As you sure know, translation cannot but be a passion and a real choice of career as it is very demanding in terms of concentration, self-discipline and dedication to work. Indeed, one must have the passion of foreign languages and of its mothertongue language, feel at ease with words and grammar and be talented for writing, together with being conscious of the fact that accuracy is the key-word of a good translation. To make it short, translation is a gift and an expertise. I have both.
From my early age on, I have been immersed in litterature and foreign languages. My father was an Italian native speaker and my mother an English native speaker. They both gave me the sense of languages and writing. I was naturally very much attracted by travelling, which led me to spend a year as an exchange student in British Columbia (Canada) at the age of 16 and a year in Italy after my graduation, which reinforced my knowledge of the Italian and English language and cultures
My initial choice of career was teaching. I very much wanted to transmit my passion for the English language. But I soon discovered teaching was not enough and that translation was the occupation that would suit me best. I had had the chance to work as a translator and a proofreader during my English studies. These experiences were for me a true revelation. I thus started translation studies at the the renouned International School of Translation of Geneva (Switzerland), which will be over this year. I have developped, during those two years of training, a real expertise and have learnt self-discipline, efficiency and accuracy, as well as technical skills (such as the use of translation memory like Trados).
I now feel totally professional and able to handle an efficient and accurate work. I have started working as a freelance translator a few months ago, and this activity gives me full satisfaction, as much as I give satisfaction to my employers and clients. |