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I want to be a simultaneous translator... how to bring my wish into fruition?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Umka I want to be a simultaneous translator... how to bring my wish into fruition?

Practice, practice, practice.

You'll be translating English to your native language, I assume, so listen as much as possible to English, especially English that is spoken very, very fast. Say the equivalent in your language as soon as you hear the English, but keep listening to the English as you speak so you can keep translating.

When you can do at least 30 minutes of this without stopping or making any mistakes or fainting from exhaustion, you are ready to audition for a job. Approach an embassy, a corporation, the UN — whoever hires simultaneous translators — and apply for the job. As I recall, you are allowed to fail the UN audition one or two times and try again, and most people fail the audition at least once. Only one in a million people have what it takes to do this kind of work. Needless to say, it's more like being a concert pianist than like being an accountant. In other words, it is more of a performance art.

As far as I know, there are no schools that teach this skill specifically, which is why most of your practice will have to be self-directed.

Good luck!

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJimAs far as I know, there are no schools that teach this skill specifically

Some of these appear to: http://www.betranslated.com/translation-schools.html

Umka · Answer

Thank you, CalifJim!!!
So 30 minutes is my goal! I do not have native speakers around nowadays, may be I'll try to interpret some movies... :-) thank you! hopefully I'll achieve these 30 minutes soon! :-)

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonSome of these appear to

Thanks for posting the link. The OP might get some good ideas browsing through that information.

I haven't done any of the research to find out which of these might concentrate on simultaneous translation, but I suspect most of them devote 90% of their efforts toward written translation, for which there is a much greater demand.

CJ

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