on the necessary changes. The first large-scale order was entrusted to the bureau for execution from such a customer. Since by that time I had already repeatedly translated, edited and corrected small texts on legal topics, the quality of the translation of the contract entrusted by the customer did not cause any complaints. Since everything itself developed in such a way that I had to work mainly in writing with contracts and other legal texts, I thought that the profession itself pushes me to choose this direction. After a year, I decided to leave my job in a translation agency in order to start private practice. Having worked both with private customers and with various translation agencies, I decided that cooperation with the agency seems to be more convenient, since it provides for fixed deadlines for the execution of orders and allows me to actively develop myself in the chosen specialization.

To date, I have been translating contracts, constituent documents, court decisions and other legal texts for about seven years, I have no doubts about the correct choice of profession and I am thinking about getting a second higher education in law.
Alexander Churakov, translator (specialized in economics and law)

Stage 2. Education

Passing this stage is not a problem. The possibilities are huge. Here are the main ones:

Profile translation education

The most obvious way that most translators enter the profession is to get a translation education in the specialties of "translation", "translation studies", "linguistics", "translator", "referent-translator", "specialist in intercultural communication" or another name are different in different educational institutions. Translation education can be the main and only one, or it can supplement other specialized education (legal, economic, medical, technical, etc.) that you already have. This approach is highly valued. It allows you to apply for a good position and significantly increases the chances of success in your own business. It can be recommended to those who initially set the goal of becoming a translator, including having a zero basic level.

Translators are trained by many large universities at the faculties of foreign languages or philological faculties. There are also specialized linguistic universities, such as NGLU (Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University) or MSLU (Moscow State Linguistic University).

Training/retraining courses for translators

If you do not want to spend several years on obtaining a translator's diploma, but are confident in your high level of language proficiency, you can study at special training / retraining courses for translators. Such courses are practiced by many educational institutions. There are also remote programs. Advantages - speed, convenience and a decent level of quality, however, it seriously depends on the educational institution and the training program. Courses are recommended to increase the level of existing knowledge, to effectively transition from one specialization in the field of translation to another, as well as to obtain additional (translation) education. Choose educational institutions and programs with a good reputation and allowing you to get an official diploma (certificate, certificate) of training.

For example, in many universities there is an additional educational program "Translator in the field of professional communication".

Here, for example, is the story of how a veterinarian became a translator

I never had a dream of becoming a translator, although I have liked foreign languages since childhood. But I also loved animals very much and was sure that I would become a veterinarian. Indeed, I received an appropriate education and even worked in my specialty for some time. At the same time, I studied German. First, because it became possible to attend courses for free, and then the language began to open up and attract more and more. Then it so happened that I moved to another city and started looking for a new job and something else to fill my leisure time. I found a job not in a veterinary clinic, but in a translation agency, and for the soul, I entered the Faculty of Philology to study German. Having received a second degree, I entered the magistracy in the direction of "Translation and Translation Studies", because I always liked translating, and by that time the first orders had already appeared. I tried different topics and even literary translation, but settled on what was interesting and familiar to me: medicine, biology, veterinary medicine. I try to develop professionally, I read specialized literature, I constantly learn new things - after all, this is what allows me not only to do my job qualitatively, but also to get real pleasure from it. Elena Veselovskaya, translator (specialized in medicine, biology, veterinary medicine)

self-learning

Not the most common way to become a translator, but there are precedents. Learn to translate yourself. Self-study can sometimes give excellent knowledge and skills, but you cannot document them. This to some extent limits the possibility of successful employment, because it will take a long time to earn a reputation, and without recommendations and positive reviews, new clients will be skeptical about your candidacy.

Note: Even if you are a native speaker of a foreign language, have an excellent command of it, live abroad and already earn money by translating, this does not give you the status of a professional translator. Profile education and practice make a translator a professional. There is no need to confuse concepts. You can do part-time work, as before. But access to the "Major League" will be closed to you. If you want to become a translator, you will have to study in depth not only the language, but also the methods, techniques, means of translation, culture and history of a foreign language and speech. This is a serious body of knowledge and skills.

Another feature of translators is constant training. Therefore, do not think that having received a diploma, the baggage of knowledge will last until old age. The translator constantly replenishes vocabulary, monitors the situation in the world, studies new topics and delves into technological processes. Moreover, translation software is constantly being improved and updated. In general, you must always be on topic!

Stage 3. Employment

So you have an education. It is time to decide where and how to apply it, because theory without practice is worth nothing. The beauty of working as a translator is that the practice begins from the very first day of the start of education, so for employment it is enough to gather your courage and transfer your translations from the status of "homework" to the status of "paid work". So where are translators needed?

staff translator

If you like working in an office, you can get a job as a full-time translator in a company or translation agency. As a rule, interpreters are not kept on staff, but translators are often needed. Having accumulated some experience, you can retrain as an editor.

software and hardware costs;

taxes will have to be calculated and paid by yourself.

Maybe open a translation agency?

Translation activities are not licensed, so if you know how to look for clients, understand advertising, cope with bookkeeping and paying taxes, you can try opening your own translation agency. Only, unfortunately, in this case you will have to kill the translator in yourself and grow a leader.

In modern business, there is a tendency towards constant cooperation with foreign partners. And this means that any company operating in the international arena must have at least one linguist-translator on its staff. This profession is also in demand today because many companies seek to translate their official websites into foreign languages.

A qualified translator will be required for business trips abroad, and for negotiating, and for translating correspondence from foreign colleagues. Knowing that the demand for specialists in this field is quite large, many school graduates who speak foreign languages well want to become a translator. If you are thinking of mastering this profession, then our material will be very useful to you.

Exams for translators

To enter the institute for the specialty of a linguist-translator, graduates need to score as many USE points as possible in the following disciplines:

Russian;
foreign language;
literature or history (optional).

At the same time, the state exam involves the possibility of passing only four languages:

english,
french,
spanish,
German.

As a rule, when entering a university in the first year of study, the main focus is on in-depth study of your profile language. In some institutions, a second language is introduced into the program from the second or third semester. At the same time, the choice of the second language is carried out by the dean's office of the faculty, and not by the students. Therefore, when looking for a university that suits you, be sure to ask what additional foreign language is. you have to study.

It is also worth clarifying exactly which subjects you need to pass in order to enter the university of your choice. Some educational institutions conduct additional interviews in a foreign language and involve passing written tests. You can get all the detailed information in the dean's office of the faculty.

It is better to start preparing for the Unified State Examination a year before the date of the exams and admission to the university. First of all, this concerns a foreign language, which requires deep knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. The exam will also test your ability to perceive and understand foreign speech, the ability to speak the language, writing and reading. This is a rather serious exam that requires preparation.

Where to apply for a translator

Now it is very difficult to meet a true master of his craft, who knows a lot about translations. Some translators today cannot find an open position or work as freelancers for a small fee. However, many qualified specialists are engaged in truly prestigious work in large companies, well-known publishing houses or in embassies. Why is this happening? Poor knowledge does not yet mean that a person studied poorly: perhaps he was simply taught by weak teachers.

Not all universities can provide high-quality knowledge, therefore, when choosing a university, you should study its history in detail, look at the statistics of the progress of students of linguistic faculties and pay attention to the teaching staff. If possible, it is worth talking with graduates or undergraduates of the proposed place of study and revealing all the ins and outs of the faculty that attracted you.

There are a number of educational institutions in Moscow that have long established themselves as the most prestigious linguistic universities in the country, where you can enroll as a translator-linguist:

Moscow State Institute of International Relations;
Moscow State Linguistic University;
Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages;
Lomonosov Moscow State University (Faculty "Higher School of Translation" and Faculty "Foreign Languages and Regional Studies);
Moscow Institute of Linguistics.

Interpreter- the general concept of specialists involved in the translation of oral or written speech from one language to another. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages and Russian language and literature (see the choice of profession for interest in school subjects).

There are several explanations for where the different languages came from. For example, the Bible describes the legend about the Tower of Babel. According to this tradition, God confused the languages of the builders of the tower because of their desire to surpass him and excessive pride. People ceased to understand each other and dispersed around the globe without completing the construction of the tower, which was supposed to reach the heavens.

There is an explanation in the difference in the language of people and from a scientific point of view. Even in prehistoric times, people began to speak different languages due to disunity due to the mountains, deserts and oceans located between them. Languages were formed in different tribes in isolation, one tribe communicated little with others. The greater the degree of geographical isolation, the more distinct the language. On the plains, where it is easier to move around, individual languages occupy very large spaces (Russian, for example). But whatever the background, there has long been a need for people who know more than one native language.

Most modern people not only know their own language, but can also speak a foreign language to some extent. Tourism is actively developing, and with it there is a need to communicate with foreigners, to understand at least superficially the language of the country you are going to. Most often, the population learns English, which is increasingly taking the place of the universal language of international communication.

But for professional translation, competent, prompt and clear, people with special education and experience are needed. Such specialists are called translators. In a general sense, translators are divided into oral and written.

An important quality of an interpreter is the ability to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and partnership. The specialist must understand that the success of the ongoing negotiations largely depends on him. It should help to find a common language for people with different cultures, mentalities and who understand business in different ways.

There are two types interpreters- sequential and synchronous.

A consecutive interpreter is indispensable in business negotiations, at events where some of the participants speak one language, and some speak another. In such cases, the speaker makes his speech with small stops so that the interpreter can formulate the phrase in the language of the listeners.

Simultaneous translation- the most difficult type of translation. Such translation is carried out with the help of specialized equipment for simultaneous translation. A simultaneous interpreter must speak a foreign language almost better than his native language. The complexity of the profession lies in the need to quickly understand and translate what is heard, and sometimes speak at the same time as the speaker. The most valued are specialists who are able to build competent and informative sentences that do not allow pauses in their speech.

Translators can be engaged in the translation of technical, legal, fiction, business documents. Currently, more and more specialists use modern technologies (for example, electronic dictionaries). Such special software for translators will help increase their productivity by up to 40%.

Technical translators work with technical texts containing special scientific and technical information. Distinctive features of such a translation are accuracy, impersonality and unemotionality. There are many terms of Greek or Latin origin in the texts. The grammar of technical translations is specific and contains well-established grammatical norms (for example, indefinitely personal and impersonal constructions, passive phrases, impersonal forms of the verb). The types of technical translation include full written translation (the main form of technical translation), abstract translation (the content of the translated text is compressed), abstract translation, translation of headings and oral technical translation (for example, for training employees to work with foreign equipment).

Legal translation aimed at translating specific texts related to the field of law. Such a translation is used to exchange professional information related to the socio-political and cultural characteristics of the country. In this regard, the language of legal translation should be extremely accurate, clear and reliable.

Legal translation can be divided into several types:

translation of laws, regulations and their drafts;
translation of agreements (contracts);
translation of legal opinions and memorandums;
translation of notarial certificates and apostilles (a special sign that certifies signatures, the authenticity of a stamp or seal);
translation of constituent documents of legal entities;
translation of powers of attorney.

Fiction translator- a specialist in the translation of literary texts. He must, in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of a foreign language, be well versed in literature, master the word at a high level, be able to convey the style and style of the author of the translated work. There are many examples when recognized masters of the word (V. Zhukovsky, B. Pasternak, A. Akhmatova, S. Marshak, etc.) were engaged in translations. Their translations are works of art in themselves.

Required professional skills and knowledge

perfect command of one or more foreign languages;
competent Russian;
good knowledge of technical terminology, both in the source language and in the target language (especially important for technical translators);
deep knowledge of literature and literary editing skills (for translators of fiction);
knowledge of the characteristics of language groups;
the desire to improve knowledge of a foreign language every day.

Personal qualities

linguistic abilities;
high level of analytical thinking;
the ability to store a large amount of information;
accuracy, patience, attentiveness;
high level of erudition;
fast reaction;
the ability to concentrate, to be attentive;
sociability;
verbal abilities (the ability to coherently and extremely clearly express one's thoughts, a rich vocabulary, well-delivered speech);
high efficiency;
courtesy, tact.

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros:

the possibility of implementation in different areas (written translation, simultaneous interpreter, translation of films, books, magazines, etc.);
a person who speaks a foreign language can find a very prestigious and highly paid job;
there is an opportunity to communicate with people of different countries and cultures;
high probability of business trips and travel.

Minuses

in different months, the volume of transfers can vary several times, hence the unstable download;
often translators are paid not upon delivery of the material, but when payment comes from the customer.

Place of work

press centers, radio and television centers;
international funds;
travel companies;
ministries of foreign affairs, consulates;
book publishers, mass media;
translation agency;
museums and libraries;
hotel business;
international firms, companies;
international associations and associations;
international funds.

In the modern world, it is impossible to live without communication. That is why translators do not lose their popularity, on the contrary, this profession is gaining new facets and sides, becoming more and more in demand. Now you can find such specialists in the field of IT technologies, software, in the entertainment industry and in many other places, in addition to traditional areas.

The activity of an interpreter directly depends on the direction and his experience. There are a number of distinct qualifications:

Linguist. Often a specialist of this profile can boast of in-depth knowledge of the structure of the language, while owning two or more at once. Many universities produce such professionals.
Technical translator. This is a specialist who independently (or forcedly) chose a very narrow profile area. For example, pharmacology, mechanical engineering. In his path, his knowledge is in demand, but in general topics he is not always good.
Business, business sphere. Legal, competent speech in foreign languages is highly valued today.
Often, the industry of document translation is taken out separately from the previous paragraph.
Literary translation. Such specialists work with literature, magazines, personal correspondence.
Oral translation. Such specialists are in demand, as very high requirements are put forward for them. Not every person can perceive speech by ear and even translate it simultaneously.

Where to apply for a translator

It would seem that in order to become such a professional, you need to go where there will be at least something related to foreign languages. This is not entirely true, although there are really many options for applicants in Russia. You can get knowledge of the profession of a translator in the following specialties:

translation and translation studies;
linguistics of foreign languages;
philology;
international relationships;
pedagogy of foreign languages;
oriental studies.

But if there is a desire to be a translator and quickly find a job, then it is better to choose from the first three points.

What exams and in what form should I take for an English translator

Experts say that the best thing, if you want to get a profession in demand, is to strive to get into the department of English. This is due to the fact that it is the most common and versatile in the world. But if you feel that the soul lies in other languages, the algorithm is not much different.

To enroll as a linguist or translator, you need to take the following USE subjects:

Russian language;
English language;
literature and history (optional);
mathematics.

Please note that today the exams are held only in four foreign languages:

English;
French;
Deutsch;
Spanish.

Therefore, if your dream is to translate from Danish or Arabic, it is better to immediately check with the university what exams they offer. It is likely that instead of them you will still have to take general English. For Scandinavian languages, this is often German.

In addition, it is in a foreign language that the main decision on enrollment is made. It is quite logical that the requirements for mathematics or history are not too strict here. But if you translate the assessment into the usual five-point scale, then in many universities even “4” is not always a guarantee that you will pass on the budget.

Experts say that you need to prepare for admission at least a year before the exams. Knowledge of a foreign language must be impeccable, first of all it concerns grammar, vocabulary. At the exam, they check the perception of speech, its understanding, writing, reading.

Additional requirements and personal qualities

You should not go for a translator simply because it is now one of the most sought-after professions. Knowledge here is not easy, in the process of learning you will have to read a huge amount of literature, and not in your native language, learn or at least pass at a basic level many languages and dialects that will not be useful in the future. In addition, a real translator, of course, must love his profession, because this is the only way to sit and work on one text for hours and days. The future specialist must have the following qualities:

propensity for languages. Not every mind is capable of being flexible and receptive to someone else's speech;
good memory and the desire to develop it. In linguistics and philology, a lot depends on the ability to quickly memorize large amounts of information;
excellent diction. Especially important for interpreters. The slightest inaccuracy and you will be misunderstood;
sociability. Working with languages, voluntarily and involuntarily, you have to communicate a lot with people;
perseverance. A huge part of the time the translator sits and works on the text;
self-discipline is directly related to the previous point, because organizing your time and forcing yourself to concentrate on the text can be difficult.

In this article, I will tell you where it is better to study the profession of a translator - in state universities or in courses. Or maybe there are some other options?

I myself graduated from the translation department of NSLU, and then I also created my own courses for translators. So I have a completely objective idea of the pros and cons of both options.

And let's start with the classic option - training as an interpreter in universities.

Training as an interpreter at a state university

I must confess to you honestly - now the profession of an interpreter has changed a lot. Earlier, in Soviet times, it was a purely military profession. That is why girls were not taken to the translation faculties to study.

That is, there 100% of the students were guys. And now it's the other way around. If you go to any perfak, you will see that 98% of the students there are girls. Now a translator is a person who sits at a computer and translates instructions and legal documents. No romance =)

Another interesting entry point is that after graduating from the Faculty of Translation, only 5-7% of graduates work as translators. The rest do something - they teach English, open their own business, retrain as dentists.

This happens because the training program at the translation faculties is very outdated. They mostly continue to write translations by hand in notebooks. There are still very old teaching materials.

Disadvantages of public education

When I studied at the perfak, we did technical translation from magazines from the 60s. But these materials were approved "from above", and the entire curriculum was built on them.

The next disadvantage of formal training is that you are not taught how to work with a computer. Today, a translator simply has to be very good at at least the Word program. But by default, it is believed that today everyone has a computer at home, and everyone can do something in the Word themselves.

But in fact, this is not enough. Creating a document, printing text there is not enough. You need to be able to format the text on the fly, draw up images in translation, and do all this without unnecessary characters, with a clean layout. 100% of graduates do not know how to do this. Because it is a separate professional discipline.

Why 95% of Translation Graduates Can't Find a Job

If we go back to educational materials, then graduates of translation departments are very surprised when they find out what a translation assignment actually looks like. They get used to translating texts of 5-10 paragraphs, where everything is written in good English (or whatever?) Language.

And they have 2-3 days to translate this piece of text, so that they can analyze it long and hard in class together with the teacher.

In reality, everything is much tougher.

You are given 10 pages of terrible quality text. There in half of the places it is generally impossible to make out the text. And often there is no text as such. There are some drawings, and inside the drawings there are small icons with which it is not clear what to do.

And the worst thing is the words with which these texts are written. These words are simply not in any dictionary of the world. Or because this is a new industry and the terms arose only yesterday. Or because the author himself invented them. Or sealed up. Or the text was written in English by a person for whom English is not native, and he simply inserted the wrong words, because he does not know the correct ones.

And add here the fact that you only have a day to translate these 10 pages.

This is where 95% of graduates “merge”. Because their life did not prepare them for this. And I should have. And the remaining 5% merge when they find out what pennies they will be paid if they still cope with this text.

Let's be honest with ourselves. At the translation faculties today, unfortunately, they do not prepare for the profession of an interpreter. This is not just a problem for perfs. 95% of graduates across the country work outside their specialty for about the same reasons. But translation has its advantages.

What is actually taught in translation?

Speaking quite frankly, today only foreign languages are taught at the translation faculties. This is not to be taken away. If you enroll in translation, in 3 years you will perfectly learn at least two foreign languages.

I still remember how we passed translation tests. First, we were forbidden to use dictionaries. Which is already strange, because the main skill of a translator is precisely the ability to use dictionaries.

Secondly, we had to translate dozens of terms from memory. Just single words. That is, we were taught not to translate, but to memorize the correct words. And it gave its results. We have learned a foreign language. But this has nothing to do with the profession of a translator.

Why do people go to public universities

Perhaps you, my dear reader, are now at that tender age when it seems that you have to study at a university in order to get a diploma and then a job. But here I will disappoint you. A translation diploma will never give you any job.

You will come to get a job as an interpreter - and you will be asked for work experience, not a diploma. In general, after graduation, I got my diploma only two or three times. I needed this in order to be a translator at a notary.

But if I didn’t have a diploma, I could have passed with a school certificate. I tell you this in all seriousness. I personally brought our Ukrainian, Uzbek and other translators to the notary, who had only a school certificate, where it was written that they studied Russian at school. And that was enough for the notary to agree to certify their translator's signature.

All this, of course, is sad, but there are also positive aspects.

"Career" of graduates of translation faculties

One of these moments is that the majority of perf students are not going to work as translators at all =)

As I wrote above, the main contingent at translation faculties today are girls. And they come for translation with a very clear goal - to learn a foreign language, marry a foreigner and go abroad.

And it's not funny, it was on such a "career ladder" that so many girls went, who studied with me in the same stream.

What are the Words, document formatting and notarized translation of documents. They now work in France as sellers, in America as sellers, again in France as waiters ...

If you are consciously or subconsciously striving for this, then it is better for the translation faculty to come up with nothing. Problems begin if you suddenly, for no reason at all, really want to work as a translator.

Practical training courses for translators

When I just graduated from the Faculty of Translation, I had a problem that I could not translate. Then I learned by working in a translation agency for a penny. After some time, I opened my own translation agency. And then the next problem arose - the translators did not know how to translate.

That is, the same yesterday's graduates came to us to get a job, as I myself was a few years ago. And they made the same mistakes. And one day I got tired of explaining the same thing to every translator.

Then I just took and wrote instructions - how and what to translate, in what situation. Separately, instructions - how to work with the Word, how - with personal documents. Etc.

After that, I could simply give instructions to a new translator, and he immediately, and not three years later, began to work quite sanely.

I was delighted with the first success and began to gradually supplement my instructions. As a result, it grew first to 100 pages, then to 300, and then almost to 1000. And there were analyzed all the translation situations in great detail.

It turned out to be a real course of practical (rather than theoretical) training of a translator. I remember I was still surprised - why no one before me had guessed to do such a course. After all, beginners mastered it literally in 2-3 months, and immediately began to earn “in an adult way”.

Otherwise, they had to learn everything from their own experience for several years. And all this time - to live "on bread and water", because no one pays good rates to beginners.

Now I strongly recommend my course to all novice translators, which I called “Work! Translator". You can read more about this course.

Now let's make a small conclusion.

Conclusion

The question of where to study the profession of a translator is not an easy one. The answer depends on what you actually want to get. Learn a foreign language and try to "blame" - you're on a perfak. And if you really want to make money with translations, then you will have to learn this on your own.

And here are two options. The first is to learn by doing while working in a translation agency. The second is to take our course, where years of experience are packaged into step-by-step training. Personally, I went the first way. I mean, I taught myself. Simply because there were no such courses as before.

I had to plow for a penny for several years. And, unfortunately, few people endure such a life. And if you would also like to shorten your path from "beginner" to "pro" - use our course as a springboard.

See you later!

Your Dmitry Novoselov

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