[life][college] hitting the books like an abusive relationship
Hai gaiz, how does i choose grad skoolz?
orz
That...actually pained me to write. Wow. I just... Wow.
( tl;dr about grad schools, history, translation and a lot more tl;dr orz )
orz
That...actually pained me to write. Wow. I just... Wow.
( tl;dr about grad schools, history, translation and a lot more tl;dr orz )
Based on the translators/localization experts I've been talking to? Don't get a translation degree. Interpretation degree, maybe, since you need the training and whatnot, not to mention learning how to deal with the OMGWTFstress (I may be exaggerating), but translation seems to be a universal "just practice your Japanese and get experience." :/ I must admit to being daunted by that whole "getting experience part" myself... but, I've been recommended to sign up for translation websites, get my name out there, and do whatever I can. Also, doing your own translations is NOT a waste of time (thank goodness), and is a good way to show prospective employers what you can do. So, that's an option. Might I suggest whipping out thesis as an example? (I saw it yesterday in the library... so shiny. *-*)
Though, admittedly? I'm basing this on my personal life heroes, who are game localization guys. Alexander O. Smith (my GOD), however, does do literary things as well (admittedly free-lance through his own company he founded after making it big in localization), and he was one of the ones who said not to bother with a translation degree. He has a Masters in Classical Japanese from Harvard, for chrissakes.
Also? Monterrey is more expensive than god, which is what kinda originally turned me off of it. :/ $60,000+ a year? Ouchies.
ALL THIS ASIDE, however, if you really want to get into hard core literary translation? Based on the things I've heard, pursuing a Japanese/East Asian Languages/whatever your desired school calls it degree is the way to go. Especially since you can choose to do a massive translation project as you dissertation; kill two birds with one stone!
Um... sorry. This kind of devolved into a rant, and I'm sure you didn't want to hear from poor little undergrad me, but... I've been getting a lot of advice on this stuff lately, and just thought I could share it.
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