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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| jobbynext Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 6840 days ago 3 posts - 2 votes Speaks: Spanish*, EnglishB2 Studies: German | Message 1 of 13 02 April 2006 at 4:45am | IP Logged | |||||
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I need your help!!
Well, I have to decide where I'm going to work. I love languages so I have got a doubt. What should I do? Studying Traduction: and working with languages, I'll have the oportunity to study a lot of languages because I have all my time to study them. Studying other thing like engineer: I'll have less time to study languages, I would do it as a hobby. But languages are very useful even though you aren't a linguistic. I looking forward to your replies. Show me your opinions. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| lady_skywalker Triglot Senior Member Netherlands aspiringpolyglotblog Joined 6898 days ago 909 posts - 942 votes  Speaks: Spanish, English*, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, French, Dutch, Italian | Message 2 of 13 02 April 2006 at 5:11am | IP Logged | |||||
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I would suggest learning something like engineering but combining that with language study. Languages on their own won't get you a good job. There are very good career prospects for people who studied a technical or business degree and also have good language skills.
Translation is a nice enough job for anyone who likes languages (like myself) but it does not always pay very well and for some language combinations you may need a qualification in translation before they will hire you. This depends on where you work and what languages you want to translate from...French and German, for example, are very competitive and you will need to have as many qualifications and experience as possible. So I suggest that you study something you are interested in and see if you can also take some language classes as well. If you combine a good vocational degree with a language, then you will have much better chances of finding a good job. For example, anyone with a technical or business degree and who speaks good Mandarin can find a very good job these days! 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| InsanePenguin Senior Member Wales Joined 6879 days ago 248 posts - 248 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 3 of 13 02 April 2006 at 7:20am | IP Logged | |||||
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I also would like to work with languages, I have done a computer engineering course that is nationally recognized (nothing huge) but I do see jobs with decent money even at help centers giving support in two or more languages.
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| Steve Diglot Groupie South Africa Joined 6902 days ago 56 posts - 58 votes Speaks: English*, Afrikaans Studies: Norwegian | Message 4 of 13 02 April 2006 at 11:58am | IP Logged | |||||
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I'm currently in my third year, studying Mechanical Engineering. I have a reasonably good control of Norwegian at the moment and I've just started German. I think there's real opportunity in having a technical education in conjunction with a good knowledge of another language or two. I do, however, have very little spare time to get a lot of effective language study done due to the nature of my degree (and the amount of time I spend reading this forum). So I really think it's worthwhile, but beware, it's a challenge.
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| Lugubert Heptaglot Senior Member Sweden Joined 6875 days ago 186 posts - 235 votes Speaks: Swedish*, Danish, Norwegian, EnglishC2, German, Dutch, French Studies: Mandarin, Hindi | Message 5 of 13 02 April 2006 at 5:44pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I had a similar problem in the late 1950's. In those days, the only professions knew of for those choosing languages were language teacher or clergy. So I went for science.
Several years later, I switched from marketing, where I had landed with my M.Chem.Eng., to translations. If a young person approaches me with hopes of cooperation, telling me that (s)he has a degree in translating, I ask "Fine, and do you know anything?" To be reasonably successful in technical translations, you must know your subject. Somebody who doesn't know how a chem lab smells, will almost invariably turn out to be lethally dangerous translations if venturing into any chemical field. For example, I don't even touch the building industry in my work - I haven't the feeling for it "in my hands". I don't know all those words they use and that never will make it into a dictionary. But I know how to use different kinds of pipettes and the names for them and what to add to the text if the original text fails to recognize a possible cause for failure when somebody has to solve a problem using my translation. I'm an expert translator in my fields of knowledge. Colleagues know me, and often mail me for advice (which I freely give - this is a very friendly business), and seasoned employers agree that I'm as good as they ever get. But I'm not rich, hardly even comfortably well to do. To reach those levels, a keen sense of business, a competitive spirit and no other interests would be required. I hope that I've given some realistic aspects of the trade. Don't get disencouraged, though. There will be few trades where you will get such a variety of challenges: this week, an advertisement for sewing yarn, that week, a treatise on a stuck valve in a nuclear reactor, then again a manual for a blood glucose meter. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Clintaroo Diglot Senior Member Australia Joined 6879 days ago 189 posts - 201 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: Tagalog, Indonesian | Message 6 of 13 03 April 2006 at 1:04am | IP Logged | |||||
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I have to agree that languages as a sole qualification won't particularly land a good/well-paying job. My university course (International Studies) actually has a very useful compulsory LOTE stream. And, if you have a high enough level of language profiency in a particular language, you can actually combine a translating/interpreting certificate with your university degree. The language classes are the most enjoyable part of my degree, but I know that without some other form of qualification, I won't necessarily find a great job.
My brother, who holds a Mechanical Engineering degree, has a pretty good command of German after working in Germany for a year. He would certainly have an edge in dealing with German automotive companies. Edited by Clintaroo on 03 April 2006 at 7:33am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| jobbynext Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 6840 days ago 3 posts - 2 votes Speaks: Spanish*, EnglishB2 Studies: German | Message 7 of 13 03 April 2006 at 12:46pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Hi everybody again! Thanks for your replies but I want to continue discussing about this subjet.
Most of you agree that languages on their own are worthless. You should use it as a "secondary tool" and also as a hobby (I think all of you have this hobby) But I feel that if I start to study Computer engineer (or Telecommunications) I won't have enough time to develop my language skills. I will be so busy that I won't be able to study languages. Do you think so? Are languages apart from a tool your hobby? If you are currently working, Do you find the necessary time to study languages? Is it a challenge? I think that's why I am considering/ I considered to study translation for fear of failing in this challenge. I keep looking forward to your replies. Thanks in advance! 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7023 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 8 of 13 03 April 2006 at 4:41pm | IP Logged | |||||
I don't! There are many things that can be gained by learning another language, not least of which is the language itself.
Do you mean working in a full-time job? If so, then the answer to your second question is a resounding YES! However, learning a language with a full-time job becomes a walk in the park compared to learning one with small children. Try it someday...you'll be pleasantly surprised how much you don't progress. Sometimes I wish I was back at university since that's where I had the most time to study languages and I didn't since there were too many other "activities" to distract me! 1 person has voted this message useful |
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