Trigger to become a translator

クサフジっていうんですって

I started to study English conversation when I was an office worker (a computer software developer), and it triggered my interest in English. At that time, I was not interested in translation at all. I just thought English skills could help my job somehow, so I started to read some books in the original (English) and translated (Japanese) versions and compared them. Then I realized how English expression is translated into Japanese, and I doubted if some English nuances weren't translated correctly. That's how I first became interested in translation.

While I was on medical leave from my job, I started to think about translation as my job. I wondered what I really wanted to do, whether my job (development of computer software) suited me or not and whether I was interested in computers at all. In addition, I was interested in translation, and then I took a correspondence course, "Computer course for business translation." I put myself to the test about what I thought and felt when I reviewed computer-related knowledge that I already knew naturally and at the same time I tried to translate some documentation.

And completing the correspondence course, I decided to quit my former job and become a freelance translator.

Comments

[投稿情報: Ako]

Hello Momo, I am Ako. I live in Aichi, too. I was impressed by your story until becoming a translater. I have been interested in translating at home and so I am commiting to improving my English skills to become a translater someday. Would you possibly be able to tell me how you get your job ? I think that to get a job as a freelance translator is not easy, right?

[投稿情報: Momo]

Hi Ako-san!

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. You live in Aichi, too? Wow! I'm glad to hear that! When I started to work as a freelance translator, I took trial tests to register some translation companies. If you want to take the trials, search for the terms "翻訳" and "トライアル" over the internet. Many translation companies provide trial tests. My specialty is IT area. So I took trials for this area. If your specialty is medical or patent or anything else, you should take trials for that. You can search for the terms above combined with "医薬" or "特許" etc... I'm not sure whether it's easy or not for you to be a freelance translator but this job is very meaningful for me. I wish you good luck!

I'll visit your blog soon. Thank you! 

[投稿情報: Ako]

Thank you so much for your kind reply! I did a little research through the internet right away as you told me and I figured out a few points which I had not been clear. However I thought I should develop my English skills more and decide my specialy with a long time. Anyway, thanks to you, I have gotten much motivated than before. I feel like I found my life path in the future. Many thanks !!

[投稿情報: Momo]

Ako-san,

My pleasure! I'm glad to hear you could figure out something. If you have some questions about becoming a translator, please ask me anytime! :)