Freelance translator opportunities?

[mlc82]

Does anyone here either do this sort of thing, or know if it would have potential for some decent side income? I'm very interested in learning another language, and this seems like a good way to both be more motivated to stick with it, and also generate some extra income. I'm thinking Freelance translating of anything, books, movie subtitles, articles, or whatever else, I just know next to nothing of how to go about doing it...

[cdn2wheeler]

Check out elance. I haven't used the process personally but as I understand it works pretty well.

[Bitsy]

I'm a translator, not freelance, but I think this site might be very useful to you:

Translators & translator resources - ProZ.com

What languages would you translate?

[openeyes]

While I don't personally know about income possibilities for translating, I remember back in high school some friends made ~$50 per hour as spanish/english interpreters for local government offices.

[mlc82]

That's a really cool site! Thanks!


-was originally in response to cdn2, now consider this a response to both cdn2 and Bitsy

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

I'm a translator, not freelance, but I think this site might be very useful to you:

Translators & translator resources - ProZ.com

What languages would you translate?

I don't know yet, as it is I only understand English (no 2nd language) but have been interested in learning another for some time, and finding some new income opportunities that could come from it would really help me keep motivated through the more tedious parts. I started learning some Italian in the past but never made it past the basics, and really had no motive to do it except simply for fun- but once I started getting frustrated, other things I like to do for fun just took priority and I forgot all about it.

I'm just looking for some good side income opportunites for a nerdy introvert like me (Would rather avoid selling, MLM, etc) and thought this could be a fun one.

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by mlc82

That's a really cool site! Thanks!


-was originally in response to cdn2, now consider this a response to both cdn2 and Bitsy

Well, I don't think Proz.com is so cool , it's like work. But it is a site for freelance translators. Read on the forums, they give advice for people who want to start translating. It's also a site where you can get jobs. I might have done some work there if I had managed to figure out how to get paid and how to bill translations. Translators also ask questions about vocabulary there.

Good luck.

[Brutha]

You need to speak a language relativly well to make translating your career.
That not something you can learn in 1-2 years.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by mlc82

I'm just looking for some good side income opportunites for a nerdy introvert like me

hehe, just like me

Learn a language you love first. Translating isn't easy. You need to know a lot about both languages. More than words, something about language levels, idiomatic expressions and connotations too. (edit: and you need to get a sense for the language. For one sentence there are many possible translations, you need some flair and feeling to pick the right one) That might take a few years.

But if it's fun, do it

[Ibanez]

Yes, you must know the language very well to get a good job from it. For instance for the NVT you can earn up to 39 an hour for translation services (depends on the language).

The only down side is that in order to get the good jobs with the government you have to really know the language. I think anything less than a S4 on the IRL you won't get the job. Although I think just to do Foreign Service work, ie Embassy work, you only need about S3 level.

Oh, yeah you can do part time translations independently.

What language are you considering learning? Still Italian?

Either way I still recommend learning another language.

[mlc82]

I was actually thinking about German...

Again, I'm not looking to make a career out of this or anything that high level (government jobs and embassy work are the LAST thing on my mind- the last thing on earth I want is a "job" anyway so long as I can avoid it), just mainly want to learn a second language for fun and maybe small time freelance opportunities (someone has to translate foreign movie subtitles and such right?). Something I could do from my computer room would be great, but even if there's no opportunity in it I still want to learn a second language for the sake of doing it.

[Brutha]

There are a lot of Germans like Rose of Cairo or myself, who have very good German skills and know some English. While our English isn't perfect you will need years to reach a similar skill level for your German.

Since you want to do something which you can do on your computer you also compete with people who live in Germany for a task like translating movies.

[Rose of Cairo]

How about spanish or french? these are spoken in many-many countries in the world. german not. If you need help, pm me

I'm not a German, Brutha

[Brutha]

I'm not a German, Brutha

But at least you live in Germany?

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Brutha

But at least you live in Germany?

yes I do

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

How about spanish or french? these are spoken in many-many countries in the world. german not. If you need help, pm me

I'm not a German, Brutha

I leaned toward German mainly because I'm a big history nerd and think that being able to read German histories, especially of WWII, would be interesting. I also have a close family member from Germany (German was his first language), and he and his family all speak it fluently.

Japanese would be interesting as well with the history slant, but I don't know anyone who actually speaks it.



Brutha- thanks again for the info!

[Ibanez]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Since you want to do something which you can do on your computer you also compete with people who live in Germany for a task like translating movies.

It also works both ways. Native Germans will be at a disadvantage translating into English, while Native English will be at a disadvantage translating into German. However, if you have good enough skills it wouldn't matter regardless.

just mainly want to learn a second language for fun and maybe small time freelance opportunities (someone has to translate foreign movie subtitles and such right?).

There are freelance opportunities, but you have to have the language skills to begin with. You can't be an intermediate translating for someone. You need to be fluent. Although you can still try to translate for fun to see how good you are, Dual Books are good for this.

I leaned toward German mainly because I'm a big history nerd and think that being able to read German histories, especially of WWII, would be interesting. I also have a close family member from Germany (German was his first language), and he and his family all speak it fluently.

Japanese would be interesting as well with the history slant, but I don't know anyone who actually speaks it.

You might experience wanderlust if this is your first jump into language learning. Wanderlust is pretty much jumping around from language to language. It's not that bad, only if it impedes your progress in the language(s).

Check out Mango Languages - Home it's a good resource. Your local library should also have Pimsleur audio cds/tapes. Also check out http://fsi-language-courses.com/ this site is currently down but should be back up, it's an excellent resource.

Good luck.

[Brutha]

It also works both ways. Native Germans will be at a disadvantage translating into English, while Native English will be at a disadvantage translating into German. However, if you have good enough skills it wouldn't matter regardless.

It far easier to pratice your English in daily life for a German (like I am doing at the Moment), then it is for a American to practice his German.
English is also a standart that you need for a variety of jobs in Germany. It isn't really an advantage to know English but an disadvantage to not know English.

There are English books that I have to read for in a German university.

We speak English in my Toastmaster club but I doubt that there are many German Toastmaster clubs in the US.

[Ibanez]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It far easier to pratice your English in daily life for a German (like I am doing at the Moment), then it is for a American to practice his German.
English is also a standart that you need for a variety of jobs in Germany. It isn't really an advantage to know English but an disadvantage to not know English.

There are English books that I have to read for in a German university.

We speak English in my Toastmaster club but I doubt that there are many German Toastmaster clubs in the US.

I think you are missing my point. The point is that the person in the native environment will always have better language skills in that langauge, barring them being an idiot.

The resources for English in Europe are probably more readily available for use due to the need, as you stated. However, that doesn't mean Americans are totally screwed when it comes to learning languages. There are resources just as easily available to them, they just have to look a little harder.

Although if I wanted to be mean I could say that judging your English skills on the basis of your previous post doesn't give me much confidence in your abilities.

[Brutha]

Originally Posted by Ibanez

The resources for English in Europe are probably more readily available for use due to the need, as you stated. However, that doesn't mean Americans are totally screwed when it comes to learning languages. There are resources just as easily available to them, they just have to look a little harder.

My point wasn't so much that it is impossible but that it isn't something that you will learn in 1-2 years.

Although if I wanted to be mean I could say that judging your English skills on the basis of your previous post doesn't give me much confidence in your abilities.

That happens when I post at 2 am.

[frankfortpost]

Is the Rosetta Stone software good for this, or does anyone know?