Hello,
Professional translator (Korean <-> English language pair) here. Sole and official translator of the book "Dive into Design Patterns" ....
Native speaker in both Korean and English with no accent in both (can easily prove with a quick call to a native Korean or English speaker of your choice).
If you have any Korean related questions please let me know below, and I'll try my best to answer. Thanks!
Hello. My question is unrelated to korean. But perhaps, do you know any websites or companies hiring for Kor-Eng Translation? I don't have any experiences yet so I want to have, even just for voluntary.
I'm lower intermediate in korean, and can speak and understand conversational. Thank you so much.
Hello,
Not to sound harsh:
1) You aren't ready for translations involving the Kor <-> En language pair. The post you wrote demonstrates that you haven't achieved proficiency in English. For example, "even just for voluntary" and "I don't have any experiences yet" is utterly incorrect, gramatically. In addition, you admit that you are "lower intermediate" in Korean proficiency. So no company can utilize your services for translation, since you don't have proficiency in both languages.
2) With that said, once you achieve proficiency, you can start doing cold outreach on companies that post jobs related to translation on ProZ. You shouldn't have a problem getting work if you can pass any translation tests that these companies present to you.
I’m not a beginner in Korean, but this sub pops up for me sometimes. Recently, I’m thinking after I advance a bit more in my speaking skills, I’d like to learn translation with a course or something. Haven’t looked into yet, I just started thinking of it recently.
I’m an intermediate Korean speaker that knows quite a bit of advanced vocab, but speaking is my lowest skill, after listening, reading, and writing. However, in my tea life, I know I could be needed to do translation. Even recently, I had to translate when I introduced some visiting friends to people who are like my Korean parents (and they don’t speak English). I was nervous to translate. I did better than I thought I would, and it was fun, but I actually had a harder time translating into English than Korean. I think I know why that is, lol! Anyways, I do think studying translation after I’m more advanced in my Korean skills and I feel done with attending language school would be good for me practically in my regular life. Any suggestions on programs or anything?
I was hoping to answer beginner Korean questions but I am delighted to see people interested in the translation path.
Personally I haven't learned translation with a course: I was born into it, being bilingual already.
With that said, I have two recommendations.
To improve your Korean overall look up ClarkTV (대륙남) on YouTube and look up his language learning techniques. I would try that first with an intermediate or advanced Korean soap opera.
Secondly, once you feel that your Korean is flawless (which can easily happen with focused study using said method) feel free to send me some sample translations and I'll evaluate them.
koreanenglishnative at gmail.com
Personally, I'm studying simultaneous medical interpretation with a $700 ALTA course which I can wholeheartedly recommend. But other than that, you really don't need a course to become a translator.
I don’t know, lol! I know many natively born bilingual Koreans who can’t translate because it’s a different skill and they can’t reinterpret the language on the spot. I’ve seen someone volunteer to do it but struggled and someone else volunteered to do it who does it all the time. Which I struggled with in putting the Korean words into English. Also, as of now, I do pretty good job translating written texts as of the feedback of I’ve gotten from friends. Usually though I use translation tools, then edit it because it’s never natural sounding and also fails in other ways.
But I’ll look into those things you suggested and the class! Thanks!
Oh, I'm a translator not an interpreter. Big difference. Best of luck!
Got it! Sometimes, they’re used interchangeably, not in Korean, but yeah, lol! Thanks for the recommendations!