What you need to study to become a translator. What exams do you need to take to become an English translator upon admission?

Translator- a general concept of specialists involved in translating spoken or written speech from one language to another. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages ​​and Russian language and literature (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

There are several explanations for where different languages ​​came from. For example, the Bible describes the legend about the Tower of Babel. According to this legend, God confused the languages ​​of the tower builders because of their desire to surpass him and excessive pride. People stopped understanding each other and dispersed around the globe without finishing the construction of the tower, which was supposed to reach the heavens.

There is an explanation in the differences in the language of people and from a scientific point of view. Even in prehistoric times, people began to speak different languages ​​due to the separation due to the mountains, deserts and oceans located between them. Languages ​​were formed in isolation among different tribes; one tribe had little contact with others. The greater the degree of geographic isolation, the more different the language is. On the plains, where it is easier to move, 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 just one native language.

Most modern people know not only their own language, but can also speak a foreign language to some extent. Tourism is actively developing, and with it comes the need to communicate with foreigners, to understand at least superficially the language of the country you are traveling 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 negotiations largely depends on him. It should help people with different cultures, mentalities and understand business differently to find a common language.

There are two types interpreters- sequential and synchronous.

A consecutive interpreter is indispensable at business negotiations, at events where some of the participants speak one language, and some speak another. In such cases, the speaker delivers his speech with short pauses 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 performed using specialized simultaneous translation equipment. A synchronized player must speak a foreign language almost better than his native language. The difficulty 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 specialists are those who know how to construct competent and informative sentences that do not allow pauses in their speech.

Translators can translate technical, legal, fiction, business documents. Currently, more and more specialists are using modern technologies (for example, electronic dictionaries). Such special software for translators will help increase their productivity by up to 40%.

Technical translators work with technical texts containing special scientific and technical information. The distinctive features of such a translation are accuracy, impersonality and unemotionality. The texts contain many terms of Greek or Latin origin. The grammar of technical translations is specific and contains firmly established grammatical norms (for example, indefinite personal and impersonal constructions, passive phrases, impersonal forms of the verb). 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, for training employees to work on foreign equipment).

Legal translation is aimed at translating specific texts related to the field of law. This translation is used to exchange professional information related to the socio-political and cultural characteristics of the country. In this regard, the language of legal translation must 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 memoranda;
• translation of notarial certificates and apostilles (a special sign certifying signatures, the authenticity of a stamp or seal);
• translation of constituent documents of legal entities;
• translation of powers of attorney.

Translator of fiction- a specialist translating literary texts. He must, in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of a foreign language, have a good understanding of literature, a high level of command of words, and be able to convey the style and style of the author of the work being translated. There are many examples when recognized masters of words were involved in translations (V. Zhukovsky, B. Pasternak, A. Akhmatova, S. Marshak, etc.). Their translations are works of art in themselves.

Translator training

In this course, you can become a translator remotely in 1-3 months. Diploma of professional retraining established by the state. Training in a completely distance learning format. The largest educational institution of additional professional education. education in Russia.

The profession of a translator can be obtained by graduating from an institution of higher professional education at the faculties of a foreign language.

Required professional skills and knowledge

• perfect command of one or more foreign languages;
• competent Russian language;
• good knowledge of special terminology, both in the original 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;
• desire to improve knowledge of a foreign language every day.

Personal qualities

• linguistic abilities;
• high level of analytical thinking;
• ability to store large amounts of information;
• accuracy, patience, attentiveness;
• high level of erudition;
• fast reaction;
• ability to concentrate and be attentive;
• communication skills;
• verbal abilities (the ability to coherently and very clearly express one’s thoughts, a rich vocabulary, well-spoken speech);
• high efficiency;
• politeness, tact.

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros:

• 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 from different countries and cultures;
• high probability of business trips and travel.

Minuses

• in different months the volume of transfers may vary several times, hence the unstable loading;
• Translators are often paid not upon delivery of the material, but when payment arrives from the customer.

Place of work

• press centers, radio and television centers;
• international funds;
• travel companies;
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consulates;
• book publishing houses, media;
• translation agency;
• museums and libraries;
• hotel business;
• international firms, companies;
• international associations and associations;
• international funds.

Salary and career

Salary as of 04/18/2019

Russia 15000—80000 ₽

Moscow 25000—100000 ₽

The career path of a professional translator depends on the place of work. Thus, a translator serving government delegations receives a salary much higher than a full-time translator in a small company engaged in international deliveries. However, the more prestigious and profitable the position, the higher the requirements for the translator’s competence. The most valued specialists are those who know 2-3 foreign languages. In general, a successful start to a career for a translator can be employment in a large international company engaged in diverse activities.

Translators who speak common languages ​​(for example, English or German) can count on a stable availability of orders. While translators who know rarer and more complex languages ​​(for example, Japanese or Chinese) have higher prices for their services.

In the parable of the Tower of Babel, God, wanting to punish people for their pride, forced them to speak different languages. And this parable is not only about the fact that pride is a bad quality, but also about how important it is to understand each other. The issue of mutual understanding has arisen especially acutely recently. And here translators come to our aid - people who know foreign languages ​​and work so that peoples begin to understand and respect each other.

In the parable of the Tower of Babel, God, wanting to punish people for their pride, forced them to speak different languages. And this parable is not only about the fact that pride is a bad quality, but also about how important it is to understand each other. The issue of mutual understanding has arisen especially acutely recently, when we began to acutely feel that people speaking different languages ​​are becoming closer and closer to each other every day. And here they come to our aid translators– people who know foreign languages ​​and work so that peoples begin to understand and respect each other.

Of course, in order to understand the meaning of what was said or written by a foreign colleague or friend, you can use the appropriate dictionary or electronic translator. But with its help it is impossible to capture all the nuances and details of a text or story, which ultimately can contain very valuable information. After all, a professional “live” translator conveys not just a literal translation of a set of phrases, but also the specifics of the translated text, taking into account the peculiarities of the foreign language.

It seems to you that there is nothing complicated in translator's work no, and is it enough to just learn one or two foreign languages? You are wrong! The professional activity of a translator conceals a huge number of specific features, due to which this profession is available only to a limited number of people who demonstrate curiosity, linguistic abilities and the desire to constantly work on the “purity” of speech. Want to know more about these features? Then read this article carefully.

Who is a translator?

A translator is a highly qualified specialist whose main task is high-quality and the most complete written or oral translation of speech from one language to another.

The name of the profession is a tracing paper (literal translation) of the Latin translatio - to carry something, to convey something. In other words, representatives profession translator conveys the meaning of what is said in a foreign language. In Rus', translators were called interpreters (tolmach is a Slavic word, related to the word “interpret”, “interpreter”). This profession arose at a time when people realized that they spoke different languages, but they needed to communicate. Most likely, this was the period of the early states, when it became obvious that contacts without an interpreter were impossible.

Today there are three main types of profession: technical translator, translator of fiction and simultaneous interpreter. Please note that a technical translator does not deal exclusively with texts of a technical nature. This title rather reflects the essence of the work rather than its content. Most often, this is an employee of a translation agency who deals with texts of various types.

A translator of fiction has higher qualifications. Conveying the style and figurative structure of the author of literary texts is not an easy task, and such translators themselves must have artistic talent. Among these people there are great translators, for example, Tatyana Shchepkina-Kupernik or Mikhail Lozinsky, who discovered Shakespeare and Hugo, Dumas and Schiller for the Russian reader.

Finally, simultaneous interpreter is a person who translates spoken language online. It is generally accepted that only a highly qualified translator can become a simultaneous interpreter. Why? Yes, because a synchronized interpreter must not only know a foreign language perfectly, but also have a good reaction, speak his native language at a very high level, and also have the makings of a diplomat. After all, he has to very quickly carry out not only an accurate, but also the most diplomatic translation. That is why there are quite a few simultaneous interpreters, and their work is paid very highly.

But if we discard the lyrics and formulate a generalized list of professional translator's duties, then it will look like this: written translation of documents and literature, oral translation (including numbers and simultaneous), support for foreign citizens, unification of terms, improvement of definitions and concepts according to the topic, etc.

What personal qualities should a translator have?

The professional qualities of a translator are determined by his activities. And above all, the translator must have an excellent memory, constantly expanding his stock of foreign words and knowledge of the language. For example, in the rich and beautiful Chinese language there are about 84 thousand characters, the commonly used ones are 30 thousand, and the most necessary ones are 10 thousand. It is quite natural that a person who does not have a good memory will simply not be able to remember such a volume of information. Besides, professional translator must have the following personal qualities:

• Analytical mind;
• patience;
• accuracy;
• responsibility;
• communication skills;
• stress resistance;
• attentiveness;
• competent and clear speech (both written and oral);
• neatness and visual attractiveness (not required, but encouraged).

The translator's specialization also places certain demands on the specialist. For example, translating fiction is unthinkable without a “feeling for the word,” an understanding that the word is the same tool for a writer as paint is for an artist or notes for a musician. It is also necessary to have an excellent sense of style, an impeccable command of the Russian language and an understanding of art. In turn, reaction, diplomacy, and the ability to quickly respond to emergency situations are important for a synchronized interpreter. Knowledge of the basics of psychology is also important for such a translator.

Advantages of being a translator

Translators have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the whole world, with a wide variety of cultures, with the traditions and customs of states through language. This opportunity endlessly expands a person’s cognitive capabilities and can be called one of the main advantages of the translator profession. One of the main ones, but not the only one.

Since the translator’s profession is an intellectual one, developing a person’s mind, memory and attention, specialists in this field are almost always distinguished by their erudition, which allows them to feel some superiority over other people.

The specificity of the interpreter's work is such that the interpreters can be people with disabilities. Moreover, the latest achievements of science and technology make it possible to carry out interpretation (including simultaneous) without leaving home (for example, through the free Skype software).

And most importantly, the work of a translator, as a rule, is highly paid (according to statistics, the average monthly salary of a translator in Russia is about 50-60 thousand rubles). Moreover, a good translator is protected and cherished, because the success of negotiations, speeches and communication at various levels depends on his efforts and knowledge of the language.

Of course, the salary level largely depends on the qualifications of the specialist and the language he speaks. In particular, translators of rare or complex languages ​​(for example, Japanese or Chinese), as well as specialists who studied the language not only through a university curriculum, but also lived among native speakers (that is, are familiar with the peculiarities of and the nuances of the language firsthand).

Disadvantages of the translator profession

Disadvantages of the translator profession associated with a high degree of employment and irregular working hours. This is especially true for simultaneous interpreters, whose working day entirely depends on the working hours of the parties requiring the services of such a specialist. And the services of a synchronizer may be needed late at night and on weekends/holidays.

Despite the high level of payment, a translator is not always able to immediately receive the money earned by his honest work. Quite often the client makes payment after a few days. It is also necessary to take into account that on the professional path of translators, sometimes there are unscrupulous clients who may not pay at all for the services provided to them (mostly freelance translators face similar situations).

High psychological stress from the consciousness of one’s own responsibility (after all, multimillion-dollar contracts and good neighborly relations of states sometimes depend on the quality of translation), as well as the constant need to respond quickly during simultaneous translation can cause enormous fatigue and stress. That is why the professional disease of translators is considered to be “chronic fatigue”.

Where can I get a job as a translator?

If you have demonstrated pronounced linguistic abilities since childhood, or have lived in another country for a long time, then you can start working in the profession even after completing language courses. However become a translator high class with great prospects for career growth is possible only after graduating from a prestigious university. At the same time, it is desirable not only to obtain a diploma from a Russian university, but also to provide for the possibility of postgraduate practice abroad.

To the best linguistic universities in Russia, whose graduates are in demand in the modern labor market not only among domestic companies, but also enterprises with foreign knowledge, include:

• Moscow State University named after. M.V. Lomonosov;
• Peoples' Friendship University of Russia;
• Russian State Humanitarian University:
• Moscow State Institute of International Relations;
• Moscow State Linguistic University.

A translator can spend his whole life in a small, stuffy office, translating pages of other people’s documents for notarization, or he can help communicate with leaders of countries during the most important negotiations. A specialist performs the most important function - he helps people communicate and understand each other.

Without them, we would never have read the works of foreign-language writers, watched foreign films, or learned about what is happening outside our country in general. But not 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 to become a translator, what to be prepared for and how to build a career? Let's talk in detail.

History of the profession

The profession, although not in its modern form, has existed since ancient times. Then representatives of different nations spoke one more language, in addition to their native one. The key function of these “specialists” was the translation of speech and written messages. Typically, translators were used in negotiations or when announcing the will of a foreign language ruler of a certain territory. Often these were people captured during wars. In ancient Rus', 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 importance of interpreters strengthened during the time of vassal dependence of the Russian principalities on the Golden Horde - the collection of tribute and viceroyalty required knowledge of the Turkic language. In this regard, the position becomes official, and many translators go to serve the prince or khan.

Who is a translator and what are his responsibilities?

A translator is a specialist who translates oral or written text into another language. What distinguishes a professional from someone who simply knows a foreign language is the lack of room for error and the ability to correctly present information (match the speaker’s speed of speech, avoid long pauses, and so on). Remember the dozens of incidents that occurred in the negotiations of the same politicians due to translator errors. The same “overload” in relations between Russia and the United States (instead of a “reset”).

Key responsibilities of a specialist:

• Translation of scientific and fiction literature, 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 improvement of translation technologies.

The range of responsibilities can expand or narrow depending on the employee’s qualifications, experience and place of work. But the skill requirements remain unchanged: a professional must not only be fluent in the language, but also comply with job descriptions. For example, have well-spoken speech, excellent memory for simultaneous translation, high typing speed, and so on.

It is necessary to constantly develop - every language lives and changes, new slang words and new trends appear in it.

If a specialist does not improve his skills, then in 1-2 years of “downtime” he can completely lose his skills.

Where can a specialist work?

Translation agency. At least 50% of university graduates work in specialized bureaus that provide interpretation and translation from foreign languages. The organization's customers can be individuals and legal entities, institutions and government agencies. The bureau primarily carries out written translations - these are documents (in particular, those preparing for a notarial application), educational works, 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 requests and papers for negotiations with foreign partners or customers, and provide information support to clients from foreign countries.

Government structures. Specialists work in government agencies or collaborate with them on individual projects. Example: the regional administration is building partnerships with investors, say, from the Czech Republic. They require translators with knowledge of the Czech language on an ongoing basis, since the volume of work 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 one-time project work.

Publishers and studios. Thousands of books, films, TV series and song lyrics are translated every year. Working in publishing houses, film studios, production centers and similar companies requires a specialist to know the specifics of the literary language and modern slang. You've probably noticed how the quality of translation, for example, of the same series in different studios varies. 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.

Freelancing. According to unofficial statistics, at least 10% of the total number of graduates of educational institutions in Russia constantly work as freelancers. 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 set your own schedule and regulate your income. The main disadvantage is the lack of any guarantees, in particular stable payment and fulfillment by the customer of the terms of the contract.

Where to study to become a translator? TOP 5 Universities

The best choice would be a linguistic university. You can start your education in college and continue it over time by enrolling in a university through an accelerated program.

A 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 your work experience and qualifications. You will have to improve it throughout your career. And the higher quality the knowledge gained during training, the better. Therefore, it is worth trying to enroll in the best university available to you.

TOP 5 linguistic universities in Russia:

1. Moscow State University named after Lomonosov.
2. St. Petersburg State University.
3. MGIMO.
4. Moscow Linguistic University.
5. Russian State University named after. Kosygina.

Choosing a university is an important step in a translator’s career, but not a determining one.

Graduates of provincial educational institutions that are far from the top of the rankings can build a successful career. But during self-study, they will have to do much more than students at elite universities. Moreover, you will not receive the most valuable connections that graduates of prestigious universities acquire during their studies and which help them in finding a job.

An excellent solution would be to enroll in master's programs at 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 will become an important line in your resume. You can also: approve scholarships and grants from foreign universities that honestly offer free education. The procedure for admission and paperwork 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, you must be prepared to put a lot of effort into developing your memory.
• Logical thinking. It is not enough to remember individual words and phrases - you need to understand its logic, features of vocabulary and word formation. Developed logical thinking will become the basis for understanding grammar and slang expressions.
• Perseverance. The work of a translator can hardly be called exciting - it usually involves many hours of sedentary work over piles of foreign language texts.
• Stress resistance. It is especially important during simultaneous interpreting, when you are under constant pressure, trying to synchronize your speech with the speech of the speaker.
• Attentiveness. Each mistake can lead to distortion of huge blocks of text. History knows many examples of failed negotiations or, say, unsuccessful film releases due to inaccuracies in translations.

The relevance of the translator profession and its prospects

Key confrontations are unfolding in the IT fields. Many experts say that in the near future, trained artificial intelligence will be able to completely replace a human translator. However, the developers themselves speak with caution about such prospects. Most of them talk about this 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 and professional software - it really helps in their work. If you liked the presentation of the profession at the Open Day at the university or if you have been writing an essay on the topic “My future profession is a translator” since elementary school, then you can safely follow your dream.

Pros and cons of the translator profession

This specialty is suitable for people who like complex, intense, orderly work. There are no risks or threats to life or health. It is difficult for a translator to get physically injured at work. But it is quite possible to weaken your psyche and drive yourself to hysteria as a result of constant stress and the burden of responsibility.

pros translator professions:

• Relevance of the specialty . This is a profession in demand and even university graduates, as a rule, do not encounter a shortage of vacancies. The only exceptions are rare, particularly endangered, languages.
• Lots of employment options . You can work in a regular translation agency, in private companies and government agencies, you can translate books, films and TV series, you can accompany tourists, or even remain a freelancer.
• Career prospects . All in your hands! If you are constantly developing, continue to study the language throughout your life, do not marinate yourself in one job and are not afraid of change, you have every chance of achieving success.
• Quite high salaries . They cannot be compared with the income of top managers in oil companies, but in comparison with the national average they are high. Moreover, with experience and advanced training, you will be able to qualify for a salary increase.
• Real opportunity for emigration . Translators especially often use special programs, complete master's degrees abroad, receive grants and scholarships from foreign universities, as they have an excellent command of the language and successfully pass testing.

Minuses translator professions:

• Difficult and responsible work . Most specialists are under constant tension, feel a burden of responsibility and often suffer from stress.
• The need for constant development . Just 1-2 years without practice (for example, during maternity leave) and you “fall out” of the profession. The language changes very quickly and you must constantly improve your skills.
• Monotonous work . No matter where you work, you will constantly be dealing with large volumes of text - written or spoken. There are no surprises to be expected.
• Low salaries at the start of your 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 devote your life to establishing communication and linguistic connections between people, this profession is for you. If you want something more dynamic and exciting, but 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 enrolling, we recommend that you analyze all the pros and cons in advance, and then make an informed choice.

How much do translators earn in Russia?

According to analytical services, the average salary of a Russian translator is 34.7 thousand rubles. At the same time, there are significant differences between average salaries in the regions. Specialists from Moscow (42 thousand rubles), St. Petersburg (38 thousand rubles) and Vladivostok (36 thousand rubles) receive the most. Salaries vary not only in regions, but also in organizations - maximum in private companies, minimum in government agencies.

As they progress in their careers, translators can expect significant salary increases. In 5 years of work, it is possible to increase your income by 10-15 thousand rubles. We should not forget that the amount of wages also depends on the relevance of the language. In some cases, specialists with knowledge of rare languages ​​receive large fees, but usually collaborate with them only on individual projects. Translators specializing in English, German, French and Arabic earn the most.

Summary

The specialty is in demand and relevant in all regions of the country. At the same time, there are real career prospects that help you not to be tied to a specific place of work or a specific region. A good, experienced and courageous professional will always be able to find a job both in his own country and abroad. You will always have a real opportunity to develop, improve your skills and apply for highly paid vacancies.

In the modern world it is impossible to live without communication. This is why translators do not lose their popularity; on the contrary, this profession is gaining new facets and sides and is becoming more and more in demand. Now you can find such specialists in the field of IT technologies, software, in the entertainment industry and many other places, in addition to traditional areas.

The work of a translator directly depends on his focus and experience. There are a number of different qualifications:

1. Linguist. Often, a specialist of this profile can boast of in-depth knowledge of the structure of a language, while mastering two or more at once. Many universities produce such professionals.
2. Technical translator. This is a specialist who independently (or forcedly) chose a very narrow specialized area. For example, pharmacology, mechanical engineering. In his path, his knowledge is in demand, but he is not always good in general topics.
3. Business, business sphere. Legal, competent speech in foreign languages ​​is highly valued today.
4. Often, the document translation industry is taken separately from the previous paragraph.
5. Literary translation. Such specialists work with literature, magazines, and personal correspondence.
6. Oral translation. Such specialists are in demand, as very high demands are placed on them. Not every person can perceive speech by ear or even translate it simultaneously.

Where to apply to become a translator

It would seem that in order to become such a professional, you need to go where there will be at least something related to foreign languages. This is not entirely true, although there are indeed many options for applicants in Russia. You can gain knowledge of the translator profession in the following specialties:

• translation and translation studies;
• linguistics of foreign languages;
• philology;
• international relationships;
• foreign language pedagogy;
• oriental studies.

But if you want to be a translator and quickly find a job, then it is better to choose from the first three points.

What exams and in what form do you need to take to become an English translator?

Experts say that it is best, if you want to get a sought-after profession, to strive to get into the English department. This is due to the fact that it is the most common and universal in the world. But if you feel that your soul is drawn to other languages, the algorithm is not much different.

To become a linguist or translator, you need to pass the following Unified State Exam subjects:

• Russian language;
• English language;
• literature and history (optional);
• mathematics.

Please note that today the Unified State Examination is conducted only in four foreign languages:

• English;
• French;
• German;
• Spanish.

Therefore, if your dream is to translate from Danish or Arabic, it is better to immediately check with the university what exams they offer. It is likely that you will still have to take General English instead. For Scandinavian languages ​​this is often German.

In addition, it is the foreign language that makes the main decision on enrollment. It is logical that the requirements for mathematics or history here are not too strict. But if you translate the grade into the usual five-point scale, then in many universities even a “4” is not always a guarantee that you will pass the budget.

Experts say that you need to prepare for admission at least a year before the exams. Knowledge of a foreign language must be impeccable, first of all this concerns grammar and vocabulary. The Unified State Exam tests speech perception, understanding, writing, and reading.

Additional requirements and personal qualities

You should not become a translator simply because this is now one of the most in-demand professions. Knowledge here is not easy; during the learning process you will have to read a huge amount of literature, not in your native language, learn or at least at a basic level master many languages ​​and dialects that will not be useful in the future. In addition, a real translator, of course, must love his profession, because this is the only way to sit and work on one text for hours and days. A future specialist must have the following qualities:

• predisposition to languages. Not every mind is capable of being flexible and receptive to other people's speech;
• good memory and the desire to develop it. In linguistics and philology, a lot depends on the ability to quickly memorize large amounts of information;
• excellent diction. Particularly important for interpreters. The slightest inaccuracy and you will be misunderstood;
• communication skills. When working with languages, you have to communicate a lot with people, voluntarily and involuntarily;
• perseverance. A huge part of the time the translator sits and works on the text;
• self-discipline - directly related to the previous point, because organizing your time and forcing yourself to concentrate on the text can be difficult.

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 the NSLU, and then I 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 to become a translator in universities.

Training to become a translator at a state university

I have to be honest with you – the translator’s profession has changed a lot now. Previously, in Soviet times, it was a purely military profession. That is why girls were not accepted to study at translation departments.

That is, 100% of the students there were guys. And now it's the other way around. If you go to any advanced school, you will see that 98% of the students there are girls. Nowadays, a translator is a person who sits at a computer and translates instructions and legal documents. No romance =)

Another interesting fact for entry is that after graduating from the Faculty of Translation, only 5-7% of graduates work as translators. The rest are doing whatever they want - teaching English, opening their own business, retraining to become dentists.

This happens because the training program at translation faculties is very outdated. They mostly continue to write translations by hand in notebooks. There are still very old teaching materials there.

Disadvantages of Public Education

When I was studying at the technical department, we did technical translation using magazines from the 60s. But these materials were approved “from above”, and the entire curriculum was built on them.

The next disadvantage of formal training is that you are not taught how to use a computer. Today, a translator simply must have a very good command of 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 Word themselves.

But in reality this is not enough. Creating a document and typing text there is not enough. You need to be able to format text on the fly, design drawings in translation, and do all this without unnecessary characters, with a clean layout. 100% of graduates do not know how to do this. Because this is a separate professional discipline.

Why 95% of translation graduates cannot find a job

If we return to the educational materials, graduates of translation departments are very surprised when they find out what a translation task 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 then study it long and hard in class together with the teacher.

In reality everything is much tougher.

You are given 10 pages of text of terrible quality. In half the places it is impossible to make out the text at all. 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 in the world. Or because this is a new industry and the terms only appeared yesterday. Or because the author himself invented them. Or it was mistyped. Or the text was written in English by a person for whom English is not his native language, and he simply inserted the wrong words because he doesn’t 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 it should have. And the remaining 5% are lost when they find out what pennies they will be paid if they finally cope with this text.

Let's be honest with ourselves. Translation faculties today, unfortunately, do not prepare people for the profession of translator. This is not just a problem for perfs. 95% of graduates across the country work outside their specialty for approximately the same reasons. But translation has its advantages.

What is actually taught in translation?

To be completely honest, today translation departments teach only foreign languages. This cannot 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 took tests on translation. Firstly, 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 individual words. That is, we were taught not to translate, but to memorize the correct words. And it yielded results. We learned a foreign language. But this has nothing to do with the translator’s profession.

Why do people come to public universities?

Perhaps you, my dear reader, are now at that tender age when it seems that you need 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 get you any job.

You come to apply for a job as a translator, but they will ask you for work experience, not a diploma. In general, after graduation, I only got my diploma two or three times. I needed this in order to become a translator for a notary.

But if I didn’t have a diploma, I could have wasted my school certificate. I am telling you this in all seriousness. I personally brought our Ukrainian, Uzbek and other translators to the notary, who only had a school certificate, where it was written that they studied Russian at school. And this was enough for the notary to agree to certify the translator’s signature.

All this, of course, is sad, but there are also positive aspects.

“Career” of translation department graduates

One of these points is that most graduate students do not intend to work as translators =)

As I wrote above, the main contingent in translation departments 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 it’s nothing funny, it was along this “career ladder” that many girls who studied with me in the same class followed.

What kind of Words are there, document formatting and notarized translation of documents. They now work in France as salesmen, in America as salesmen, again in France as waiters...

If this is what you consciously or subconsciously strive for, then you can’t think of anything better than the translation department. The problems begin if you suddenly, out of the blue, really want to work as a translator.

Practical training courses for translators

When I just graduated from the translation department, I had a problem that I couldn’t translate. Then I learned by working in a translation agency for pennies. 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 as I myself was a few years ago came to us to find a job. And their mistakes were still the same. And one day I got tired of explaining the same thing to every translator.

Then I just went and wrote instructions - how and what should be translated, in what situation. Separate instructions on how to work with Word and how to work with personal documents. And so on.

After that, I could simply give instructions to the new translator and he would immediately, and not after three years, begin 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 to almost 1000. And there all the translation situations were analyzed in the smallest detail.

The result was a real course of practical (not theoretical) translator training. I remember I was still surprised why no one had thought of making such a course before me. After all, beginners mastered it literally in 2-3 months, and immediately began to earn money “like an adult.”

Otherwise, they had to learn everything the hard way over several years. And all this time - to live “on bread and water”, because no one pays good rates to newcomers.

Now I strongly recommend my course to all beginning 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 as a translator is not an easy one. The answer depends on what you actually want to achieve. Learning a foreign language and trying to “pass” is a perfect skill for you. And if you really want to make money with translations, then you will have to learn this on your own.

And there are two options. The first is to learn by doing, working in a translation agency. The second is to take our course, where many years of experience are packaged into step-by-step training. Personally, I took the first path. That is, I learned everything myself. Simply because there were no courses like there were before.

I had to work for pennies for several years. And, unfortunately, few people can withstand such a life. And if you, too, would like to shorten your path from “beginner” to “pro,” use our course as a springboard.

See you later!

Yours Dmitry Novoselov