Skills needed to become a translator

I am starting a series of articles about becoming a translator. Please feel free to comment them and express your own ideas.

So you know a foreign language and want to become a translator. Let’s check if you have or can easily get the needed skills.

1. Language Skills

  • Understanding of the
    source language
  • Good writing skills in your target language
  • Proof-reading

2. IT skills

  • Using hardware and software for producing translations
  • Electronic file management

3. Communication skills

  • Listening and asking questions
  • Expressing yourself in a clear way
  • Giving and receiving feedback

4. Project
management

  • Researching terminology
  • Coordinating resources
  • Quality control

5. Making
decisions

  • Consulting
  • Reflecting
  • Analyzing
  • Making judgments

What are your thoughts? Is anything missing from the list? Your comments are welcome.

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2 Responses to “Skills needed to become a translator”

  1. Svetlana says:

    So,how does one become a translator?Do I need to get a degree in college?Is there a test or a sample test I can take to see what I need to work on?I think I’m good at this, but want to know how good.

  2. Olga says:

    Another one:
    1) to be ready to learn all our life. If you are translator do not say that you can translate anything. You can’t know everything.
    2) to be lazy and to search for information and consult with the specialists

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