China is a country that has a unique presence in the imagination of Canadians. On one hand, the country is an economic powerhouse that plays a critical role in manufacturing products and technology for the world's consumers. On the other hand, China is seen as an ancient culture with a rich cultural and poltical past. The Great Wall of China, marvelous architecture and sophisticated cuisine are things that immediately come to mind when we think of the country.
With so much cultural influence, it is no surprise that Chinese is a language that people of all backgrounds are curious to learn the country's main languages, Mandarin and Cantonese. If you happen to have literacy and communication skills or literacy in any of China's languages, you are in an excellent position to start a career as a translator or a teacher. But what is the difference between both jobs? Why should a Chinese speaker choose one over the other?
Keep in mind that you can also do both jobs if you have the interest and want to invest the time in working different jobs part time. You can certainly try both careers simultaneously and lean toward whichever role you enjoy most!
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?
What is a Translator?
Translators or interpreters play an important role in society, helping people to communicate from one language to another. Translators work in a a variety of fields: healthcare, education, government, private enterprise, or community services, just to name a few. As a translator, you may help people understand anything from medical diagnoses to business deals or even help to build international relationships. Organizations actively seek multilingual speakers to perform the work of translation to ensure that ideas and information are communicated with as much fidelity to the original message as possible. If this kind of work interests you, you may seriously want to consider becoming a certified translator in Canada!
Why Teach?
Another option multilingual Chinese speakers can choose is to teach the language to young people or adults. Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions out there. As a teacher, you will help others reach their Chinese language goals for a variety of reasons: to connect with their family's culture, to speak Chinese for work, travel, or simply learn a new language for fun. While you can certainly become a certified teacher through an education degree program, you can also earn your certification through programs like TCSOL (Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages). In addition to teaching students linguistic skills, you will also be enriching their cognitive abilities and providing a rich cognitive challenge.
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.
Do I Need to take Chinese Classes to Become a Chinese Translator?
If you are already a fluent speaker of Chinese, you may not need to take any Chinese classes though it may help to learn industry specific vocabulary for working in areas such as medicine or business. You can develop specialized vocabulary by taking a specific class, doing your own independent research, or spending time in the field with a guide or mentor. Depending on the province you live in, you may also need to fulfill certain requirements to become a certified translator. For example, some provinces require you to have a recognized diploma in translation or proof of your professional experience and practice in the form of a dossier to earn certification.
Where Can I Take Chinese Classes Near Me?
Prospective Chinese translators looking to brush up on industry specific Mandarin or Cantonese may find it difficult to locate a class that is specific or advanced enough to meet their needs. For this reason, you may find it easier to hire a tutor that understands the kind of vocabulary you need to deliver high quality translation and interpretation services. In addition a tutor may also be able to help you train for work as a translator or interpreter through practice assignments or live, in-person translation practice.
Finding a Chinese tutor to help you with specific language goals is easy on Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects educators with students. You can easily research the site using the search tool to find tutors that will be able to meet your needs. You may also discover that tutoring is a great opportunity to leverage your own Chinese skills - we will discuss this next!
Chinese speakers have access to one of the largest economies and linguistic communities in the world. Those that speak Chinese are highly valued in the workforce, especially in translation and education. Learn everything you need to know about starting a career as a translator or tutor!
Are Chinese Language Tutors in Demand?
Multilingual educators are in demand in Canada and around the world. Studies have shown that dual language instruction is a high impact practice, though it can be difficult to sustain because educators that are fluent in multiple languages are difficult to find. As a Chinese language tutor with skills in other languages such as English and French, you can teach both in Canada and abroad where there are people that are looking to learn Chinese.
In addition to children, there are many adults that want to learn Chinese for professional purposes. China has one of the largest economies in the world, and many enterprises and banking institutions want to have staff that can communicate easily with Chinese contacts and clients. In this context, you will likely have no problem finding adult student clientele that want to learn Chinese.
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.
How do I Train to be a Chinese Tutor?
There is no formal training required in Canada to become a Chinese tutor. However, it will help you to find clients if you have a background of working with learners, in places like schools, camps, or community centres. You can also prepare yourself by familiarizing yourself with models of language acquisition, Chinese language learning resources, or doing your own research on the best strategies for helping students or structuring a tutoring session.
What is the Difference Between Mandarin Lessons and Cantonese Chinese Lessons?
Speakers of Chinese are likely familiar with the fact that Mandarin and Chinese are distinct varieties of Chinese. Mandarin is the official language of China, and is spoken widely in the mainland Northern parts of China. As such, it is a practical and popular language to learn for people around the world. You may find that you can find a variety of clients who are looking to learn for professional or personal reasons. Cantonese, on the other hand, is mainly spoken largely in areas like Macau and Hong Kong. Many linguists assert that Cantonese is a more complicated language to learn because it has more tones than Mandarin.
Both languages use the same characters, though Mandarin uses simplified characters and Cantonese uses traditional characters. If you are teaching either language, you will find a typical scope and sequence will be appropriate, starting from oral, everyday language and then focusing on more academic vocabulary and complex tenses.
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?
How do I Find Work as a Mandarin Tutor or a Childrens Tutor for Learning Chinese?
Finding work as a tutor is easy thanks to Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects tutors and students in a variety of areas, including Chinese. You can think of it as a marketplace for tutors: simply post your photo, bio, and a description of the tutoring services you can provide. For example, you might want to share your academic background, the languages you can tutor in, and the methods for meeting up (in person or virtual). Prospective clients may also find it useful to know your pedagogical approach, what resources you will use, and and what your rate of pay is. You may even want to share that you can also help to translate documents or act as an interpreter!
Don't hesitate to start your career as a Chinese educator. Post your profile on Superprof today!
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