No qualification or experience: how to start?
Thread poster: Kinga Szabo
Kinga Szabo
Kinga Szabo
Local time: 16:17
English to Hungarian
Nov 13, 2010

hello,
I am a complete beginner, I don't have any qualification or experience but I would really like to learn to translate (English Hungarian) and eventually work in this field. Could anybody help me how I should start? I live in London.
Many thanks,
Kinga


 
Edward Vreeburg
Edward Vreeburg  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 17:17
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Get en education - stay in school - just say "no" Nov 13, 2010

It would be wise to get an education in translation (not needed if you are a professional in some kind of field (anything! from professional backeries to oil rigging)...

Get as much training as possible

Perhaps do a couple of translations for good causes

And just say "no" to any rediculously low offers by agencies, just because you are a student / beginner...

Good luck - you are going to need it!
Ed


PS any idea why you
... See more
It would be wise to get an education in translation (not needed if you are a professional in some kind of field (anything! from professional backeries to oil rigging)...

Get as much training as possible

Perhaps do a couple of translations for good causes

And just say "no" to any rediculously low offers by agencies, just because you are a student / beginner...

Good luck - you are going to need it!
Ed


PS any idea why you want to move into translation - most people do it for the love of the language, any other reason (like earning a lot of money, working from home, etc... start looking for a better alternative)

[Edited at 2010-11-13 14:56 GMT]
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Andreas Majetic
Andreas Majetic  Identity Verified
Sweden
Member (2010)
English to Swedish
Why? Nov 13, 2010

most people do it for the love of the language, any other reason (like earning a lot of money, working from home, etc... start looking for a better alternative)

There might be several reasons to why people decide to start translating for a living you know.


 
Russell Jones
Russell Jones  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:17
Italian to English
Wrong place Nov 13, 2010

This thread belongs in the "Getting Established" forum -
http://www.proz.com/forum/getting_established-15.html
which is an enormous source of information for you Kinga.


 
Kinga Szabo
Kinga Szabo
Local time: 16:17
English to Hungarian
TOPIC STARTER
thanks Nov 16, 2010

Thanks for your comments. I just would like to learn and I am collecting ideas. Thanks.

[Edited at 2010-11-16 21:41 GMT]


 
Elodie Bonnafous
Elodie Bonnafous
France
Local time: 17:17
Member (2009)
German to French
+ ...
First, get a qualification Nov 23, 2010

Before you do anything, you definitely follow translation courses !

 
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
I'm sorry if that's been your experience, Edward... Nov 23, 2010

Edward Vreeburg wrote:
PS any idea why you want to move into translation - most people do it for the love of the language, any other reason (like earning a lot of money, working from home, etc... start looking for a better alternative)

[Edited at 2010-11-13 14:56 GMT]


Lots of translators, myself included, do it because they make good money and work from home. If you've got the right skills, this is a very good career.


 
Kinga Szabo
Kinga Szabo
Local time: 16:17
English to Hungarian
TOPIC STARTER
where to study Nov 24, 2010

I would very much like to study (because I love the language AND I would like to earn some money). But I haven't been able to find a course in England in my language pair (English-Hungarian). If anybody knows about one, please let me know.

 


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