[Ramza Beoulve]

So, I'm thinking about going back to university to become a language interpreter/translator. I'm not really big on spending the next four years taking loads of courses that probably wont help me. So, from experience, is it better to go to school for language mastery, or is it better to learn on your own/through immersion etc? I want to be able to make a career of it, so I can travel and move around if need be. Any thoughts?

Also, being in debt would not be cool. -.-

This post has been edited by Ramza Beoulve: 06 February 2012 - 11:56 AM

[Stormy-chan]

Everyone is different, what you should ask is what works for you If you have the self discipline to learn on your own, then that would certainly save you some money. I personally am an interactive learner for language so it is hard to learn a foreign language with out someone to help me. Even then I find it trying at times Since you wish to make a career out of it I would research what you need to make that a viable option as in Certificates or such showing you know and can express yourself in said language(s). Then see if there are online or local places you can go to study if needed and pass the required exams or what not.

I wish you luck and happy learning!

[TaiyakiOni]

A combination of the two isnt a bad idea. I took languages in college and then tried as hard as I could to immerse myself in them. Its hard with certain languages depending on your region. I sometimes to talk ro myself in different languages and watch foreign flicks without subtitles to test myself. I swear to you I am quite sane

[Voxx]

I would say a mix between full immersion and have a formal language class. You can pick up learning the language better when you go abroad, but you won't really learn how to write the language that way. If you want to be an interpreter, I'm sure you will need to take some sort of class. A formal class, however, will teach you the proper way to speak the language, how to write it correctly, and use proper grammar. A mix of these two would be ideal so you know how to speak the language and write it.

I took Spanish and French in high school and continued French in college. Now I'm learning German. What language are you thinking about being an interpreter for?

[basili1250]

Having taken 3 classes in Italian then studying abroad in Italy, I will tell you it didn't help much due to the high level of casual dialogue and slang that is used when actually speaking the language. My vote is full immersion with self-teaching because classes can make you learn at faster paces than you should be. Going slowly allows you to take your time and keep up personal interest.

Number one thing that made me hate studying italian was that we were going too fast...but I hope you do what you need more so than what others tell you when it comes to learning!! Good luck

[Rori]

Probably a combination of both is best.

When I minored in Japanese, some of the lower level classes were kind of uninteresting and repetitive (I skipped a level because I decided to study some on my own), but the higher level courses were really interesting and useful.

And as with all languages, "if you don't use it, you lose it." So that is where the immersion would come in handy.

[Ramza Beoulve]

All very good answers. Fortunately, I retain most of what I learn in language pretty well. I'm not sure. Probably Spanish and Polish. I've studied other languages on my own and with the help of foreign friends as well. I've even tutored English to Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean and latin American folks. One guy didn't even know ANY English. I had to work with him for him to figure things out. It was a challenge but pretty fun (he spoke Algerian French). I think Spanish and Polish would be essential, because Spanish is widely used in the Americas as well as in Spain. Also, if I wanted to go to Europe Polish would help me because there are a lot of Polish immigrants in the UK now.

Also, I am partly Polish and from Chicago...so anyone from here knows there are a lot of Polish people here, that speak Polish. I took Spanish in Grade School and HS.

This post has been edited by Ramza Beoulve: 07 February 2012 - 05:34 PM

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Well immersion is ALWAYS the best way to learn a language. But if you want to get a formal interpreting job, you might need an actual college degree--and especially in our bad economy you need to look different and look more presentable to prove "you have education." It gives you the higher chances of getting a position. Just something to think about. Good luck!!!! You can dooooo it!!

[Ramza Beoulve]

GITS SAC Motoko, on 08 February 2012 - 12:02 AM, said:

Well immersion is ALWAYS the best way to learn a language. But if you want to get a formal interpreting job, you might need an actual college degree--and especially in our bad economy you need to look different and look more presentable to prove "you have education." It gives you the higher chances of getting a position. Just something to think about. Good luck!!!! You can dooooo it!!

Look different/presentable? o.o I am not a rumiant. ;D

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Ramza Beoulve, on 08 February 2012 - 03:15 PM, said:

Look different/presentable? o.o I am not a rumiant. ;D

;D well I meant is as you look educated so people will hire you, lol. But good luck though I know you will succeed .

[ATICE]

It doesn't matter if you're in a class or at home, you have to have the want and the motivation to learn a language.

I know of some very good books that have helped me a lot with a few languages...

http://www.amazon.co...28950165&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co...28950223&sr=8-6

[Ramza Beoulve]

ATICE, on 11 February 2012 - 02:50 AM, said:

It doesn't matter if you're in a class or at home, you have to have the want and the motivation to learn a language.

I know of some very good books that have helped me a lot with a few languages...

http://www.amazon.co...28950165&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co...28950223&sr=8-6

Its not that I have any difficulty learning languages. My concern was whether or not being self-taught or alternative methods for being taught were good enough to find work in the field of interpretation/translation. Teaching, may be a different story altogether. I'd have to take teaching courses as well.

[LadyTennant]

using both is key. any masters program in language requires immersion study abroad in addition to classes

[KayatoKun]

I'd say both would be best. I've been teaching myself Japanese for 5 years and I'm still not fluent because I cannot immerse myself. Depending on the language you want to learn I'd say to go to University for it because not only will you be formally taught the language but almost always they offer to study abroad.

[Ramza Beoulve]

KayatoKun, on 26 March 2012 - 04:48 AM, said:

I'd say both would be best. I've been teaching myself Japanese for 5 years and I'm still not fluent because I cannot immerse myself. Depending on the language you want to learn I'd say to go to University for it because not only will you be formally taught the language but almost always they offer to study abroad.

I got some Rosetta stone CDs

[chompzie]

Interpretation is very different from regular translating (text-based) and I would recommend taking at least certificate courses specializing in interpretation. Real-time interpretation is one of the hardest things for a brain to do (interpreters for the UN only work in 15-minute shifts as their brains are fried by the end).

Rosetta Stone and self-taught courses may be good in the beginning but to become a good interpreter you will need to immerse yourself in the language and take interpretation courses/get certified.

Translating is easier, you have time to sit down and work out how to best translate. You can use resources. Translators usually (but not always) only translate in one direction.

Interpreters must translate both ways, do so orally, in real-time without references.

If you just want to do translation, self-teaching will be fine (until you need to get fluent). If you really want to be an interpreter, I'd seriously consider looking into colleges or certificate programs near you. A lot of private colleges also offer substantial amounts of financial aid. If I was going to a public school I'd be paying double out of pocket what I'm paying now AND be in more debt after I graduate. As it is I am in a private, accredited, well-respected University paying $800 a semester and will graduate with less than $12,000 in student loans.

It's something to consider.

I used to want to be an interpreter, so I did a lot of research a few years ago on the topic. Now I'm gonna be a Global Studies major/Asian studies minor studying Chinese, Japanese, and German... to be some sort of international guest liaison or something idk. I just know I want to travel and that I'm going to have to go abroad to China and Japan before graduating to fully immerse myself (study abroad required for both programs I'm in).

[myrla]

I'm self teaching myself Portuguese (after 6 years of Spanish in HS/College), and my reading and writing is awesome, and my accent is good, but my spoken dialogue is very slow. I subscribe to papers online in Portuguese, I follow Portuguese football, and so I watch the games in Portuguese.

It depends on what works for you. I am still trying to take classes, but doing a lot on my own is helping.