Did you know that for native English speakers, Japanese could be one of the most complex languages to learn? With three different writing systems, different types of sentence structures, and the diverse types of formal Japanese, these may be why Japanese could be somewhat complex.
However, due to the popularity of manga, anime, video games, and fascinating Japanese culture, the popularity and interest of English speakers in learning Japanese have increased. So, if you are interested in pursuing university studies related to Japanese such as translation or other linguistic mediators, in this article, you will find excellent information about becoming a Japanese translator in Canada. Make out the most of your Japanese skills and become a Japanese translator in Canada!
But first, let's see how familiar you are with the Japanese.
Trivia: Test your Japanese knowledge!
Determine whether the sentence is true or false.
- Japanese has three different writing systems. These three writing systems are hiragana and katakana, and characters from Chinese called kanji. All three writing systems are used together and even in the same sentence. Kanji is combined with hiragana to form words and phrases, while katakana is generally used for emphasis.
- True
- False
- There are four different levels of formality in the Japanese language. Verbs are conjugated differently depending on whether the situation is informal, semi-formal, polite, or formal. Formal Japanese is further divided between the language that might humiliate the listener, such as that of a customer service employee and the language that elevates the listener, such as when talking to important people at work.
- True
- False
- In the Japanese language, there are no plurals. Plural words are usually preceded with a number and a counter or made understood through context. The first way to express something in the plural is to add the number, and the second way is to put the character "Tachi," a suffix placed after the pronoun.
- True
- False
- In Japanese, there are two types of articles: indefinite and definite articles. Articles introduce the nouns they accompany and precede by indicating their gender (masculine, feminine) and number (singular, plural).
- True
- False
- Intonation is of great importance in the Japanese language. For international students, intonation can be one of the most challenging parts of speaking Japanese. For example, the words "bridge" (hashi) and "chopsticks" (hashi) may sound similar but have different intonations.
- True
- False
Can you make a living as a Japanese translator?
Do you want to know if being a translator is a good career choice? There are many reasons why being a translator could be a good career choice; for example, if you love languages, love to write, and would love to work in different environments, a career in the translation field could be right for you. Let's discover some of the advantages of working as a translator:
- The translation is one of the most promising careers globally. Thanks to globalization and the development of technologies, companies are broadening their horizons and increasing their business opportunities. They are not limiting themselves to a local market but are strengthening their services or products in markets worldwide. Working as a translator or interpreter in an international company could be an excellent learning and professional development opportunity. If Japanese is your mother tongue, you can be sure it will be advantageous elsewhere.
- Professional development in various specializations. Did you know that as a translator, you can specialize in disciplines such as the science and technology sector, legal and commercial translation, tourism translation, business marketing translation, editorial translation, and the audiovisual industry, among many others? Finding the sector that most arouses your curiosity or the one that offers the best job opportunities could be precisely where you could evolve professionally and find your passion!
- Work in different work environments and abroad! If you study translation, you can work in an agency, for a specific brand, in public institutions or international organizations, or as a freelance. And also, translation and interpretation are perfect careers to work abroad! Being a translator can allow you to move overseas, where the Japanese language is highly valued.
And these are just some advantages of becoming a translator! Good right? Of course, you can make a living as a translator in Canada or everywhere. Read on to be better informed about what you need to venture into this professional world in Canada!
How much money can you make as a Japanese translator?
If one of the questions going through your head right now is, "Do translators earn good money in Canada?" you should know that translation and interpretation careers offer good salary options.
The average translator's salary in Canada is $61,800 per year or $31.00 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $48,700 annually, while most experienced workers make up to $79,000 annually. However, your salary will depend on your experience level and the demand for the language you offer to translate. In addition, this occupation is prevalent worldwide due to the demand for Asian languages increasing with the growing popularity of Asian economies.
Regardless of translation languages, the highest-paid translation specialties are the medical, pharmaceutical, commerce and marketing, financial, and information and communication technology sectors.
Is it hard to become a Japanese translator?
Translating requires complex cognitive operations and the interaction of different mental processes, such as reading, encoding, comprehension, and reformulation, which could be why it could be considered complex. For this, you should first focus on getting a Bachelor's degree in translation. Obtaining a bachelor's degree is the most straightforward way to gain all the skills you need to excel as a translator in Canada. It will provide you with theoretical and practical skills in the target language, such as Japanese, to understand the language and culture you intend to work with. In addition, enrolling in a bachelor's degree will allow you to meet people who could be crucial to your professional and personal development.
And of course, you should focus on improving your Japanese proficiency since you must have a high level of proficiency in at least two languages. Let's delve a little deeper into the levels of knowledge of the language below:
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (or JLPT) evaluates and certifies Japanese language proficiency and has five levels:
- N1: Understanding of Japanese in a variety of circumstances.
- N2: The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations and various circumstances to a certain degree.
- N3: The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree.
- N4: The ability to understand basic Japanese.
- N5: The ability to understand some basic Japanese.
If you want to start improving your level of Japanese, would you like to discover the easiest and most personalized way to do it? Find the answer below! And get the know the certifications to work as a Japanese translator.
Start practicing your Japanese!
To pursue a career in translation, you must be passionate about languages and their structure, and above all, you must be an expert in Japanese. If you are curious about careers in translation or interpretation, it might be a great idea to start sharpening your language skills and getting professional experience in translation!
Improve your knowledge of Japanese and prepare yourself better with Superprof! Superprof is an excellent tutoring platform where you can find the best private Japanese tutors in Canada. Whether you are looking to prepare yourself better to enter university, if you are looking to get the best score for the JLPT test, or if you want to practice your Japanese, you can do all this with Superprof's private classes!
Our platform provides tutoring support to students across Canada, so you'll achieve anything you want, no matter where you are.
Which are the advantages of a Japanese tutor?
With the private tutoring of Superprof, you will:
- Get a 100% personalized approach, identify which skills you need to work on, and find the best strategy to acquire them to excel in a translation or interpretation career.
- Have the most flexible schedule! With Superprof, you decide when and where to take your classes. Our private tutors will adapt your schedule to set face-to-face or Japanese online lessons.
- Learn at your own pace: With our personalized private tutoring, you can focus on the areas you are most interested in learning or that challenge you the most. Learn all the Kanji characters without any pressure!
- Affordable classes: Choose the best expert tutor in Japanese that suits your needs and budget. Here you can check the price of each particular session before booking a lesson!
- Access to the best-qualified tutors in Canada: With Superprof, you will find the best tutors near you with a great professional experience. Becoming a Japanese expert is just a click away!
Welcome to the Superprof Canada family!
And find out how much you know about Japanese!
- True: Japanese has three different writing systems.
- False: There are three different levels of formality with corresponding grammar. The semi-formal level of formality does not exist.
- True: There are no plurals in Japanese.
- False: In Japanese, there are no articles. There is no difference between "a," "an," and "the."
- False: Intonation is of great importance in the Japanese language.
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