Wherever in Canada you go, you are sure to see and hear French: signs, packages, stores, airports, bus terminals, vehicles, and instructions are just a few places you will see the language. Visit a Francophone community or spend some time in Quebec or Newfoundland and you will notice that French is even more ubiquitous and used in social and business environments. French is an official language of Canada, and is one of the best languages for professionals and residents to learn if they are native speakers of English or another language. If you have grown up speaking French and another language like English with your family or community, or have studied French throughout your life, you are in an excellent position to capitalize on your linguistic skills through a career as a French translator or educator. Multilingual speakers are in high demand and there are many opportunities to apply your linguistic talents in the workplace.
So how do you get started in a career as a translator or an educator? What steps can you take to leverage your multilingual skills?
You may be surprised to learn that you can pursue work in both fields of interpretation and education; it is not uncommon for people that speak both French and English to work full time in one area and part time in the other. Alternatively, you could also work for a company or organization where your multilingual skills will be put to use all the time, such as in government or customer service. What you choose to do with your linguistic skills will ultimately be based on what kind of work will make you feel the happiest and best compensated.
This article will explore the options you can take as a multilingual French speaker in the areas of translation/interpretation and education. Let's start by considering the most important thing - what is your level of proficiency in the languages you speak?
Are you bilingual in English and French, or French and another language? Find out everything you need to know about becoming a French translator or educator in Canada.
Gauging Your Linguistic Proficiency
The first thing you might consider doing when you start contemplating your career options as a multilingual learner is to determine what your linguistic proficiency is in the languages you speak, including French. Language is complex, especially when it comes to our literacy skills and vocabulary. For example, you could speak a language fairly proficiently or fluently, but have emergent abilities when it comes to writing or reading in that language. To work in an area where you use multiple languages on a regular basis, you may need to learn industry-specific vocabulary or writing skills to be successful.
Gauge your language skills by taking a proficiency test in the language you feel less confident in. You can find plenty of free tests online, or take an official test such as the Cambridge or CELPIP (English) the DELF (French). These tests will not only give you a sense of your abilities as a speaker, reader and writer, but provide certification you can show to prospective employers. Alternatively, you can consult with a language educator or professional that can give you some feedback on what you might need to work on.
Once you have figured out what areas you might need to work on, or what kind of vocabulary you might need to learn to work in a specific industry or field, you can start focusing your learning on what you need to most. You may be able to find specific courses that teach you the appropriate vocabulary for a certain field (such as healthcare, law, or business), or pursue studies independently.
What are the guidelines and requirements for translators and interpreters in Canada? Find out how to become a certified translator in your province.
Brushing Up on your French Skills
Those that want to work in French as an additional language but want to brush up on their skills have a number of options to improve their oral, reading and writing skills. Learners on a tight budget may choose to study independently through websites and workbooks, watching movies, travel, or simply reading. Those that want to target specific skills should consider hiring a tutor through Superprof Canada.
Superprof is a site that makes individualized instruction easy. You can easily find French teachers on the site who can work with you to achieve your French learning goals, whether it is mastering complex verb tenses or learning legal terminology in French. With a tutor, you can get valuable time to converse with a fluent French speaker, or even gather their insights on getting translation certification. Simply use the search tool on Superprof to find a French tutor, contact them directly through the site, and meet them remotely over a virtual platform or safely in person.
Are you bilingual in French and English? Learn more about career opportunities you can take as a translator or tutor.
How Do You Train to Become a French Translator?
While being highly proficient or fluent in multiple languages is a unique skill, becoming a translator requires specific training depending on the type of work you are interested in doing. If you have studied comparative literature or are highly literate in multiple languages, you can find work translating documents, books, contracts, legal materials, and other important pieces of writing that require subject specific knowledge and vocabulary. You might also work as a live interpreter, mediating meetings and discussions between people: parent teacher interviews, legal proceedings, corporate meetings, or presentations.
To become a certified French translator, you will need to have native or near native proficiency in French and another language, such as English. Ideally, you will also have a related degree in language or linguistics, though it is not necessary. You can then obtain certification from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC). The CTTIC is a federation of seven provincial bodies all focused on standardizing the practice of translation and interpretation (Quebec is not part of the CTTIC). To become certified, you will need to take an exam from the province in which you plan to practice. The members of the CTTIC include:
- Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia
- Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA)
- Association of Translators and Interpreters of Saskatchewan (ATIS)
- Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of Manitoba (ATIM)
- Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
- Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS)
- Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB)
How Do You Become an Online French Teacher?
Another way you can build a career with your French skills is to become an online French teacher. Online teaching has become an increasingly popular source of income for people who enjoy teaching part time, or like the convenience of working from home. French speakers will find that they will have no shortage of potential clients in Canada, where there are students looking to build basic French language skills every day. While you will need a degree to become a certified teacher, as a tutor or online teacher you may simply need to demonstrate a solid grasp of the language and an ability to organize a lesson and teach it.
Teaching French for Beginners or French 101
Beginner level French is a great way to start teaching French online or in person, as you will be mainly teaching students to conjugate present and simple past tense verbs, and learn vocabulary for basic conversation and travel. This is a great course to teach if you are pursuing your own studies, and want to supplement your income. You can work for a private language school or even post your own profile as a Superprof tutor for beginner students.
Setting up a profile on Superprof is easy - you will just need an email account, a great photo of yourself, and a bio that explains your background in French and what kinds of instruction you can offer.
Bilingual French and English speakers are well-positioned to embark in careers in translation and education. Do you have the experience and background it takes?
Should I Take Online French Courses to Prepare for Translator Training?
For translator training, you may find online French courses insufficient for your learning goals as your level of ability is already quite high. Consider finding an advanced level course at a boutique French school or the Alliance Francaise, or immerse yourself in the language by attending classes or working in Quebec or France. Alternatively, if you are looking to learn in a fairly popular topic like French for Business, you may be able to find an appropriate course in a school of continuing studies or a community college.
Wondering what kind of educational background you need to be a French translator or teacher in Canada? The answer might surprise you!
Where Can I get Verbal Practice with French?
Most multilingual people know that the best way to improve language proficiency is to interact with other speakers. The easiest way to get verbal practice is typically to travel to an area or country where you will have to communicate with other French speakers on a regular basis. To ensure you get a solid dose of verbal practice while also having a great time travelling, book a week of travel in a place like Quebec City, Paris, or even Montreal. You will have ample opportunities to meet new people and get the benefits of an immersion experience.
If travel isn't in the cards, you might want to consider joining a French meetup group or attending French culture events near you where there will be other French speakers. Of course, a perfect way to get the kind of verbal practice you need is to hire a private French tutor from Superprof - you can focus strictly on oral language goals! Discuss your learning goals with your prospective tutor, and you will accelerate your French learning in a short time.
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