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.

コメント 4

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?
by Ako (2007-05-13 20:45) 

<p>Hi Ako-san! </p>
<p>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 "&#x7FFB;&#x8A33;" and "&#x30C8;&#x30E9;&#x30A4;&#x30A2;&#x30EB;" 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 "&#x533B;&#x85AC;" or "&#x7279;&#x8A31;" etc... I'm not sure whether&#xA0;it's easy or not for you to be a freelance translator but&#xA0;this job is very meaningful for me. I wish you good luck!</p>
<p>I'll visit your blog soon. Thank you!&#xA0;</p>
by Momo (2007-05-13 23:38) 

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&#xA0;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 !!
by Ako (2007-05-14 10:41) 

<p>Ako-san,</p>
<p>My pleasure! I'm glad to hear you could figure out something. If you have some questions about becoming a translator, please&#xA0;ask me anytime! :)</p>
by Momo (2007-05-14 18:07)