Those wishing to enter a university as an interpreter definitely need to take the exam in Russian, mathematics and a foreign language. And in addition to this, social science and geography. But each specific university exposes its disciplines, so check in advance.
Interesting, but also unusual difficult profession interpreter! And wherever you work in this specialty: at the embassy, firm, editorial office, or at home - only one misinterpretation of the phrase, or keyword, can lead not only to confusion, but even to an international scandal! And who is responsible? Of course, on the direct participant in the linguistic process - the translator.
On this occasion, I remembered the film by Leonid Gaidai Ivan Vasilievich changes his professionquot ;, and the words of the hero Savely Kramarov Feofan:
Of course, the punishments of the time of Ivan the Terrible, thank God, have long sunk into oblivion, and it is unlikely that a connoisseur of languages will be held accountable at all, but he can definitely lose his job, as well as his good name.
In order to become an interpreter in Ukraine, you must pass the UPE in the following subjects: Ukrainian language and literature, plus a specialized foreign language, as well as, depending on the university, the history of Ukraine or world literature.
Successful passing of examinations!
The first step for admission to the faculty foreign languages confirmation of knowledge of a foreign language is required, then knowledge of the native language (Russian in the Russian Federation), literature and history. In principle, the usual set for a humanitarian university.
To enter the faculties of linguistics, it is necessary to pass the exam in Russian, English, as well as in literature or history. But you'd better check directly with your university. The list of disciplines may vary depending on the university.
To enter the linguistic faculty of a university, it is necessary to pass a mandatory state exam in the foreign language that you want to enter (German, English, French), in your native language (in the Russian Federation - Russian, most likely - essay), history and literature. Different universities may have special requirements that should be clarified directly where you want to go.
For admission to the Faculty of Foreign Languages, mainly humanitarian disciplines are surrendered: the state language and literature, a foreign language, and history are required. I have not heard about other disciplines required for this specialty.
You can work as a translator after graduating from the Faculty of Philology. Some universities have a specialty, which is called: Translationquot ;. In order to enter there in Ukraine, you must pass the following exams of the External Independent Assessment (EIA):
Now the profession of a translator is not the highest paid, but you certainly will not be left without a job. And if you choose Chinese philology, then your earnings will be higher.
I only know about Ukrainian universities. They rent a profile foreign (let's say English language), Ukrainian and literature and history of Ukraine. But not all universities have to take history. In most universities it is English and Ukrainian.
I dare to suggest that in Russia it is English (or another profiling), Russian and literature and history of Russia.
In the Russian Federation, at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, I once passed the Russian language (essay), literature, history, a foreign language, a mandatory interview in a foreign language. There are periodic changes, then they will remove the exam in literature, then they will return it again.
In order to become a translator, you first need to know well at least some foreign language (preferably English), since one of the main disciplines when passing exams for the faculty of a foreign language is precisely English, a also state, after that there are already additional disciplines, which in each university where you enter are your own, which is better to learn directly at the institution itself in order to avoid unnecessary inconsistencies. I will say that given profession quite promising, therefore it is always in demand and there is a tough selection, therefore it is better to make efforts so that the work pays off in the future.
A translator can sit all his life in a small, stuffy office, translating pages of other people's documents for notarization, or he can help countries' leaders communicate at important negotiations. The specialist performs essential function It helps people communicate and understand each other.
Without them, we would never have read the works of foreign-language writers, we would not have watched foreign films, we would not have learned about what is happening outside our country as a whole. But far from every employee's work is appreciated – only 15% of translators are satisfied with their salaries. Is it worth dedicating your life to this profession? Where to study as a translator, what to be prepared for and how to build a career? Let's talk in detail.
History of the profession
Profession, albeit not in modern form has existed since ancient times. Then representatives of different peoples spoke one more language, in addition to their native language. The key function of these "specialists" was the translation of speech and written messages. Usually translators were used in negotiations or when announcing the will of a foreign-speaking ruler of a certain territory. Often these were people captured during wars. AT ancient Russia translators were called interpreters. Presumably, their role was determined at the time of the beginning of the dialogue between the Russian principalities and the Turkic tribes.
The significance of the interpreters was strengthened during the time of the vassal dependence of the Russian principalities on the Golden Horde - the collection of tribute and governorship required knowledge of the Turkic language. In this regard, the position becomes official, and many translators go to the service of a prince or khan.
Who is a translator and what is his responsibility
A translator is a person who translates an oral or written text into another language. A professional who simply knows a foreign language is distinguished by the absence of the right to make a mistake and the ability to correctly present information (correspond to the speed of the speaker's speech, avoid long pauses, and so on). Remember the dozens of incidents that occurred in the negotiations of the same politicians due to the mistakes of translators. The same "overload" in relations between Russia and the United States (instead of "reset").
Key responsibilities of a specialist:
- Translation of scientific and fiction, press, patent descriptions, specialized documents and other materials.
- Performing translations of oral and written texts ensuring their full compliance with the semantic, lexical and stylistic content of the original.
- Editing translations of other specialists.
- Preparation of documentation and all kinds of texts in a foreign language in accordance with officially accepted standards.
- Scientific work on the unification of terms and the improvement of translation technologies.
The scope of duties may expand or narrow depending on the qualifications of the employee, his experience and place of work. But the requirements for skills remain unchanged: a professional must not only be fluent in the language, but also observe job descriptions. For example, to have a well-delivered speech, an excellent memory for simultaneous translation, high speed print and so on.
It is necessary to constantly develop - each language lives and changes, new slang words, new trends appear in it.
If a specialist does not improve his skills, then in 1-2 years of “idle” he may completely lose his skills.
Where can a specialist work?
Translation agency. At least 50% of university graduates work in specialized bureaus that provide oral and written translations from foreign languages. Customers of the organization can be individuals and legal entities, institutions and government structures. Bureaus mainly perform written translations - these are documents (in particular, preparing for a notarial statement), academic work, books and magazines, letters, articles and much more.
Private organizations. Here, specialists work for many customers, but in the interests of one company. Only 1-2% of organizations can afford to maintain a staff of translators - usually 1-2 people who perform a wide range of tasks. They go to negotiations, translate business correspondence, technical literature and documentation, prepare appeals and papers for negotiations with foreign partners or customers, carry out information support clients from foreign countries.
State structures. Specialists work in public institutions or collaborate with them on individual projects. Example: the regional administration is building partnerships with investors, say, from the Czech Republic. They need translators with knowledge of the Czech language on a permanent basis, as the workload is large and the workload is regular. Another example: from the same Czech Republic, a delegation of, say, athletes comes to the region to participate in some event. In this case, a translator with knowledge of the Czech language will be required for a one-time, project work.
Publishers and studios. Thousands of books, films, series and song lyrics are translated every year. Work in publishing houses, film studios, production centers and similar companies requires knowledge of the specifics of the literary language and modern slang from a specialist. Surely you have noticed how the quality of translation varies, for example, of the same series in different studios. This is not about voice acting, but about vocabulary. Here, not only the clarity of the content depends on the translator, but also the pleasure received by the listener, viewer, reader from the oral or written text.
Freelance. According to unofficial statistics, at least 10% of total number alumni educational institutions in Russia they constantly work in freelance mode. They find regular customers, collaborate on projects with organizations and institutions, or look for work on popular freelance exchanges. The key advantage of this regime is absolute freedom, the ability to independently build a schedule and regulate income. The main disadvantage is the absence of any guarantees, in particular stable payment and fulfillment by the customer of the terms of the contract.
Where to study to be a translator? TOP-5 universities
The best choice would be a linguistic (language) university. You can start your education in college and eventually continue it by enrolling in a university on an accelerated program.
Diploma of higher education gives preferences in employment, being an indicator of the quality of training.
However, the key argument in your favor for the employer is work experience and qualifications. You will have to raise it throughout your career. And the better the knowledge gained during the training, the better. Therefore, it is worth trying to enter the best university available to you.
TOP-5 linguistic universities in Russia:
- Moscow State University Lomonosov.
- St. Petersburg State University.
- MGIMO.
- Moscow Linguistic University.
- Russian State University. Kosygin.
The choice of university is milestone in the career of a translator, but not decisive.
Provincial graduates educational institutions, far from the top of the rankings, can build a successful career. But in the course of self-training, they will have to do much more than students of elite universities. Moreover, you will not get the most valuable connections that graduates of prestigious universities “acquire” during their studies and which help them with employment.
An excellent solution would be admission to master's programs in foreign universities. This opportunity is worth taking advantage of not only for bachelors who want to emigrate, but also for graduates who want to succeed in a career as a translator. The opportunity to study a language in depth for several years in a country where it is official is an invaluable experience. It will help you reach the top and become an important item on your resume. You can also start: approve scholarships and grants from foreign universities that offer, in fairness, free education. The procedure for admission and registration of documents is quite complicated, but it's worth it.
What qualities do you need to have
- Excellent memory. One of the basic requirements for in-depth study of any language. If you are forgetful, then you should be ready to put a lot of effort into developing memory.
- Logical thinking. It is not enough to remember individual words and phrases - it is necessary to understand its logic, features of vocabulary and word formation. Developed logical thinking will become the basis for understanding grammar, slang expressions.
- perseverance. The work of a translator can hardly be called exciting - usually it is associated with many hours of sedentary work behind piles of foreign texts.
- Stress tolerance. It is especially important for simultaneous translations, when you are under constant tension, trying to synchronize your speech with the speaker's speech.
- Attentiveness. Each mistake can lead to the distortion of huge blocks of text. History knows a lot of examples of breakdowns in negotiations or, say, unsuccessful film rentals due to inaccuracies in translations.
The relevance of the profession of a translator and its prospects
Key confrontations are unfolding in the IT fields. Many experts say that in the near future the trainee artificial intelligence can completely replace a live translator. However, the developers themselves are cautious about such prospects. Most of them speak of such a possibility as a rather distant reality.
According to analytical data, in the next 20-30 years, machines will not be able to replace the work of translators even by 15%. At the same time, the specialists themselves are happy to use new developments, professional software - it really helps in their work. If you liked the presentation of the profession at the Day open doors at a university or if you write an essay on the topic: “My future profession– translator”, then you can safely follow your dream.
Pros and cons of the profession of a translator
This specialty is suitable for people who love complex, stressful, orderly work. There are no risks, threats to life and health. It is difficult for a translator to get work injury in physical terms. But to shake the psyche and bring yourself to hysteria as a result of constant stress and the burden of responsibility is quite real.
pros profession translator:
- Relevance of the specialty . This is a sought-after profession, and even university graduates, as a rule, do not encounter a lack of vacancies. The only exceptions are rare, in particular endangered languages.
- Plenty of job opportunities . You can work in an ordinary translation agency, in private companies and government agencies, you can translate books, films and series, you can accompany tourists or even stay freelance.
- prospects career development . All in your hands! If you are constantly developing, continue to learn the language throughout your life, do not “pickle” yourself in one job and are not afraid of change, you have every chance of succeeding.
- Fairly high salaries . They cannot be compared with the income of top managers in oil companies, but compared to the national average they are high. Moreover, with experience and advanced training, you will be able to qualify for a salary increase.
- A real opportunity to emigrate . Translators especially often use special programs, graduate from master's programs abroad, receive grants and scholarships from foreign universities, as they are fluent in the language and successfully pass tests.
Minuses profession translator:
- Difficult and responsible work . Most specialists are in constant tension, feel the burden of responsibility and often suffer from stress.
- The need for continuous development . Only 1-2 years without practice (for example, during the period maternity leave) and you "drop out" of the profession. The language is changing very quickly and you have to constantly improve your skills.
- monotonous labor . Wherever you work, you will constantly deal with large volumes of text - written or oral. There are no surprises to be expected.
- Low salary at the start of a career . University graduates, even with 1-2 years of work experience, can rarely get a well-paid job.
If you love languages, if you are ready to dedicate your life to establishing communication and linguistic connection between people, this profession is for you. If you want something more dynamic and exciting, and you go to a linguistic university only because of the prospect of a high salary, you will hate your job with all your heart. Before admission, we recommend that you analyze all the pros and cons in advance, and then make an informed choice.
How much do translators in Russia earn
According to analytics services, average salary Russian translator is 34.7 thousand rubles. At the same time, there are significant differences between the average salaries in the regions. Most of all, specialists from Moscow (42 thousand rubles), St. Petersburg (38 thousand rubles) and Vladivostok (36 thousand rubles) receive. Salaries differ not only in regions, but also in organizations - the maximum in private companies, the minimum - in public institutions.
Translators can look forward to significant growth in their careers wages. For 5 years of work, it is realistic to increase your income by 10-15 thousand rubles. Do not forget that the amount of wages depends on the relevance of the language. In some cases, specialists with knowledge of rare languages receive large fees, but usually cooperate with them only within the framework of individual projects. The highest earners are translators who specialize in English, German, French and Arabic.
Interpreter - general concept professionals involved in the translation of oral or writing from one language to another. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages and Russian language and literature (see the choice of profession for interest in school subjects).
There are several explanations for where the different languages came from. For example, the Bible describes the legend about the Tower of Babel. According to this tradition, God confused the languages of the builders of the tower because of their desire to surpass him and excessive pride. People ceased to understand each other and dispersed around the globe without completing the construction of the tower, which was supposed to reach the heavens.
There is an explanation in the difference in the language of people and from a scientific point of view. Even in prehistoric times, people began to speak different languages due to disunity due to the mountains, deserts and oceans located between them. Languages were formed in different tribes in isolation, one tribe communicated little with others. The greater the degree of geographical isolation, the more distinct the language. On the plains, where it is easier to move around, individual languages occupy very large spaces (Russian, for example). But whatever the background, there has long been a need for people who know more than one native language.
Most modern people not only know their own language, but can also speak a foreign language to some extent. Tourism is actively developing, and with it there is a need to communicate with foreigners, to understand at least superficially the language of the country you are going to. Most often, the population learns English, which is increasingly taking the place of the universal language of international communication.
But for professional translation, competent, prompt and clear, people with special education and experience are needed. Such specialists are called translators. In a general sense, translators are divided into oral and written.
An important quality of an interpreter is the ability to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and partnership. The specialist must understand that the success of the ongoing negotiations largely depends on him. He must help find mutual language people with different cultures, mentality and understanding business in different ways.
There are two types interpreters- sequential and synchronous.
A consecutive interpreter is indispensable in business negotiations, at events where some of the participants speak one language, and some speak another. In such cases, the speaker makes his speech with small stops so that the interpreter can formulate the phrase in the language of the listeners.
Simultaneous translation- the most difficult type of translation. Such translation is carried out with the help of specialized equipment for simultaneous translation. A simultaneous interpreter must speak a foreign language almost better than his native language. The complexity of the profession lies in the need to quickly understand and translate what is heard, and sometimes speak at the same time as the speaker. The most valued are specialists who are able to build competent and informative sentences that do not allow pauses in their speech.
Translators can be engaged in the translation of technical, legal, fiction, business documents. Nowadays, more and more professionals are using modern technologies(for example, electronic dictionaries). Such a special software for translators will help increase its productivity by up to 40%.
Technical translators work with technical texts containing special scientific and technical information. Distinctive features of such a translation are accuracy, impersonality and unemotionality. There are many terms of Greek or Latin origin in the texts. The grammar of technical translations is specific and contains well-established grammatical norms (for example, indefinitely personal and impersonal constructions, passive phrases, impersonal forms of the verb). The types of technical translation include full written translation (the main form of technical translation), abstract translation (the content of the translated text is compressed), abstract translation, translation of headings and oral technical translation(for example, to train employees to work on foreign equipment).
Legal translation aimed at translating specific texts related to the field of law. This transfer is used to exchange professional information associated with the socio-political and cultural characteristics of the country. In this regard, the language of legal translation should be extremely accurate, clear and reliable.
Legal translation can be divided into several types:
- translation of laws, regulations and their drafts;
- translation of agreements (contracts);
- translation of legal opinions and memorandums;
- translation of notarial certificates and apostilles (a special sign that certifies signatures, the authenticity of a stamp or seal);
- translation constituent documents legal entities;
- translation of powers of attorney.
Fiction translator- a specialist in the translation of literary texts. He must, in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of a foreign language, be well versed in literature, master the word at a high level, be able to convey the style and style of the author of the translated work. There are many examples when recognized masters of the word (V. Zhukovsky, B. Pasternak, A. Akhmatova, S. Marshak, etc.) were engaged in translations. Their translations are works of art in themselves.
Required professional skills and knowledge
- perfect command of one or more foreign languages;
- competent Russian;
- good knowledge of technical terminology, both in the source language and in the target language (especially relevant for technical translators);
- deep knowledge of literature and literary editing skills (for translators of fiction);
- knowledge of the characteristics of language groups;
- the desire to improve knowledge of a foreign language every day.
Personal qualities
- linguistic abilities;
- high level of analytical thinking;
- the ability to store a large amount of information;
- accuracy, patience, attentiveness;
- high level of erudition;
- fast reaction;
- the ability to concentrate, to be attentive;
- sociability;
- verbal abilities (the ability to coherently and extremely clearly express one's thoughts, a rich vocabulary, well-delivered speech);
- high efficiency;
- courtesy, tact.
Pros and cons of the profession
Pros:
- the possibility of implementation in different areas (written translation, simultaneous interpreter, translation of films, books, magazines, etc.);
- a person who speaks a foreign language can find a very prestigious and highly paid job;
- there is an opportunity to communicate with people of different countries and cultures;
- high probability of business trips and travel.
Minuses
- in different months, the volume of transfers can vary several times, hence the unstable download;
- often translators are paid not upon delivery of the material, but when payment comes from the customer.
Place of work
- press centers, radio and television centers;
- international funds;
- travel companies;
- ministries of foreign affairs, consulates;
- book publishers, mass media;
- translation agency;
- museums and libraries;
- hotel business;
- international firms, companies;
- international associations and associations;
- international funds.
In this article, I will tell you where it is better to study the profession of a translator - in state universities or in courses. Or maybe there are some other options?
I myself graduated from the translation department of NSLU, and then I also created my own courses for translators. So I have a completely objective idea of the pros and cons of both options.
And let's start with the classic option - training as an interpreter in universities.
Training as an interpreter at a state university
I must confess to you honestly - now the profession of an interpreter has changed a lot. Before, in Soviet times it was clean military profession. That is why girls were not taken to the translation faculties to study.
That is, there 100% of the students were guys. And now it's the other way around. If you go to any perfak, you will see that 98% of the students there are girls. Now a translator is a person who sits at a computer and translates instructions and legal documents. No romance =)
Another interesting fact for entry - after graduating from the Faculty of Translation, only 5-7% of graduates work as translators. The rest do something - they teach English, open their own business, retrain as dentists.
This happens because the training program at the translation faculties is very outdated. They mostly continue to write translations by hand in notebooks. There are still very old teaching materials.
Disadvantages of public education
When I studied at the perfak, we did technical translation from magazines from the 60s. But these materials were approved "from above", and all training program built on them.
The next disadvantage of formal training is that you are not taught how to work with a computer. Today, a translator simply has to be very good at at least the Word program. But by default, it is believed that today everyone has a computer at home, and everyone can do something in the Word themselves.
But in fact, this is not enough. Creating a document, printing text there is not enough. You need to be able to format the text on the fly, draw up images in translation, and do all this without unnecessary characters, with a clean layout. 100% of graduates do not know how to do this. Because it is a separate professional discipline.
Why 95% of Translation Graduates Can't Find a Job
If returning to educational materials, graduates of translation faculties are very surprised when they find out what a translation assignment actually looks like. They get used to translating texts of 5-10 paragraphs, where everything is written in good English (or whatever?) Language.
And they have 2-3 days to translate this piece of text, so that they can analyze it long and hard in class together with the teacher.
In reality, everything is much tougher.
You are given 10 pages of terrible quality text. There in half of the places it is generally impossible to make out the text. And often there is no text as such. There are some drawings, and inside the drawings there are small icons with which it is not clear what to do.
And the worst thing is the words with which these texts are written. These words are simply not in any dictionary of the world. Or because this is a new industry and the terms arose only yesterday. Or because the author himself invented them. Or sealed up. Or the text was written in English by a person for whom English is not native, and he simply inserted the wrong words, because he does not know the correct ones.
And add here the fact that you only have a day to translate these 10 pages.
This is where 95% of graduates “merge”. Because their life did not prepare them for this. And I should have. And the remaining 5% merge when they find out what pennies they will be paid if they still cope with this text.
Let's be honest with ourselves. At the translation faculties today, unfortunately, they do not prepare for the profession of an interpreter. This is not just a problem for perfs. 95% of graduates across the country work outside their specialty for about the same reasons. But translation has its advantages.
What is actually taught in translation?
Speaking quite frankly, today only foreign languages are taught at the translation faculties. This is not to be taken away. If you enroll in translation, in 3 years you will perfectly learn at least two foreign languages.
I still remember how we passed translation tests. First, we were forbidden to use dictionaries. Which is already strange, because the main skill of a translator is precisely the ability to use dictionaries.
Secondly, we had to translate dozens of terms from memory. Just single words. That is, we were taught not to translate, but to memorize the correct words. And it gave its results. We have learned a foreign language. But this has nothing to do with the profession of a translator.
Why do people go to public universities
Perhaps you, my dear reader, are now at that tender age when it seems that you have to study at a university in order to get a diploma and then a job. But here I will disappoint you. A translation diploma will never give you any job.
You will come to get a job as an interpreter - and you will be asked for work experience, not a diploma. In general, after graduation, I got my diploma only two or three times. I needed this in order to be a translator at a notary.
But if I didn’t have a diploma, I could have passed with a school certificate. I tell you this in all seriousness. I personally brought our Ukrainian, Uzbek and other translators to the notary, who had only a school certificate, where it was written that they studied Russian at school. And that was enough for the notary to agree to certify their translator's signature.
All this, of course, is sad, but there are also positive aspects.
"Career" of graduates of translation faculties
One of these moments is that the majority of perf students are not going to work as translators at all =)
As I wrote above, the main contingent at translation faculties today are girls. And they come for translation with a very clear goal - to learn a foreign language, marry a foreigner and go abroad.
And nothing funny, just like this " career ladder” went a lot of girls who studied with me in the same stream.
What are the Words, document formatting and notarized translation of documents. They now work in France as sellers, in America as sellers, again in France as waiters ...
If you are consciously or subconsciously striving for this, then it is better for the translation faculty to come up with nothing. Problems begin if you suddenly, for no reason at all, really want to work as a translator.
Practical training courses for translators
When I just graduated from the Faculty of Translation, I had a problem that I could not translate. Then I learned by working in a translation agency for a penny. After some time, I opened my own translation agency. And then the next problem arose - the translators did not know how to translate.
That is, the same yesterday's graduates came to us to get a job, as I myself was a few years ago. And they made the same mistakes. And one day I got tired of explaining the same thing to every translator.
Then I just took and wrote instructions - how and what to translate, in what situation. Separately, instructions - how to work with the Word, how - with personal documents. And so on.
After that, I could simply give instructions to a new translator, and he immediately, and not three years later, began to work quite sanely.
I was delighted with the first success and began to gradually supplement my instructions. As a result, it grew first to 100 pages, then to 300, and then almost to 1000. And there were analyzed all the translation situations in great detail.
It turned out to be a real course of practical (rather than theoretical) training of a translator. I remember I was still surprised - why no one before me had guessed to do such a course. After all, beginners mastered it literally in 2-3 months, and immediately began to earn “in an adult way”.
Otherwise, they had to learn everything from their own experience for several years. And all this time - to live "on bread and water", because no one pays good rates to beginners.
Now I strongly recommend my course to all novice translators, which I called “Work! Translator". You can read more about this course.
Now let's make a small conclusion.
Conclusion
The question of where to study the profession of a translator is not an easy one. The answer depends on what you actually want to get. Learn a foreign language and try to "blame" - you're on a perfak. And if you really want to make money with translations, then you will have to learn this on your own.
And here are two options. The first is to learn by doing while working in a translation agency. The second is to take our course, where years of experience are packaged into step-by-step training. Personally, I went the first way. I mean, I taught myself. Simply because there were no such courses as before.
I had to plow for a penny for several years. And, unfortunately, few people endure such a life. And if you would also like to shorten your path from "beginner" to "pro" - use our course as a springboard.
See you later!
Your Dmitry Novoselov