Catharine
Cellier Smart (@Smart_Translate) is a British-born French to English freelance translator
(and occasional interpreter) based in Réunion Island, an overseas department of
France in the Indian Ocean, where she has lived for 18 years since 1990. Cath
translated professionally part-time, in parallel with her job, from 1992
until 2008 before going full time.
Cath, at
what point did you know you wanted to become a translator?
When my
husband's job was posted to South Korea in 2008, I had to resign from my
(non-language related) job in industry. Officially in South
Korea I wasn't allowed to work, and when we learnt we were coming back to
Réunion after three years in Asia, I decided I wanted to translate full time. I
enjoy helping people understand each other – communication is extremely
important in our lives, and translation is part of that.
Catharine Cellier Smart |
What
relevant qualifications and experience do you have?
I have a
BA (Hons) language degree from a British university, an MBA from a French
university Business School (IAE), and a certificate of translation (via
distance learning). I have about 20 years’ experience translating, of which 18
years are part time and 2 years full time.
Have you
ever contemplated studying for a Master's in translation?
I would
dearly like to study for a post-grad in translation, but I would prefer to
study for it in person rather than via distance learning. Réunion Island has a
university, but there are no suitable translation-related courses, and I can't
just hop on the tube and go somewhere else. That's one of the frustrations of
living on a remote tropical island.
Do you
think a postgraduate qualification is necessary or considerably advantageous?
I think
there are some very good translators out there without formal translation qualifications.
"A qualification does not a translator make".
How much
experience did you have when you went freelance, and how hard did you find it?
Getting
work is not always easy; most of my specialisations are in highly competitive
fields, and my unique specialisation of Réunion Island/Indian Ocean islands
isn't very much sought after. However, I find that when an agency really needs
you, they don't worry about the experience, qualifications and test
translations. And don't forget that agencies are not the only clients out
there!
What major
problems did you face and overcome?
Making
myself known, trying to stand out from the crowd, building up a clientèle.
Fingers crossed, I've never had any payment problems so far.
Has it all
been worth it?
Yes! There's
no doubt. Although maybe that's the sort of question you need to ask yourself
at the end of your career.
Next week, Lydia Smith (@smiffinch) explains how working as a Project Manager in a translation company put her in a good position to become a freelance translator and how she managed to remain successful whilst raising her children and during a recession.
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