When I started working as a translator, my toolkit included a French degree in English and 8 years practicing my language skills between Ireland and England. The translation opportunities I was presented with were, in my opinion, the lucky outcome of a solid network and being in the right place at the right time. Working as a part-time freelance translator, I discovered the full extent of what this profession requires, and realised that there is more to translation than language skills. It became evident to me that I needed to further my education with a training specific to translation. I chose to go back to university and study for a Master in Translation and Interpreting Studies.
Although I had no hesitation as to the necessity of this training, my situation was not a typical one. I was a ‘mature student’ of 35, with a new family (a step-son of 7), a mortgage and house renovation works on the go. None of this really seemed problematic to me however, since my resolution was infallible. Just like love, a mature student’s determination makes you blind.
Admittedly, I was blessed with a fantastic support system. My partner and step-son were ever so understanding when, in the run up to a deadline, I missed diner and lullaby appointments to pull an all-nighter at the library, or when I couldn’t partake in weekend activities because every hour was dedicated to reading journal articles. I had one year to learn everything I could (from university*) about translation, its techniques, theories, currents and advances, and considering the financial cost, this was one experience I would not get a second chance at. I worked hard, I was broke, and I was often too tired to do anything else, but there is no doubt this was one of the best experiences of my life.
From a personal stance, succeeding in my master studies was a huge confidence boost. I was a poor to average student throughout my previous education, and although I wanted to do well when I started, I did not expect the results that I achieved. I do believe that undertaking this master as a mature student, with the awareness of its necessity, a well defined career project, and the lingering underlining pressure of financial dependencies that “adults” learn to live with, gave me the focus I needed to succeed, and had clearly lacked through my earlier education.
It goes without saying that my career also benefited from this move. My office was given an update with adequate hardware and software that I discovered and learned to use during the master. This greatly improved my work in terms of efficiency and adaptability to the market, and gave me the confidence to approach new potential sources of work whose standards I could now meet. Since graduating, I was able to up my game and earn the trust of a number of new agencies and clients. I also joined networks such as the ITI and North West Translators Network, and started to plan for my continuing professional development.
During the course, I worked alongside younger students who had come to the master straight from their previous studies. On one hand, being a mature student meant that I already had some knowledge of the translation market, which helped me to put in context some of the notions covered by our lecturers. On the other hand, unlike most of my fellow students, I had left education 12 years before. As a result, I was a little out of the loop when it came to the purely academic aspects of studying, such as theoretical understanding, academic writing and the general gymnastic required to fully grasp and articulate theoretical ideas. It took me a few weeks to adapt to the rhythm of it all, but I enjoyed it from day one. I realised how much more gratifying it is to learn when you actually have a career plan and the motivation needed for it. I became an avid reader of all things to do with translation, and gave my brain a serious workout after years of relying on acquired skills.
I’m hoping it is clear by now that I am a strong supporter of going back to education as a mature student. I would actually advocate for anyone who isn’t quite sure what their calling is earlier in life to live a little before making the decision to further their education. A mature student is not only older than his/her peers, but mature enough to be determined and focused enough to make the most of their time at university. It is a challenging enterprise, especially when you have other responsibilities, but if it has been thought through and evaluated as the next logical step, then it is definitely worth the investment.
*There are many other ways to further one’s professional development.
Katell Sevellec 