As a lover of the aesthetic and sweet nuances of the world, I find languages and the cultures behind them most interesting. Although I am only fluent in two languages, English and Afrikaans, I have often wondered what it would be like to master more languages and enter the world of an Interpreter. So with this interest in mind, I did some research that I think might be helpful to those who are leaning towards or hoping for a career in interpreting.

Firstly, I think the job of an interpreter is probably one of the most exciting careers.  You get to surround yourself with beautiful languages but you also get to meet diverse individuals and join cultural communities which give you a whole new perspective on the world – who wouldn’t want to become a professional in this field! With globalization on a high and growth in technology, interpreters are becoming more and more in demand, so if this is your dream job, you stand a good chance of gaining career satisfaction!

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What does it entail to be an Interpreter you ask? 

Firstly, you will need to be proficient in 2 or more languages (this could include sign-language), if you aren’t able to communicate in more than one language yet, don’t let this get you down; you are never too old to learn something new! Next, you will need to be interested in other aspects such as politics, media, and public services or other related fields as these subjects will most probably be included in your studies or be a prerequisite to getting work in this category.

The focus of an Interpreter is to convert the spoken words of one language into another language, usually in situations when an important message needs to be conveyed between members of different spoken languages. This usually takes place at conferences and meetings or anywhere else that interpretation is needed, the opportunities are quite endless. The job, however, is not that simple. You will need a lot of confidence as you will often have to address large audiences, this also means that you will have to be a quick thinker with excellent concentration skills and also very clear in your speech.

If you still find all of this exciting and think this could be your career choice, perhaps we should delve deeper into the dynamics of interpretation? Ok then, here we go! 

You basically get two types of interpreting: Simultaneous (conference) Interpreting and Consecutive Interpreting. 

Simultaneous interpreting:  this usually takes more skill than consecutive interpreting as you will be required to interpret the spoken words as the speaker is speaking. 

Consecutive Interpreting: this is more of an intimate occurrence with few people attending a meeting. 

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Each type of interpreting comes with its advantages and disadvantages. You would have to weigh them up and decide which would suit your personality and goals best. The salaries are rewarding however and the experiences you will endeavor will be satisfactory in themselves. Salaries for professional and established interpreters can range from £20,000 to £70,000!

To end off, let’s take a look at what we would need to study to become a qualified interpreter. Most importantly you will need to be fluent in at least two languages. You will need a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field as a minimum qualification as well. Recommended courses are linguistics, social studies, politics, and economics. Sounds daunting I am sure but the journey would be worth it!