Training to be a Translator - How Long is Training to be a Translator?

Training to be a Translator - How Long is Training to be a Translator?

Many people who are interested in translation jobs find themselves asking questions about the required training and education when they first get started. Asking questions about the length of training is common, especially since correspondence schools put such an emphasis on how short training programs can be for exciting new job opportunities. Speeding through your training and preparation should not be your concern. There is two ways that you can look at this question and the answer to it. You should keep in mind that there is no single solitary path for you to walk in preparation of becoming a translator, so consider these two facts.

The first is that training never really ends when you are working as a translator because you should constantly be improving upon your capabilities in the field. You should be constantly working to perfect not only the second language or third language, but also your first language as well. There are intricacies in the English language that you must know and thoroughly understand so that your translations are accurate, no matter what language you are translating to or from. This means that you should expect to continue training and learning well after you graduate from college or obtain your certifications in translation.

The second is that there is no specific single training requirement in place, so the length of study time can vary depending on what job you are trying to fill. There is not a specific path that tells you to go from point A to B to C in order to walk into a translation job. Instead, you need to have a thorough idea of what type of translation job or specialization you want to go into, and then determine the best course of action in terms of training and education in order to get you there. So the length of training is somewhat flexible depending on what your individual needs are.

You should not try to simply breeze through training or your education when you are trying to become a translator. Training to be a translator should prepare you to translate between your native language and one or more languages, and you should be fluent or as close to fluent as possible in each and every language that you work with. The more training and education that you acquire prior to becoming a translator, or even while working with a translator, will translate into better effectiveness in your job.

-By Adriana Tassini

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