| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Which languages are the most promising ones? Thread poster: Roman Lutz
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| We must not forget | May 11, 2010 |
This is an awfully competitive market. There are very capable, hard-working people out there who are doing work that could be yours. In order to stand out and be seen by potential customers in a crowded space you must:
1. Improve your marketing skills
2. Constantly improve your knowledge in translation and your languages
3. Always offer all customers a solution that ticks all the boxes (deadline, flexibility, productivity tools, quick response)
Each of these areas ... See more This is an awfully competitive market. There are very capable, hard-working people out there who are doing work that could be yours. In order to stand out and be seen by potential customers in a crowded space you must:
1. Improve your marketing skills
2. Constantly improve your knowledge in translation and your languages
3. Always offer all customers a solution that ticks all the boxes (deadline, flexibility, productivity tools, quick response)
Each of these areas requires a number of actions actions. You should probably research how to improve in all of them. Many translator associations offer information and courses about marketing skills. Many training centers offer courses you can do in order to become a better professional and seek further certification. Aspects as deadline, flexibility, tools, etc. are things you should research one by one.
Unless you interiorise this and take immediate and long-term action in these areas, learning a new language will be a futile exercise in my opinion. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Colin Ryan (X) 
Local time: 21:03
Italian to English
+ ...
I asked this same question on a previous thread, which I can't be bothered to go and link to, and the outcome was that I decided to learn Dutch, simply as a business venture.
My reasoning was flawless:
- I would only have to learn to READ Dutch, not speak, listen to or write it, as your average Dutch client (esp. agencies) would deal with me in English
- Lots in common with German, except it's more regular
- Standard of living in the Netherlands is uniformly high,... See more I asked this same question on a previous thread, which I can't be bothered to go and link to, and the outcome was that I decided to learn Dutch, simply as a business venture.
My reasoning was flawless:
- I would only have to learn to READ Dutch, not speak, listen to or write it, as your average Dutch client (esp. agencies) would deal with me in English
- Lots in common with German, except it's more regular
- Standard of living in the Netherlands is uniformly high, therefore the work would be well paid
- I'm interested in big ships, windmills and tulips
Hence, I should learn Dutch. QED.
Did I learn Dutch? No.
I found some better paying clients in Italian and French (my languages) instead.
The other posters are right: it's your business skills you need to improve... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:03
Flemish to English
+ ...
| Languages of interest. | May 11, 2010 |
With the combination Chinese>German, you run the risk that it will be "made in China", meaning by an agency, say in Shenzen, which pays (low) Chinese rates.
Of course, you can have Chinese as language of interest, not as working language.
A better profile and local niche marketing could lead to better results.
I have some languages of interest, but don't find time to study them.
With some languages like Russian, Japanese and Chinese, it is better to master... See more With the combination Chinese>German, you run the risk that it will be "made in China", meaning by an agency, say in Shenzen, which pays (low) Chinese rates.
Of course, you can have Chinese as language of interest, not as working language.
A better profile and local niche marketing could lead to better results.
I have some languages of interest, but don't find time to study them.
With some languages like Russian, Japanese and Chinese, it is better to master the "alphabet" first. It will easy studying those languages a lot.
I don't agree with some that a passive knowledge (I only have to READ) is enough to translate from one language into the other or is it? ▲ Collapse
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