Dont Just Sit There, Start Your Job as a Freelance Translator

Dont Just Sit There, Start Your Job as a Freelance Translator Among professions, translation is a complex and often underrated line of work. Finding success in the field can be pretty tough due to significant competition, especially if youre a freelancer trying to find your ground. There are no shortcuts to success, but this article will list a few pointers that may inch you closer to that goal (in no particular order):Practice your languagesAn obvious but noteworthy aspect of translation is to be well versed in the language(s) you work with. A common issue when attempting to learn a second language is a hesitance to apply it to daily life. Its critical to overcome this limitation and practice both speaking and writing until youre confident enough to seamlessly transition between languages.One helpful step is to go beyond your studies. School lessons can only take you so far; take it a step further and include the new language in your casual and social activities. For example, if you enjoy watching TV and/or videos, reading books or listening t o songs, search for similar content in the target language. If you know someone you can practice with, seize the opportunity. The Internet, in particular, is a treasure trove for virtually any type of content, and social media makes it easier than ever to engage other people on any subject and in any language. While there should always be some discretion when interacting with strangers online, it remains an option that absolutely should be taken advantage of.Keep in mind you wont master a language overnight. Depending on the language, you may need years to be minimally fluent in it. Dont be intimidated if you struggle to understand a word or phrase, and dont be discouraged if you stutter and choke on your words. Youll get better. Even if you already have experience, you can always learn something new and your command of your language(s) will show in your work.Understand localizationThis topic was briefly touched upon in a previous article about website localization, and its an integ ral part of translation work. The definition of localization, according to Dictionary.com is: To make local; fix in, or assign or restrict to, a particular place, locality, etc.In practice, localizing a translation means taking liberties to fit your content into the target languages cultural landscape. One common instance of this is with measurements (converting from imperial to metric and vice-versa, depending on the target language and country). However, it can be also required for other linguistic quirks such as proverbs, expressions, slangs, rhymes, memes, etc. In such cases, context is often lost in translation, calling for adaptations to preserve figurative interpretations. Lets look for example at this popular English phrase: Out of sight, out of mind.A Portuguese (BR) translation could substitute O que os olhos no veem, o coraà §o no sente (what the eyes dont see, the heart wont feel).The English and Portuguese versions are very close, but the latter uses the word for heart (coraà §o) instead of the word for mind (mente). However, both phrases still convey the same basic meaning (what isnt near you wont affect you).But thats an easy one. Lets try this again with something more complex: The early bird catches the worm.This English proverb doesnt seem to have a direct Portuguese counterpart, so a proper translation may not convey the subtext to Portuguese readers. In this case, one possible replacement could be: Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga (God helps those who wake up early).In this case, the wording may be completely different, but both phrases teach a similar lesson (youll be at an advantage if youre the first to do something). And since the Portuguese version is more ingrained in Brazilian culture, making this change is a valid choice. Sometimes the meaning is more important than the words themselves.That said, there may be situations in which such adaptations arent possible. This is more likely to occur with proper names, quotations and particular ly technical documents. If you find yourself in such a situation (and you likely will), one option is to simply add a footnote (marked as a Translator Note, or TN) explaining the original context.In the end, localization isnt an exact science. Due to the nature of cultural influences and human interpretation, there isnt a straight answer on how and when to take these liberties. Therefore, its very important to be culturally aware. Ask yourself questions such as: Who am I translating this for? and Can a local understand my translation? (also contact your client to clear up any doubts). Its up to each translator to decide the best course of action on a case-by-case basis, but always keep the main goal in mind: to get the intended message across.Build your careerHere is the tough part of freelancing. Dont expect immediate success; it takes time and dedication to earn credibility and develop a consumer base. Chances are youll find yourself taking a second job to make ends meet as you wo rk your way toward becoming a successful translator.Perhaps the best option for beginners is to join translation agencies and other freelancer websites. The topic was previously mentioned in this article about finding a good translator, but its worth repeating since these sites provide structure and quality control mechanisms for clients and freelancers, making them highly recommended as a means of gaining experience. Keep in mind though that these sites often have terms of service imposing conditions such as exclusivity causes and/or taking a cut of your income. Make sure to understand those conditions to avoid penalties that would limit your use of a freelancer website.Also, promote yourself. It may seem annoying when others do it, but it happens for a reason. Create a website, announce your services on social media, and hand over business cards. The key is to put your name out there, so dont be shy; be shameless. The more people you make aware of your services, the more likely yo ull get work.Finally, be patient and persevere. A successful career may take years to build. But if you keep at it long enough, youll get there before you know it.Use resourcesAlways do research as needed, and dont be afraid of using every tool at your disposal to improve your work. This includes online and physical dictionaries, search engines (a Google search takes literally one second), and even CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) tools if the option is available to you. For examples of resources you can use, please refer to this article about five useful translation tools.However, in the case of machine translations, it cant be stressed enough that you shouldnt let them become a crutch; those are only helpful on a basic level, and are generally meant for casual users with no time and/or budget to afford a human professional. Machines are incapable of understanding context (at least, at the time of writing), so the results are rarely precise. Its fine to use them as a quick refer ence, but never take the results at face value without verifying them.Another source of help can be found in dedicated translation communities. ProZ may be the largest one out there, with message boards for translators to request assistance as well as articles, guides and even job listings.Discipline yourselfAs appealing as freelancing may seem for the ability to choose your work conditions, being your own boss still means being your own boss. Treat your home as your office; determine your schedule, make it known to family and friends and stick to it. Leave no room for distractions that may hurt your productivity.Also, put value in your work. Take measures to avoid non-paying customers, such as requesting payment (or at least a fraction) upfront. Dont charge low fees if the effort is not worth it, but dont compromise quality either; good work will reflect better on you than rush jobs. Always meet your deadlines and never commit to projects beyond your ability (in case of unforeseen circumstances, contact your client immediately). Check your work before delivering it and if possible, let someone else take a look at it (youd be surprised by what can be spotted by another set of eyes). Your clients will take you seriously if you take yourself seriously.But dont think of self-respect as an excuse to bite the hand that feeds you; always treat your clients cordially, respond to their messages as soon as possible and answer any questions to the best of your ability. Be humble toward criticism, rectify any mistakes when possible and learn from them. Youll be better for it.

Amazing Strategies for Building Confidence in Teachers

Amazing Strategies for Building Confidence in Teachers Having confidence will only improve a teacher’s value as it naturally boosts their overall effectiveness. It is a key component of being successful. Students in particular quickly pick up on a lack of self-confidence and use that to tear a teacher down even further. Lacking self-confidence will eventually force a teacher to find another career. Confidence is something that cannot be faked, but it is something that can be built. Building confidence is another component of a principal’s duties. It can make all the difference in the world in how effective a teacher is. There is no perfect formula because every person has their own unique level of natural confidence. Some teachers do not require their confidence to be boosted at all while others require lots of extra attention in this area. A principal should develop and implement a strategic plan for building confidence in teachers.   The remainder of this article will highlight seven steps that can be included in such a plan. Each of these steps is simple and straightforward, but a principal must always be cognizant of implementing them on a regular basis. Express Gratitude Teachers often feel under appreciated, so showing them that you truly appreciate them can go a long ways in building confidence. Expressing gratitude is quick and easy. Make a habit of telling your teachers thank you, send a personal appreciation email, or give them something like a candy bar or other snack on occasion. These simple things will improve morale and confidence. Give them Leadership Opportunities Putting teachers who lack self-confidence in charge of something may sound disastrous, but when given the chance they will surprise you more times than they let you down. They shouldn’t be put in charge of large overwhelming tasks, but there are plenty of smaller type duties that anyone should be able to handle. These opportunities build confidence because it forces them to step outside their comfort zone and gives them a chance to be successful. Focus on the Strengths Every teacher has strengths, and every teacher has weaknesses. It is essential that you spend time praising their strengths. However, it is necessary to remember that strengths need honed and improved just as much as weaknesses. One way to build confidence is to allow them to share strategies that highlight their strengths with their colleagues in a faculty or team meeting. Another strategy is to allow them to mentor teachers who struggle in areas where they have strengths. Share Positive Parent/Student Feedback Principals should not be afraid to solicit student and parent feedback about a teacher. It will be beneficial regardless of the type of feedback you receive. Sharing the positive feedback with a teacher can truly be a confidence booster. Teachers who believe they are well respected by parents and students gain a lot of confidence. It naturally means a lot of those two groups to believe in a teacher’s abilities. Provide Suggestions for Improvement All teachers should be given a comprehensive Personal Development Plan that serves as a guide for improvement in areas of weaknesses. Most teachers want to be good at all facets of their job. Many of them are aware of their weaknesses but do not know how to fix them. This leads to a lack of self-confidence. An integral part of a principal’s job is to evaluate teachers. If there isn’t a growth and improvement component to your evaluation model, then it won’t be an effective evaluation system, and it certainly will not help build confidence. Provide Young Teachers a Mentor Everyone needs a mentor that they can model themselves after, seek advice or feedback from, and share best practices. This is especially true for young teachers. Veteran teachers make excellent mentors because they have been through the fire and seen it all. As a mentor, they can share both successes and failures. A mentor can build confidence through encouragement over a long period of time. The impact a mentor has on a teacher can span the length of several careers as the young teacher transitions into becoming a mentor themselves. Give Them Time Most teacher preparation programs do not prepare a teacher for life in a real classroom. This is where the lack of self-confidence often begins. Most teachers come in excited and fully confident only to realize that the real world is much tougher than the picture they had painted in their mind. This forces them to adjust on the fly, which can be overwhelming, and where confidence is often lost. Slowly over the course of time with assistance such as the suggestions above, most teachers will regain their confidence and begin to make the climb towards maximizing their overall effectiveness.