My New Life Plan
So, I've been graduated for almost four years now, and have really not had a whole lot of luck finding editing jobs in this city. There have been a few opportunities, but the fact remains that to up my chances of finding and landing something, I'd have better luck in Toronto. Which is still a possibility for someday, but as things are looking pretty good here for Don's career these days, for the time being, we'll be staying here.
With that in mind, I started thinking recently that maybe I needed a new plan. So I started rethinking a previously-discarded idea: translation. It's something I've thought of before, because it's another way to make use of my mad language skillz, and it's not quite editing, but I think I'd still enjoy it. However, as it requires additional schooling, I decided against it, figuring it was neither feasible or particularly desirable. I'd really had more than enough of school when I graduated. However, I looked into it again, and discovered that Ottawa U has a 2-year program available for those with other degrees already. Suddenly that became much more feasible and desirable.
So my new plan is this:
Spend the next year and a half brushing up my French. This has a few components.
1. I bought a French grammar book and am working through it. Most of it should be more of a review/reminder than anything else.
2. Start including some French books in my reading. I've started this too, with a fluffy little kids/teen book. I figure it's a good start.
3. Practice writing in French. For this, however, I need some help, because I need someone whose French is super good, who could go over it for me, to make sure I'm doing it right and actually remember how to apply all the fancy rules I'm currently reminding myself of. I can't afford to pay someone like a tutor, but I'd be willing to buy them coffee, any maybe cook them dinner occasionally, so if you are or know someone who might be up for this, by all means, please let me know.
If all that goes well, I should be prepared to take their entrance French tests next spring, so I can start school again in the fall of 2010. And then two years after that, I should be qualified as a French-English translator, and if I can't find decent work in this city at that point, I'm clearly hopeless.
So that's my new plan, and I'm actually really excited about it, so there it is. Just thought I'd share.
With that in mind, I started thinking recently that maybe I needed a new plan. So I started rethinking a previously-discarded idea: translation. It's something I've thought of before, because it's another way to make use of my mad language skillz, and it's not quite editing, but I think I'd still enjoy it. However, as it requires additional schooling, I decided against it, figuring it was neither feasible or particularly desirable. I'd really had more than enough of school when I graduated. However, I looked into it again, and discovered that Ottawa U has a 2-year program available for those with other degrees already. Suddenly that became much more feasible and desirable.
So my new plan is this:
Spend the next year and a half brushing up my French. This has a few components.
1. I bought a French grammar book and am working through it. Most of it should be more of a review/reminder than anything else.
2. Start including some French books in my reading. I've started this too, with a fluffy little kids/teen book. I figure it's a good start.
3. Practice writing in French. For this, however, I need some help, because I need someone whose French is super good, who could go over it for me, to make sure I'm doing it right and actually remember how to apply all the fancy rules I'm currently reminding myself of. I can't afford to pay someone like a tutor, but I'd be willing to buy them coffee, any maybe cook them dinner occasionally, so if you are or know someone who might be up for this, by all means, please let me know.
If all that goes well, I should be prepared to take their entrance French tests next spring, so I can start school again in the fall of 2010. And then two years after that, I should be qualified as a French-English translator, and if I can't find decent work in this city at that point, I'm clearly hopeless.
So that's my new plan, and I'm actually really excited about it, so there it is. Just thought I'd share.