HOW TO BECOME A FREELANCE TRANSLATOR
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In this video, I go through my story on how I became a freelance translator. Let me know your story in the comments. Obviously, this is only one way of becoming a freelance translator. I'm looking forward to read yours.
Video by Adrian Probst
Arabic subtitles: Aml Ali
French subtitles: Samar Youssef
Slovenian subtitles: Valentina Srabotic
Spanish subtitles: Zeek Motion
Portuguese subtitles: Leonardo Franklin
Italian subtitles: Francesca Brisotto
Turkish subtitles: Irem Kiper
– useful links from the video –
My universities:
Translator job/networking platform:
Translation schools and universities around the world:
Feel free to connect on LinkedIn:
– Socials –
Check out the Freelanceverse on Spotify/Instagram/Twitter as well and give it a follow 🙂
Instagram:
Twitter:
#freelance #freelancer #translation #translator #xl8 #t9n
Hi Adrian,
Thanks for sharing your story. Very interesting and inspiring story!
Thank you very much for the feedback, Thierry! Are you a translator yourself?
Such an insteresting story. I love how you found your path into the translation field. I’d love to do the Spanish subtitles. Let me know!
Thank you so much, Ignacio! How did you find the video? Feel free to do the subtitles, in September it’s still possible. YouTube takes the option away in October unfortunately.
Great video! Gave me a lot of confidence to keep going with my plan to become a translator. Loved the honesty when telling about the ups and downs of the journey. Thanks! 🙂
Wow, thanks so much for the feedback, Mariana! 🙂 these kind of comments make my day. What languages are you working with? Make sure to connect on LinkedIn so we can share resources. -Adrian
Hi Adrian! Looking in getting myself into doing translations. Like you, I’ve always been very good with languages but never really understood that it could be a good career path. How could I reach out to you in private? I have a lot of questions. Thanks for this channel.
Hi Tino, great, glad you find value in it! The easiest is to contact me on LinkedIn: *Adrian Probst*
I’m so happy I found your channel and to see that you’re still making videos! I’m looking to become a translator and this one video has already helped me a lot
Thanks a lot Colibri! Still going strong 😀
Sehr interessant zu sehen, wie du ein Freelancer geworden bist – schön zu hören, wie du alles, was du gemacht hast, jetzt brauchen kannst für deinem Job!😊 Ich fand es zu schwer und mühsam, Aufträge zu finden und dann immer so unterbezahlt zu werden aber jetzt versuche ich wieder, ein zweites Standbein aufzubauen und bin deshalb froh, auf deinen Kanal gestossen zu sein. Viel Erfolg weiterhin und ich freue mich auf die nächsten Videos!
Hey Anja, sehr cool, merci für deinen Kommentar! Ja, der Anfang ist definitiv nicht einfach — vor allem in der Schweiz. Viel Erfolg! Und meld dich, wenn ich dir irgendwie weiterhelfen kann 🙂
Hey Adrian! Thanks a lot for this video! It helped me a lot as I’m struggling right now because I just quit my studies in biotechnology for becoming a professional translator in English (later Spanish) and still don’t know how to really start yk. I want to start an online school which prepares me for passing the exams to become a state certified translator. But I’m not sure if I should just start another bachelors degree in translation or if this online school will be enough which it should be if I pass the state exam right?
Again thank you for the video and I’ll keep watching your other ones for more information!
Hi Sophie, thanks for your comment! 🙂 I’m not very familiar with state exams, what country are we talking about here? I don’t have a state exam personally. It’s not needed per se, but in some countries it’s much more common. I’m mostly in favour of getting a translation degree, but it depends a lot on your previous work experience. Maybe check out the video on my channel about degrees.
@Freelanceverse – Adrian Probst thanks! I’m German but I thought it may be better to write in English if someone who doesn’t speak German deals with similar issues.
@Sophie Dietz absolutely 🙂 thanks for that
Actually, I’m a translation student, and I’m satisfied with these kind of videos especially urs for u are giving a positive vibe to all of us and that’s pretty motivating. I would like translate your video into Arabic! If it is possible of course!
That’s awesome, thanks so much for the comment, Yasmine. Sure, please send me an email to freelanceverse@gmail.com.
Hi! First of all, Thanks you for sharing your experience.
I would love to become a Professional Translator, but I have some doubts..
1. Is It quite important the accademic degree in translation field right? For example for platforms etc..
2. In your opinion which are the main Areas for best Jobs?
3. In order to be a Digital Nomad in this field which are the best tools to mantain a good effiency in the job?
Thank you very much for every word and advice you have shared with us.
I’m a Malaysian high schooler and I’m interested in becoming a Malay-English-Korean translator when I grow up, so I’m glad I saw your video! Thank you for sharing your experience and how you started❤️
That’s great! Go for it 🙂
army you can do it!
I’ve been self-studying Korean for three years, and think I’d like to translate online media (web series, interviews, YouTube videos). I think freelance translating would be perfect for me, but it’s probably gonna take a while as I’m still only intermediate 1. 😅 What degree(s) would you recommend I go for? Should I minor in another language?
Hi there, if you can, you should go for a translation degree 🙂 if not, language is probably your best bet, yes.
@Freelanceverse – Adrian Probst Would a linguistics degree be beneficial?
Yes definitely.
Had to change career plans suddenly. I’ve always been learning languages since I was a kid in Japan. I hope that soon I’ll be able to start doing freelance translating jobs soon. Thank you for this video! It is very insightful
You’re welcome, glad the content is useful to you and good luck!
I love this video and can´t wait to see the other ones. Thank you for sharing your journey, it will help other people a lot! 🙂 By the way I am a student of translation studies, and I would like to translate to Slovak language, let me know if I can 🙂 Thanks
Hi Dominika, so happy to you like the video. It’s funny that my first ever video from back then is still drawing people in 🙂 hope the video quality has improved by then and that you also like the newer stuff 😀 Sure, feel free to send me an email regarding the subtitles to freelanceverse@gmail.com. -Adrian
Hey Adrian! I just discovered this video and your YT and I loved your story. It really inspired me since after college or university, we are kinda lost 😄 I really want to practice so please let me know how can I help translate your videos. It would be a pleasure. I’m portuguese and I can speak english fluently and I’m learning chinese at the moment. Hope we can continue this conversation. Continue with the great work!
Hi Ana Sofia, thanks so much for getting in touch 🙂 feel free to send me a quick email to freelanceverse@gmail.com and I will let you know how you can translate the videos. -Adrian
I’m very grateful for your channel – thank you for sharing. ❤️
Back at the Uni, I’ve had only a limited course in translation and it focused mainly on literary translations.
Since I’m just starting as a freelance translator, I’d like to know more about the research part – you’ve mentioned it as one of the most important. Some pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Jelena, so glad to hear that you enjoy the channel 🙂 Oh yeah, the research part is crucial. Imagine, just recently I had to translate a hunting leaflet all about different types of guns and amunition. Of course I had little idea about the hunting lingo, so I had to research a lot about that first. What do you actually call the individual parts of the gun? So these things you have to do a lot of research on. Your end product needs to be a text that is understood by the target audience (whether it being hunting experts or lay people). This is both the most challenging and most rewarding part of translation. You never stop learning new things. So it’s really important that you learnt some kind of research techniques at uni, because limiting your search to the first page of Google will most likely not get you to the fruitful results.
@Freelanceverse – Adrian Probst Thank you for taking the time to reply. ❤️ And for the inspiration! 🙂 Keep up! All the best!
Hi there!!! Congratulations on your accomplishments!!! I am a an experienced medical Interpreter, but a beginning translator, currently working on my bachelors for English<>Spanish. I wanted to reach out to you to thank you for your videos because I think you are a great example and a great resource for anyone wanting to break into this field. I hope you enjoy great success and accomplishments, and God bless you for your work & bridging communication gaps! 👍
as translators we kinda bridge the world together
☮️🌎🗺🌏🗺🌍☮️
P.S. I’m interested in translating your video from English to Spanish, please let me know if/how one might be able to do so…
Thanks again 😊
I did not plan to become a translator but before 2021 ended, I got a freelance project to translate a website’s content. And that project introduced me to the “industry” and to freelancing. I am thankful that I get to know this job but I still have a lot to learn. I think I may need to binge-watch your Translator Toolkit playlist to learn the beginning steps. 🙂
Hi Akie 🙂 thanks for tuning in! I hope the videos can guide you in the right direction
Thank you for the interesting information on how you paved your path with a honest and straightforward approach. And thank you also for sharing your experience, thoughts and tips.
Is there a translation tool you rely on and then adjust accordingly, or do you translate everything from scratch with no assistance?
I have done translations and back translation for a pharmaceutical company and for a university assignment, but would like to expand to other fields.
I may follow your suggestion and start with translating this video to Portuguese. I would also consider transcribing and subtitling it if I only had the basic tools and knowledge. Any suggestions on how to begin?
Thank you!
I have lived in Japan 5yrs & since have been wanting to continue in my Japanese studies. I moved to Hawaii and use Japanese everyday since my Japanese. I have so much fun studying Japanese and I wonder if the knowledge I have is enough to do translating as a freelancer. I would start but don’t know where to begin.
The first time I come around to look for this subject I come across such a great video! I am capeverdean, lived in Portugal and now in the Netherlands. I always had something for languages, but unfortunately life haven’t been that easy, I could not keep up with studying for the past 13 years, I am now a mother and I really want to go back to studying, and my passion is translation, I want to start but after all this time, and in this stage of life (32 years old) I am so lost, but I am not going to give up and try to find my way. I didn’t really know how it worked and you gave a good insight, thank you for that.
Hi Marcia, 32 is definitely not too old!! Hope the channel can give you some pointers 🙂 there are over 150 videos on here about the profession and industry. Succes! 🙂