Des Aventures Toulousaines

Des Aventures Toulousaines  

From September 2009 until June 2010, I spent the best year of my life working as an English language assistant in Toulouse, France. Here's what I got up to inside and outside of the classroom, broken down into eight parts published as weekly blog posts between April and June 2012:

• Part 1: La Ville Rose
• Part 2: Une Ville des Arts 
• Part 3: Des Aventures Polonaises
• Part 4: Des Petits Phoques 
• Part 5: La Vraie France 
• Part 6: The First Noël 
• Part 7: Une Aventure Genevoise 
• Part 8: Adieu, la France

The Translator Diaries: Series 2

The Translator Diaries is a series of interviews with tweeting translators, from some of Twitter's most established linguistic professionals to recent industry débutants.

Rather than reciting their CVs, the interviewees talked specifically about how and why they got into translation, how they acquired experience and qualifications, how they made the transition to freelancer, and how they survived the start-up phase.

The series therefore provides inspiring accounts that can help translation students and newcomers to make decisions when it comes to breaking into the industry and making their career successful.

Series 1 ran on this website in March and April 2013 and Series 2 ran from June until July 2013. Read the Series 2 interviews here:

• Marta Stelmaszak - 1 June 2013
• Eva Hussain - 8 June 2013
• Louise Péron - 15 June 2013
• Ana Naletilić - 22 June 2013
• Marie Jackson - 30 June 2013
• Alison Hughes - 6 July 2013
• Claire Agius - 14 July 2013

A big thank you to all the contributors for sharing their story.

Exciting news - The Translator Diaries series are to be turned into a free e-book. Look out for it later this year!

The Translator Diaries: Claire Agius

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Claire Agius (@ClaireAgius) is a French, German, and Spanish into English translator who has been running Agius Language & Translation since 1999. She has worked in the language services industry for more than 17 years and is a self-described full-fledged linguistic geek!

At what point did you know you wanted to become a translator, Claire?

Like most little girls growing up, I envisioned myself being a hairdresser/nurse/teacher depending on what day of the week it was or what mood I was in. However, by the time I reached 12 I knew exactly what I wanted to be…a vet! I was so hooked on the idea that I studied extra-curricular physics and biology, staying behind after school and at lunchtimes. But all my hard work and enthusiasm wasn’t enough. I just wasn’t cut out for the sciences.

My natural flair seemed to be for languages. Though it wasn’t until I got to university that the idea of becoming a translator started to really appeal to me. The course I followed was combined French/German with modules focusing on language, culture, politics and translation and interpreting.

I knew pretty much straight away that I was never going to be a world-beater when it came to interpreting. As soon as I placed the headset on, panic and fear would set in. I would forget parts of the sentences and regurgitate words that can only be described as utter nonsense. I found I was much more at ease working with the written word, having time to reflect on a text and formulate ideas.

How did you build on this passion for languages?

My year of study abroad took me to Geneva and Heidelberg. I was fortunate enough to be able to follow a translation course at the School of Translating & Interpreting (ETI) in Geneva and was taught by working UN translators. The experience was invaluable and reinforced my desire to work in the translation field.

How did you break into the translation industry after university?

After graduating, my first job came through the Student Job Shop. It was for a language academy, teaching French and German in local schools and private companies. The work was sporadic and I needed to look for a more permanent position.

Eventually I found my way into the industry by accepting a position in a translation company as a multilingual checker and administrator, finally progressing to commercial manager. It was this latter role that gave me the skills and confidence required for running a small business. Soon after, the company was taken over by a larger translation house. I continued there in a managerial role but the size of the company meant I was able to gain more hands-on translation experience. My director at the time supported my application to become a member of the Institute of Linguists (as it was back then).

The company then decided to relocate the northern-based office and continue all operations from its head office in the south, making the decision to move from in-house employee to freelancer an easy one for me.

What did the transition from in-house translator to freelancer entail?

I turned freelance in 1999 and I’ve never looked back. It suited my work/life balance with – by then - having a small family. I managed to build up a decent size client base and repeat business kept me ticking over. Most of my clients have come through speculative applications. I have rarely been asked to take any translation tests, though I have no objection to undertaking small unpaid texts of fewer than 300 words - and providing the text is an extract of a larger piece, and not copy to be published. In my work, I also subcontract to other language professionals and operate as a translation agency.

How necessary do think it is for translators to have a postgraduate qualification in translation?

I don’t hold a postgraduate diploma in translation and when recruiting translators for my team, I don’t consider this an imperative factor. Though I would recommend postgraduate studies, I believe a combination of in-house industry experience, passion, dedication and diligence are equally important.

Likewise, membership to one of the known professional associations (ITI, CIoL, etc.) can be of great benefit, not only from a marketing perspective but also from the point of view of keep abreast of current trends in the industry and networking with other translators and interpreters.

What advice can you give to newcomers to the industry or those who are finding it hard to access it?

The industry can be difficult to break into. You have to prove your worth and find your unique selling point.

Besides being reliable and punctual and producing the obvious accurate and clearly presented work, a freelance translator must be approachable and flexible. Taking time to focus on subjects areas that you are really interested, with the aim of adding those to your specialist fields, will give your services added value.

Being your own boss can be immensely rewarding, but don’t underestimate the hard work involved in running a small business and the solitary nature of the job. You have to be disciplined and methodical.

Over the years, I have found the flexibility of working for myself to far outweigh the more laborious aspects of the job.

That concludes the second series of The Translator Diaries. Thank you to all of our freelance translators (Marta Stelmaszak, Eva Hussain, Louise Péron, Ana Naletilić, Marie Jackson, Alison Hughes and Claire Agius) for sharing their stories and all their practical, concrete advice for aspiring translators and newcomers to the industry.

The Translator Diaries: Alison Hughes

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Alison Hughes (@AHcreattrans) is a French to English translator specialising in marketing and creative texts. Since she started as a freelancer in 1997, she has gained considerable experience translating documents for travel companies, train companies, art galleries, advertising agencies and art publications, having started out in the wine and spirits industry.

Alison Hughes

At what point did you know you wanted to become a translator, Alison?

I came into translation completely by accident as the result of a series of events which I have described in more detail below.

I started with an MA in French and German from Glasgow University (a general language degree rather than a postgraduate Master’s). I lived in France for 3 years and spent 13 years in the wine and spirits industry (in-house translation and general business experience). I have been an MITI since 2001.

How did you make the transition to freelance translation?

While studying languages I took a year out as a language assistant in a small village in Germany (Spangenberg) and, through contacts there, went on to work as a waitress in Disentis, Switzerland, for the summer. One Sunday lunch I served the MD of Mumm Champagne who left his card, which I took as a souvenir. When I graduated in 1981 the UK was in recession so I wrote to the MD asking if he could offer me a job. Three months later I was working in the export department of Mumm Champagne in Reims.

After 3 years I felt like a change and secured a job as bilingual secretary for the Export Director of VAT 69 whisky in London. Guinness took over the small Distillers Ltd companies in 1987 and created a translation department at the new company, United Distillers plc. I applied and was offered a job (without an interview or tests, would you believe?). I worked there for two years, very much learning on the job.

In 1989 I married and moved back to Scotland where I took over from the translator at United Distillers Glasgow who was leaving to have twins. I took voluntary redundancy from United Distillers in 1997, when I was pregnant with my second son, and started my freelance business.

Did you make a conscious choice about whether or not to study for a Master's or similar qualification in translation?

If I’m honest, I didn’t know there was such a thing. I think times have changed since I managed to “wing” my way into translation and qualifications probably do matter more today. Not having a formal translation qualification did mean that becoming a member of ITI (Associate and then full membership in 2001) was vital for agencies to take me seriously. I passed the French to English exam and do remember getting very little German or Spanish work due to lack of formal translation qualifications.

Having said that, when I embarked on my freelance career, I found the “life” and “business” experience I had gathered along the way to be absolutely invaluable.

How easy or difficult did you find it to get work?

I went straight from employment into hospital for 6 weeks before coming out with a new baby and the idea I was going to set up a freelance business right away. Of course a major reality-check was in order.

It probably took me two years to get regular work. I wrote to whisky companies and agencies and attended business courses and events locally in the intervening period, to keep my ‘business’ mind engaged. However my business really got off the ground through contacts I had made at United Distillers. All it took was a contact with a translation agency and a contract to translate a guidebook.

What major problems did you face and overcome? 

Technology was (and still can be) a struggle. I had been trained on all sorts of packages in-house but I no longer had the company’s technical support department at my beck and call.

Has it all been worth it?

Yes it has. Aside from a mid-life wobble when I explored other business ideas, I’ve found my niche with creative texts and hope to build on this in the future.

Any final thoughts?

I’m a firm believer that translators can never have too much experience and need to engage with as many people as they can through every possible channel. This is easier now with social media but face-to-face contact is also important. And of course the ITI offers an increasing number of opportunities for engagement and involvement through networks and CPD events.

I also believe that opportunities can present themselves in the most unexpected places. I volunteered for the Milngavie Book and Arts Festival from its very first year (2008) and was asked to project manage it in 2011. Although this didn’t lead directly to any work, it was an invaluable insight into how potential clients in the arts and media think and work.

Next week, in the last installment of the series, Claire Agius (@ClaireAgius) talks about how her in-house experience proved valuable in setting up her successful translation business and how certain qualities can replace the need for a postgraduate qualification.