Passionate about the Japanese language? Interested in learning about the experience you need as a translator? Discover which professional expertise and qualifications translators need to gain to work as a Japanese translator or related professionals in Canada.
What experience do translators need in Canada?
In Canada, if you want to work as a professional translator, whether for Japanese or any other language, you will need at least a bachelor's degree and a few years of professional experience. And you may need to obtain a certification that will give you more professional recognition and reliability in this field. Some job requirements to work as a translator of any language in Canada are:
- A university degree specializing in dual-language translation (e.g., Japanese/English), interpreter, or terminologist.
- A university degree related to a discipline such as languages, linguistics, or philology and two years of experience as a full-time translator working in two languages (e.g., Japanese/English).
- Certification by examination from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) may be required for translators, terminologists and interpreters, and related professions.
- If you want to work internationally, we recommend you be proficient in three languages.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial translators' association, such as the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC), is highly recommended.
How can I start working as a translator in Canada?
Below is the recommended experience that will help you become a Japanese translator in Canada!
Take advantage of every opportunity to learn Japanese
Studying Japanese will always be an excellent idea, regardless of your age. Learning this language could benefit your professional path, especially if you want to work as a translator or in a related career. If you are still in school, you can take Japanese classes in your free time and start to familiarize yourself with the language. Attending private Japanese lessons will improve your language skills, and you will also gain cultural knowledge. Read on to find out how to improve your Japanese in Canada!
Traveling to a country where Japanese is spoken
Do you know the best way to practice any language? Having the opportunity to travel to Japan will undoubtedly be the best way to practice Japanese! You will fall in love with Japanese culture. Still, the experiences abroad will also help you grow professionally and personally and allow you to understand the culture and language much better. Check out the Embassy of Japan and the Consulate General of Japan sites for detailed information:
- Embassy of Japan in Ottawa (Ottawa/Gatineau)
- Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver (British Columbia and Yukon)
- Consulate General of Japan in Calgary (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut)
- Consulate General of Japan in Toronto (Ontario)
- Consulate General of Japan in Montreal, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and Newfoundland)
Study the range of translation programs available in Canada
It doesn't matter if you are still in school, at university, or immersed in the professional world. If you are curious about how to become a Japanese translator in Canada, check out what a translation degree consists of. For example, to become a Japanese translator, you must pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Translation involving many fields, such as literature, history, linguistics, philology, philosophy, semiotics, terminology, journalism, medicine, and social sciences. Learn more about the education needed to be a Japanese Translator in Canada.
Learn about the necessary certifications
Becoming a certified Japanese translator in Canada is an excellent professional idea since achieving a certificate of higher learning in translation will give you many professional advantages and many open doors. The Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) control the certification process of translators in Canada. The CTTIC is a federation of provincial and territorial associations representing translators, terminologists, and interpreters in Canada, except for the one corresponding to Quebec (OTTIAQ). Learn more about why certified translators are in high demand in Canada, and if you want to know more about becoming a certified translator, you can check out what are the Certifications to be a Japanese Translator in Canada.
Know the sectors in which you can work
In Canada, you can work as a Japanese translator in various industries. Even so, because these are particular sectors, such as medical or legal, you will have to specialize with the most appropriate degree. Some possible professional opportunities for translators are court interpreters, medical interpreters, and sign language interpreters specializing in Japanese. If you want more information, you can check out our article "Salary Expectations for a Japanese Translator in Canada" and discover more about the average salary for translation jobs you can get with a degree in Canada.
Gain professional experience
Gaining professional experience will be excellent for your CV, networking, and professional skills development. We recommend that you begin to gain professional experience during your study years, as it will prepare you for the real world of work. Believe us, when you have to prepare for your job interviews, this will be a great advantage for you.
What qualifications do you need to be a Japanese translator?
What qualifications are needed to become a Japanese translator?
In addition to having an advanced language level, Japanese translation work requires some qualifications you should know. For example
- Good attention to detail: Attention to detail will be essential if you decide to work as a translator, as replicating official texts is a big responsibility. A good translation should accurately and precisely reproduce what is expressed in the source language, including ambiguities that the author may have included while considering the target language's spelling and grammar rules.
- Analytical skills: If you decide to work as a translator, you must know that you will spend a lot of time reading and researching the content to be translated. This is why developing analytical skills such as gathering information, problem-solving skills, and decision-making will be necessary to extract and translate the information.
- Time management: Project management and planning as a translator are essential to cope with the complexity of projects, their degree of specificity, and whether it is a subject already worked on by the professional. Proper time management will also be crucial if you decide to work as a freelance translator, as the better you organize yourself, the more efficient you will be and the more money you can earn.
- Have computer skills: The translation profession, like most professions, has evolved thanks to technology, so we recommend you familiarize yourself with CAT tools, which will make your work and your life easier since you will access a translation memory, technical validation, machine translation, glossary management, and tonality management. Some great CAT tools for translators are Trados Studio, OmegaT CAT, Poedit, OneSkyApp, and Lokalise.
These qualifications could help you become a master in translation! But don't worry if you don't have most of them right now. Anything is possible with effort, dedication, and patience. Get started as a Japanese translator!
Can you be a translator without experience?
Yes, however, we recommend you start getting some experience. To acquire the necessary experience, you must get involved in related activities, such as internships or volunteering in translation, to start developing professional skills and networking before getting a paid job.
Also, you can apply for translator jobs online. As a virtual translator, you can also create a website to promote your services and start networking in the industry through social media and translation forums.
You will also find brief courses online where you can get more professional skills to help you prepare for any job you want. Most online courses will give you a certification when you complete these, which you can add to your CV. We recommend you check out Coursera, Pluralsight Skills, LinkedIn Learning, Udacity, and Udemy for the best online resources.
And last but not least, check out the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) for you to learn everything you need to become a translator in Canada.
Which is the best way to learn Japanese?
We are sure that now you are super inspired to learn more about Japanese and become an expert translator in Canada. Whether you want to complete your translation degree, improve your grammar, or train your Japanese to venture abroad, Superprof is here to make your life way easier. So if you are looking for the best way to improve your Japanese skills, here you will find everything you were looking for.
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With Superprof's private tutoring, you will improve your Japanese no matter where you are in Canada. Learn Japanese with the most flexible approach through face-to-face, online, or hybrid training, and choose the private tutor that offers you the best private classes. Are you ready to start?
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