10 tips to enjoy freelance translation
Translation can be lonely. You spend hours of hours at home starring at your screen and working on your project. If you enjoy talking to your coworkers, here are 10 tips to enjoy freelance translation in Japan.
Translation can be lonely. You spend hours of hours at home starring at your screen and working on your project. If you enjoy talking to your coworkers, here are 10 tips to enjoy freelance translation in Japan:
1) Visit coworking spaces
A coworking space is an office, where you can meet other freelancers and work. You have fast internet and sometimes free coffee. Some coworking spaces even organize free events on useful topics. Tokyo Cheapo wrote a great article on where to find coworking spaces in Japan. More information: https://tokyocheapo.com/business/drop-in-coworking-spaces-tokyo/
2) Visit the local library
That's what I did. Japan has great public libraries in almost every city. My local one has a free Wi-Fi and a spaces for computers. Many Japanese go there to study for exams or to read books and newspaper. If you get bored, you can enjoy reading books or the latest fashion magazines. You can find local libraries by researching on Google Maps the Japanese word "図書館" (library) and your location by using GPS.
3) Visit the local Starbucks
Starbucks has a free Wi-Fi for 1 hour. It's a nice living atmosphere there and the coffee is great. The downside is that you cannot use the Wi-Fi for more than 1 hour. However, if you need to concentrate that's a great way to actually get stuff done.
4) Join Translation & Interpretation Networking Events
You find many networking events in Japan. For example, the homepage of Japan Association of Translators (https://jat.org/) or the homepage of Japan Association of Conference Interpreters (http://www.japan-interpreters.org/en/)is a great source. Official organized events are more expensive and then private one. You find cheaper events in translation related Facebook groups. Just search for keywords such as Translation, Interpretation in Japan.
5) Visit Exhibitions
There are many interesting Exhibitions at the Tokyo Big Sight (http://www.bigsight.jp/english/) or the Makuhari Messe in Chiba (https://www.m-messe.co.jp/en/). Many companies look for exhibition interpreters. Just go there and introduce yourself. By giving them your translation business card, you can find new direct clients and further learn more about the new trends in that industry.
6) Meet other Translators for Lunch
LinkedIn is a great network for finding other freelance interpreter and translators. It takes a lot of courage at first, but you can find new friends in the industry by asking them for lunch. Even after living in Japan for a years, I still don't understand why Japanese eat alone. They are so many great people to eat lunch with.
7) Visit Translation Companies
By visiting the translation agencies, you can increase the quality of work you get. It's important to know the people, you work with in person. Keep in mind that email communication is very efficient, but not everything.
8) Attend Seminars
As freelance translator you need to know more about business. Why don't you take the time and attend an seminar on marketing or sales? Seminars on translation can help you to learn more about different fields such as skills of literature translation, patent translation or medical translation.
9) Live in a Share-House
Living alone and working alone is sometime snot the best option. You can save rent by living in a share-house. It's so interesting, you can find share-houses especially designed for freelancers with a working space. Some of them even offer free cleaning service or events. Regard more here: https://www.social-apartment.com/
10) Job-Search for In-House Positions
Working as freelancer is not for everyone. You can always apply for In-house positions. You can find recruiter on LinkedIn or apply direct to translation companies.
I hope you enjoyed reading. Please let me know your strategies as well. What do you do to avoid social isolation?
How to find work as Interpreter
I landed my first job as Interpreter, because my coworker introduced me to his dad, who living in the UK and wanted to expand his buisness in Germany. That is a very common way to find work as Interpreter in Japan. After working freelance in Japan for I while I figured that here recommendation is the key to finding direct Japanese clients.
Further, I like to see other Interpreters as friend not as direct rival. Sometimes my schedule gets busy, so what do I do? I ask a friend if she is available? That way, sometimes you will get introduced to work or to privat organised network party. Networking is a the key in any kind of buisness. Just think about it? The more people know what you are doing, the higher are the chances they will contact you. Therefore, I aim to build as many win-win siutations as possible.
What about you? How do you find work as Interpreter?
独日翻訳：女も15になったら (ヴォルフガング・アマデウス・モーツァルト)
女も15になったら モーツァルトの 『コジ・ファン・トゥッテ』( Così fan tutte )はご存知でしょうか。歌詞の内容がすごく面白いので、独日翻訳をご覧ください。その気持ちをわかりますか。
『コジ・ファン・トゥッテ』( Così fan tutte )
ロレンソォ・ダ ・ポンテ
1)
女性は15歳で、まだ若いのに細かい術を知らないといけない
悪魔より賢いやり方を知らないといけない
どの技術でも必ずマスターしなければならない
女性たちは男性達を自分に魅了させる
彼女たちは嘘の笑顔と嘘の涙の全部を知らなければいけない
彼女たちは嘘の笑顔を、嘘の涙の全部を知らなければいけない
2)
ある男を建前でおだてることをしたければ、
彼とは別の男を目で熱望しても良い
期待をさせて
ライバルをバカにする
時々真面目で上品なふりをしないといけない
時々その上、手荒にしないといけない
赤くならずに嘘をついてわなをかける
嘘をついてわなをかける
3)
このやり方を正しくする人が公爵婦人になる
私の教えはみんなが気に入っているみたいだ
万歳！Despina!
私は必ずアドバイスをしてあげるよ
私は必ずアドバイスをしてあげるよ
4)
ある男を建前でおだてることをしたければ、
彼とは別の男を目で熱望しても良い
期待をさせて
ライバルをバカにする
時々真面目で上品なふりをしないといけない
時々その上、手荒にしないといけない
赤くならずに嘘をついてわなをかける
嘘をついてわなをかける
5)
このやり方を正しくする人が公爵婦人になり、采配をふるう
このやり方を正しくする人が公爵婦人になる
このやり方を正しくする人が公爵婦人になり、采配をふるう！はい！全部治めて 采配をふるう
はい! このやり方を正しくする人が、
はい! このやり方を正しくする人が、
6)
私の教えはみんなが気にいているみたいだ
万歳! Despina!
私は必ずアドバイスしてあげるよ!
万歳! Despina!
私は必ずアドバイスしてあげるよ!
万歳! Despina!
私は必ずアドバイスしてあげるよ!
私は必ずアドバイスしてあげるよ!
私は必ずアドバイスしてあげるよ!
“Italian: Una donna a quindici anni (Così fan tutte, act. II, Mozart)”
ドイツ情報のメルマガ
Why Medical Interpretation matters in Japan
Living in a different country is a big challenge for many foreigners. Especially, for people coming from western countries, the Japanese language and cultural barrier is difficult. Japan is a wonderful country to work, study, and to find many great friends. Nevertheless, learning the language and the culture is a time-consuming process. That process can be fun and exciting, but sometimes even the most motivated language learning faces numerous issues.
Today I want to talk about the importance of medical interpretation in Japan. Let's use the example of having a cold in Japan. Many people don't like to visit a doctor. When you have a cold, all you want to do is sleep and take light medicine, rest and recover. In a foreign country that means you either: a) contact a Japanese friend to help you or b) just do it by yourself. Without speaking Japanese, doing such chores presents a huge challenge. The ability to speak a foreign language depends on your mental and physical ability as well. That means if you sick the last thing you want to do is try to use your broken Japanese. Let's be honest: You just want to sleep and recover.
There is not only plan A or plan B. Why don't you consider contacting an Interpreter to help? You can find great interpreters online or by contacting an interpretation agency.
In most cases, you find an interpreter fast by telling them the hospital you want to visit (Location), a brief overview of your situation (Content) and what time you want to visit the hospital (Time). You will be surprised how fast you can find somebody, who will help you to get you the right medicine and help you talk to the doctor in Japanese. In my experience, many doctors in Japan are highly skilled, so if you just get rid of the language barrier you will feel great in no time.
Do you feel nervous when visiting a doctor in Japan? Tell me your story!
How to speak effectively
When it comes to effective communication, it does not matter if you speak your mother language or a foreign language. What is most important is the goal you have in mind. What do you actually want to say?
When it comes to effective communication, it does not matter if you speak your mother language or a foreign language. What is most important is the goal you have in mind. What do you actually want to say?
By listening to a lecture or to public speakers, you realize that good speakers can move the audience. Their goal is to keep the audience listening. For them a good event is not only the content itself, but the way how this content is presented.
This effect is same when it comes to speaking effective in a foreign language. Once you eliminate the fear to speak, you are able to communicate. If the other person is willing to listen to you, you can speak. For that process you don't need a high amount of words. However, the number of words you remember in a foreign language will help you to speed up a conversation.
Do you struggle talking in a foreign language? What's your personal survival strategy?