| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | Poll: Would you like your children to become translators? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| wouldn't mind, but don't think so... | Dec 4, 2009 |
a) because they see me work long hours... My daughter has even suggested I go work "in an office, like everybody else's moms and dads" (she's 5).
b) my daughter has an innate talent for dance, and although at 5 she speaks three languages, I would prefer her to follow that call. The little one is nearly 3 but does not speak yet. Instead, he has a superb control of his body that suggests he'll be into sports, or something that does NOT involve sitting down, although that may change, of cour... See more a) because they see me work long hours... My daughter has even suggested I go work "in an office, like everybody else's moms and dads" (she's 5).
b) my daughter has an innate talent for dance, and although at 5 she speaks three languages, I would prefer her to follow that call. The little one is nearly 3 but does not speak yet. Instead, he has a superb control of his body that suggests he'll be into sports, or something that does NOT involve sitting down, although that may change, of course.
So, since they're so young, anything can happen, but I'd love to see them developing what looks like natural gifts in them, rather than following my steps. And I do love my job! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds 
United States
Local time: 07:30
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Mine is on the way to becoming a nurse, and she will be a bilingual one. It is what she chose, and I could not be more pleased. She will be in great demand and never without a job.
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 16:30
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Whatever will be ... will be | Dec 4, 2009 |
Like so many others, I want my children to do whatever they want and intend to support them in it.
My elder son is 5 1/2 currently when he grows up he wants to review toys - like he sees on youtube. We are busy helping him realise that burning ambition.... though I doubt it'll be a life long one
My younger son almost 3, is happy to sit down next to me on my another computer and type merrily into word documents ... though I doubt that'll last either.
The wo... See more Like so many others, I want my children to do whatever they want and intend to support them in it.
My elder son is 5 1/2 currently when he grows up he wants to review toys - like he sees on youtube. We are busy helping him realise that burning ambition.... though I doubt it'll be a life long one
My younger son almost 3, is happy to sit down next to me on my another computer and type merrily into word documents ... though I doubt that'll last either.
The world they will grow up to work in will be rather different I think ... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Selcuk Akyuz
Türkiye
Local time: 16:30
English to Turkish
+ ...
Αlban SHPΑTΑ wrote:
There will be NO human translators when my kid grows up. The evolution of machine translation is unstoppable and, sadly enough, translators themselves are contributing into preparing their own deathbed.
Nothing to add.
| | |
|
|
|
R. Alex Jenkins
Brazil
Local time: 10:30
Member (2006)
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| Update on your figures... | Dec 4, 2009 |
Ikram Mahyuddin wrote:
That so far about 35% of this poll's voters don't have children is rather suprising me. Does it mean anything?
Actually, it's more than 40% now. We live in an age where not having children is considered pretty normal and probably the 'intelligent' thing to do.
| | | | | Interpreter's perspective | Dec 4, 2009 |
Once again, a question that gear toward translators only and not interpreters.
As an interpreter, I want my children to acquire the profession of SpanishEnglish interpreter and to get certified as such. Once this is accomplished, they can as well pursue other interests if they so choose, but I want them to have this skill (and the certificate) as a ticket to financial freedom, a solid financial base under whatever they fancy to do in life.
The benefits of being an Spa... See more Once again, a question that gear toward translators only and not interpreters.
As an interpreter, I want my children to acquire the profession of SpanishEnglish interpreter and to get certified as such. Once this is accomplished, they can as well pursue other interests if they so choose, but I want them to have this skill (and the certificate) as a ticket to financial freedom, a solid financial base under whatever they fancy to do in life.
The benefits of being an SpanishEnglish certified interpreter are (OK, I"M talking about the U.S. here - not sure about other countries):
1. You are always in demand. So high is a demand, that you can take two years off (without having to ask anyone's permission), travel the world - and then come back and step right back into your profession. Now, try that if you are a computer specialist!
2. You can work full-time or part-time - YOU get to choose. You can work as few or as many hours as you wish.
3. You can free-lance! And, after spending many hours of my life dealing with nasty bosses and inter-office politics, I became rather fanatical about free-lancing.
4. The pay is good. No, you won't get stinky rich - but you'll be financially comfortable.
5. To acquire this profession doesn't take many years and thousands of dollars.
Now, if somebody knows of another profession that has all this benefits - please enlighten me so I can share this information with my children. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 07:30
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Yes, there is another one Alexandra, nursing, my daughter's choice. It offers all the advantages you mention. But there are not many others.
Both of these professions do require a fair amount of study and preparation, I don't think we can deny that. But one need not spend a fortune on it.
I am also an interpreter, but lately I have been getting virtually no work in that area at all. On the other hand, the translation volume has been great.
But I also am con... See more Yes, there is another one Alexandra, nursing, my daughter's choice. It offers all the advantages you mention. But there are not many others.
Both of these professions do require a fair amount of study and preparation, I don't think we can deny that. But one need not spend a fortune on it.
I am also an interpreter, but lately I have been getting virtually no work in that area at all. On the other hand, the translation volume has been great.
But I also am convinced that we should let the kids choose. When my daughter chose hers I was really surprised, and a pleasant surpise it was. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Mine are bilingual but... | Dec 4, 2009 |
my first born (28) is a dentist (Gosh, I'm so proud of her!) and my "baby" (23) is an artist, a professional photographer and (proud mom speaking) a born merchant!
I would have loved to have one of my daughters working with me, but I always knew they would choose their own ways and I'm happy to see them doing what they love to do - JUST LIKE ME!
| | |
|
|
|
Kata Koncz
Hungary
Local time: 15:30
Member (2008)
English to Hungarian
| Hey, Tomás, do you have kids? | Dec 4, 2009 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
Sorry but I don't buy that thing of wanting your children to be whatever they may want to be etc. etc. For a professional loving his/her trade, it is only natural to secretly wish that his/her children took over and to be able to help them as their experienced counselor and tutor in translation.
Don't you harbour that wish, not even a little bit? Is translation treating you guys so badly that you don't want your children to follow your steps?
...because I do. Sure I want them to become whatever they want to become. Whatever makes them happy makes me happy. It's so simple. Profession is as important a factor in one's happiness as a relationship. If you choose wrong, it'll make you miserable. No parent would want to witness that.
As for my kids "taking over", well, I follow my road, they should follow theirs. There are quite a lot of satisfying professions to choose from. I have no problem with people who are not translators, so I guess I'll manage either way. If they opt for translation, they can inherit my reference books. That's the deal, so no pressure, kids.
| | | | | one has followed me | Dec 4, 2009 |
My son is a translator and has married a translator, so it looks like the profession will continue in the family for some time.
My daughter wants nothing to do with translating and has opted to study medicine. But she still got involved in doing the translations for a project her group had to present at a congress this summer.
And when she's on Red Cross duty and they have sick immigrants to deal with, she always has to translate!
They can't escape, it's in thei... See more My son is a translator and has married a translator, so it looks like the profession will continue in the family for some time.
My daughter wants nothing to do with translating and has opted to study medicine. But she still got involved in doing the translations for a project her group had to present at a congress this summer.
And when she's on Red Cross duty and they have sick immigrants to deal with, she always has to translate!
They can't escape, it's in their genes.... ▲ Collapse
| | | | | They would save a fortune! | Dec 4, 2009 |
Kata Koncz wrote: Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
Sorry but I don't buy that thing of wanting your children to be whatever they may want to be etc. etc. For a professional loving his/her trade, it is only natural to secretly wish that his/her children took over and to be able to help them as their experienced counselor and tutor in translation.
Don't you harbour that wish, not even a little bit? Is translation treating you guys so badly that you don't want your children to follow your steps? ey, Tomás, do you have kids?
Yes I have! I have two boys.
I insist: my understanding of this question is not what we feel is good for them (freedom to choose etc. etc.), but whether it would please us if they became translators.
In my case, I would love it if one of them became a translator because:
1. After their studies, I could teach them a lot of things, right from direct experience, saving them a lot of frustration and worries.
2. They would save a fortune in dictionaries... and I have them all on paper.
3. They could join the team a couple of years before I retire and could take over my customers.
4. It would be lovely to help them after I retire, just working a couple of hours a day reviewing stuff or working on terminology things until A) they felt confident that they can do alone, B) they feel it is embarrassing to have dad in the office, or C) I really want to stop.
I know, I know... this is all just daydreaming. And needless to say that I will accept whatever they prefer to do in their professional and personal life. Except piercings and tattoos!!
[Edited at 2009-12-04 20:53 GMT]
| | | | Kata Koncz
Hungary
Local time: 15:30
Member (2008)
English to Hungarian
| freedom of choice (and its limits) | Dec 4, 2009 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Except piercings and tattoos!!
I agree with that one
| | |
|
|
|
TCN6YR
Japan
Local time: 22:30
Russian to Japanese
+ ...
| I don't have them | Dec 5, 2009 |
And don't have any visions for the future. 40% out of the participants don't have children. It looks as if we are the majority, but remained 60% have them. It is not a surprising fact since there are even students here. Lots of people from this category are potential parents, and will think about children's future:)
Αlban SHPΑTΑ wrote:
There will be NO human translators when my kid grows up. The evolution of machine translation is unstoppable and, sadly enough, translators themselves are contributing into preparing their own deathbed.
I don't want to be a pessimist, but I see that the Google translation is now more sophisticated. With the rapid advancement of technology, it is quite possible that machine would replace human translators. If literature, researches, agreements, and other different kinds of documents in all languages are input into the machine, it could even understand contexts. I would say that there would be more proofreading works in the future.
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 09:30
Member (2009)
French to English
This has been an interesting conversation. I agree with many of the points presented here. I have made sure that my daughter has access to a second language. She is 6 and has been in a Spanish immersion school for 3 years. Interestingly enough, that is not my source language but it is also the language that I studied first.
On the other hand... I do believe that it takes a specific personality to not only tolerate working for long stretches alone - but to thrive on it. My daughter ... See more This has been an interesting conversation. I agree with many of the points presented here. I have made sure that my daughter has access to a second language. She is 6 and has been in a Spanish immersion school for 3 years. Interestingly enough, that is not my source language but it is also the language that I studied first.
On the other hand... I do believe that it takes a specific personality to not only tolerate working for long stretches alone - but to thrive on it. My daughter is an absolute social butterfly. I am proud of her, but I do not think that she would be happy as a translator. Perhaps she could be an interpreter, but I will leave that for her to decide as she gets older. I have given her the tools and that is all that I can do. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Nursing is a good choice, too. | Dec 5, 2009 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
Yes, there is another one Alexandra, nursing, my daughter's choice. It offers all the advantages you mention. But there are not many others.
Both of these professions do require a fair amount of study and preparation, I don't think we can deny that. But one need not spend a fortune on it.
I am also an interpreter, but lately I have been getting virtually no work in that area at all. On the other hand, the translation volume has been great.
But I also am convinced that we should let the kids choose. When my daughter chose hers I was really surprised, and a pleasant surpise it was.
But forgive me if I am still partial to interpreting...
I am surprised you have "virtually no work" as an interpreter. Here in California the demand is astonishing!
Maybe nursing is a better choice, after all, as I can think of no area where nurses are not in high demand.
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Would you like your children to become translators? | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
| | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
