Multilingual speakers have a unique skill set that they have likely been learning their entire lives: communicating across different languages. Becoming multilingual is a long process that begins with our families, who speak to us in one or more languages. Multilingual speakers pick up additional languages in a variety of ways: through explicit instruction, immersion in a society or context in which another language is spoken, or through consistent media consumption and exposure of another language. Arguably, most people are multilingual in Canada to some degree: we are exposed to French and English so often it would be hard not to develop an understanding of either. Those that have attained fluency or proficiency in multiple languages both orally and in reading and writing are well positioned to deepen their study of languages or apply them in the workplace.
Chinese multilingual speakers possess knowledge of the most complex and fascinating languages: Cantonese and Mandarin. While both are spoken in China and around the world, Mandarin is spoken more widely and is the official language of the country and government. Cantonese is spoken more frequently outside mainland China and in the south in the provinces of Guangdong and Guanxi. Depending on why one is learning Chinese, there are benefits to learning both. Due to the ubiquitous nature and status of Mandarin, however, there is a much higher demand for services such as instruction and translation in that language.
Those that speak Chinese are highly valued in the workforce. Chinese speakers have access to one of the largest economies and linguistic communities in the world. Over a billion people in the world speak Chinese, not only in China but in communities all over the world where Chinese people have settled throughout history. Fluency in Chinese is a significant asset in roles in fields such as:
- Law
- Real Estate
- Business
- Linguistics
- Translation
- Education
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Policing
- Community Services
- Insurance
One calling multilingual speakers often have is to work in the field of translation and interpretation. Like teaching, translating is a rewarding and empowering role that enables others to communicate. Find out more about the learning and training it takes to start this career.
Why are Literacy Skills are Important in Chinese?
Beyond speaking skills, the ability to read and write in Chinese are also sought after. Chinese is one of the most challenging languages to read. Chinese writing is a logographic writing system, consisting of characters that represent words or concepts rather than sounds. Characters are composed through strokes, lines, and curves arranged in patterns. Chinese is read vertically from top to bottom in traditional texts, but in modern usage it is read horizontally from left to right. Over time, Chinese characters have evolved and become more abstract: so you can see why having an understanding of Chinese is such an important skill!
The two main types of Chinese characters are known as simplified and traditional.
Simplified: these characters were developed in the mid-20th century to support literacy development in mainland China.
Traditional: these characters are used in regions such as Hong Kong,, Macau and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.
How Do I Prepare for Chinese Translator and Educator Careers?
Multilingual speakers often consider careers in translation and education so they can make the most of their linguistic skills. However, itisi important to understand either career pathways before committing to one. Both professional areas will require you to have more skills beyond being able to communicate in Chinese, English, or other languages: you will need to develop abilities in translation and pedagogy. You will also want to have a strong command of either languages, which are typically developed through different learning experiences.
Here are some of the ways you can prepare for a career as either a translator or educator.
It's important to keep in mind that preparing to work as a translator or educator will take much more than being proficient or fluent in both Chinese and English, though being multilingual is an excellent starting point. So what experiences do you need to work in the field?
Read Regularly in the Languages you Speak
Reading is one of the most cost effective, practical, and high impact ways to continue building your linguistic skills. Read regularly in Chinese, English, and any other language you speak to build vocabulary, become accustomed to complex sentence structure, and learn the nuances and particularities of literature in different languages. Finding resources is easy, thanks to libraries, digital media, and environmental print. For example, you could read a news article in Chinese everyday, and read about the same topic in English and see what differences you can detect. In addition to news stories and articles, you will also want to read longer form literature so you can better understand complex literary language.
Speak and Listen to Others in the Languages You Speak
Spontaneous communication is essential to becoming fluent in any language. If you speak Chinese and live in an area where you do not use it often, find communities in which you can socialize in the language. There are meet up groups in nearly every town, community or cultural centers, virtual groups, or even connect with family to get speaking practice. Focus on getting practice in the languages you are least confident in, but always remember that any socializing will serve you well!
Travel as Much as Possible
While it may not always be in the budget, travel frequently to become a better speaker in the languages you speak. There is nothing like being both linguistically and culturally immersed in Chinese, or any other language you want to learn. This particularly true because you can read environmental print in context, talk to others in practical everyday scenarios, or attend events where you may hear advanced or industry specific language (ex. conferences and lectures).
Pursue Coursework or Experiences in Different Areas
It really helps to have extensive background in the area you want to work in as a translator or an educator. This will give you a sense of what the job is like, and whether or not you see yourself working the field over the long run. Try volunteering in a classroom, job shadow at an settlement or immigration office, or volunteer in an organization like a hospital to get a sense of what conversations typically take place and what kinds of vocabulary get used in the workplace.
Being multilingual is a great starting point for a career as a translator or teacher, though you will need certification to work in the field. It may help to learn industry specific vocabulary for working in areas such as medicine or business. Find out more about career preparation for the education and translation fields.
What Qualifications do I need to Become a Chinese Translator?
Becoming a Chinese translator is a process that requires certification from your provincial professional body on translation, interpretation and terminology. It is important to get certified so your potential employers and clients understand that you have recieved the appropriate training and are competent to perform complex translations and interpretations. Typically, you will need a degree to become a translator. There are many postgraduate programs that will provide you with a strong background to work in the field:
- Translation Studies Degree
- Languages and Translation Certificate
- Translation Studies
- Applied Linguistics
Some programs can be taken in order to earn a Bachelor's degree, while others can result in a certificate (usually taken at a college or a department of continuing education). With a relevant academic background, you can apply for certification at the professional body of translators in your province. Here is a list of some in Canada:
- Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC)
- 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)
- Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB)
- Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS)
Each province will vary in the steps you must take to earn qualifications (Ex. exam or a dossier submission). With this qualification, plus work or academic experience in another field, you will be ready to pursue a career in translation or intepreretation.
Becoming a Chinese translator and a teacher may seem like wildly different career paths, but ultimately you will be using your skills as a multilingual communicator to do the unique work inherent to both fields. Which job will earn you more income?
Do I need Specialized Chinese Classes to Become a Translator?
Specialized classes in Chinese and English will help you to become a translator so you can learn technical, industry-specific words that will aid you when translating in different contexts. For example, if you want to work in the area of healthcare, you may need to learn a significant amount of terminology that is not used in every day language, such as specific procedures and parts of the human body that only doctors and other healthcare professionals need. Another example is the type of Chinese used in business or real estate. There are many words that are not used in contexts outside of those professional domains that you may have to learn.
What Qualifications do I need to Become a Chinese Teacher?
Becoming a Chinese teacher is a process that starts by having a strong command of Chinese vocabulary, literature, media and grammatical structures. Even if you are a fluent speaker of Chinese, you may find it useful to do a program in Chinese or East Asian studies to develop not only linguistic proficiency but also deep academic and cultural knowledge of China.
Those that want to teach Chinese in a public, private, or dual language school will find it useful to earn a bachelor of education degree to become a licensed teacher in their province. This is a useful degree as it will not only empower you to teach Chinese, but other subjects such as mathematics, English, Science, and other curriculum subjects. To obtain your provincial teaching qualification, you will need a bachelor's degree in the Arts or Sciences as a prerequisite.
Another pathway you can take to become a certified Chinese teacher is to obtain your Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate. This certificate is a unique certification for teachers of Chinese languages only. You can typically find TCSOL training schools at private language organizations where you may also choose to earn your Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification.
If you are a multilingual Chinese speaker, you may be wondering how to leverage your linguistic proficiency as an educator or a translator. Discover which role is best for you.
What is the Sample Structure of Chinese Lessons or Mandarin Lesson?
The way you structure your language lesson will often depend on a number of factors: your goals for instruction, the age of your students, the level of proficiency they are at, and the unique needs and interests of the group of students you have.
Typically, you will want to design your lesson around your goals for instruction. You could start by:
- Creating time for conversation and relationship building (use sentence frames in the target language if your students are beginners).
- Explicitly telling students what their learning goals are for the day.
- Introducing the new concept using visuals, examples, and explanations.
- Listening to dialogues or watching videos to hear the element of language in action and context.
- Providing time for students to explore and experiment with their learning.
- Consolidating with review and, if needed, homework tasks.
If you have oral language goals you will want to build in opportunities for students to interact with one another. If you have writing goals, you may want to structure time for writing or grammar practice with games. Of course, you may use this structure, or experiment with different models (ex. 3 part lesson) and stick with what works best for your learners.
Where Can I Teach Chinese Classes Near Me?
You can teach Chinese at a number of places, such as a private language school, a public school with Chinese or a dual language program, or a cultural or community centre. Many school boards also offer international language courses. If you are entrepreneurial, you could also start your own Chinese language classes, though you may find it helpful to gain some practical experience at established schools or institutions.
What is the Job of a Chinese Tutor or Mandarin Tutor Like?
Another way you can get into the world of Chinese language education is to work as a tutor. Tutoring is an excellent way to get practical experience teaching Chinese with individuals or small groups of students. You can see if your lesson designs are successful, and what kinds of resources and activities work best with different types of students.
Tutoring jobs are typically set up between the tutor and the student or the student's family. You will want to work with your tutee to determine:
- what their language goals are
- what they expect their tutoring sessions to be like
- how long they want to receive tutoring
- if they want your help to learn Chinese, or to support with a class they already taking
- what the costs of your services will be
- what kind of resources you will use to teach
- how often tutoring sessions will take place
Tutoring sessions are typically 45 minutes to an hour long. To ensure your tutoring sessions are as stress free as possible, you will want to enter your sessions with a specific plan of action and activities to ensure that the learner you are working with gets lots of opportunities to practice. You may also want to use quiz tools for students to help consolidate their learning at the end of a session.
Are Chinese Language Tutors, Teachers, and Translators in Demand?
Chinese language tutors, teachers, and translators are often in demand, particularly in a country as diverse as Canada. Families are always looking for Chinese teachers and tutors to ensure their children learn a heritage language, or acquire a skill they perceive will be useful in their child's future. Chinese culture is also fascinating for many kids, so they may also want to learn Cantonese or Mandarin because they are interested in learning for their own personal benefit.
Adult learners may want to learn Chinese for similar reasons: reconnecting with their heritage, learning Chinese for a spouse or a loved one, travel, or for professional reasons such as an upcoming business trip.
Because the population and business landscape has become increasingly globalized, Chinese interpreters and translators are often required to perform important work in different fields. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet, so it is critical to have qualified professionals to bridge language gaps.
Is it Better to Be a Childrens Tutor for Learning Chinese?
If tutoring is the option you want to take, you may be wondering whether or not it will be better to be a tutor for children. There are many benefits to working with children, including:
- Kids are full of energy and fun to work with
- Children are a rewarding group to teach, as they learn language with ease
- Planning lessons for kids enables teachers to be creative
- Kids enjoy learning through creating art, games, and other activities
- You can foster a lifelong love for language learning
There are some downsides to teaching and tutoring younger kids. Sometimes you may have a hard time motivating them if they are not interested in learning Chinese, and are in class because a parent has forced them. Another difficulty can be understanding the pacing of a kids lesson, as kids learn quite differently than adults and may need extra scaffolding and different strategies to grasp a new concepts.
As a tutor, especially if you have limited experience with kids, you may find it easiest to start with older learners from grades 7-12. This group typically comes with an existing literacy skill set and attention span that is easier to plan for. Alternatively, you may find it infnitely preferable to work with adults.
How do I Promote My Services as a Chinese Tutor?
Promoting your services and getting your first client can take a lot of effort, as you need to get your name out there and earn some positive reviews so you can land more clients. The best way to do this is through the Superprof Canada site.
Superprof is a site that connect tutors with learners in a broad range of disciplines, from Chinese to the LSAT or chemistry. Languages are a very popular area for tutors to work in: language students need regular practice, and it is not always affordable to immerse oneself through travel. Some learners need specific types of oral practice for their goals, and others may not be able to make the schedule of a class work for them. Many students prefer a tailored, one-to-one approach, which is where you offer a fantastic service as a tutor. As a tutor, you will use the Superprof site to engage with a variety of prospective clients.
Getting started on Superpof is quick and easy. You will need to create an account, share your photo, and a biography about who you are, what you teach, your rate of pay, and your educational background. Once you have this set up, you can post your profile for prospective clients. They can contact you directly through the site, and you can message them directly to see if you can align schedules. You can work remotely, or safely in person.
Set up your tutor profile on Superprof today!
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