Learning languages can be fun. But also useful. Other than just a translator, what other jobs can linguists get?
There are plenty of jobs a language learner can get. Even usual jobs now require or advise that applicants speak at least one foreign language. Whether you speak Spanish or French to Catalan or Occitan, you can get great jobs.
1. Online Tutor
This job was unheard of 10 years ago. If you know a foreign language and want to teach others. But don’t want to have to mark stacks of books. This job is for you!
As an online Tutor, you can interact on a 1 on 1 or 1 on 2 basis. You can teach at your students pace without having to worry about the curriculum. You can do this relatively simply- set up a listing on something like EBay, Craigslist or set up your own website. Get people knowing who you are, get clients, start earning. It’s that simple.
2. Linguists Blog
Have you ever seen a website that’s multilingual. Normally the website owner doesn’t pay a translation agency to do this. Normally the writers themselves do it. This job is relatively easy. All you need is a website, and some time.
The best example is the blog Fluent in 3 Months. It talks about how anyone can become fluent in a language in as little as three months. It preaches the value of making mistakes when learning languages. He has spoken on TED Talks and he’s written his own book “Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World.”
3. Youtuber or Podcaster
Have you ever wanted to have your own part of the YouTube real estate? Talking about your passion is the way! Talking about foreign language is a unique niche, relatively untapped.
A few great examples of language YouTubers are Nativlang and Langfocus. Both of these channels talk not only about modern foreign languages but about ancient languages. Ancient Greek, Latin, Ancient Assyrian and more!
4. Tour Guide
Do you want to live in a warm place and get paid for it? Many people travel. And don’t necessarily know the language. That’s where you come in… You travel with the group, and you communicate with both your group and the locals.
Many people are willing to pay top dollar for your skills. Someone to put the place into context. Provide insights. Tell the history. Many travel companies will pay for a tour guide to travel or meet the group there. And depending on your skill, they’ll pay highly for this.
5. Researcher
English as we know it didn’t exist until 1066. And English wasn’t a main player on the world linguistic stage until around 1800. The majority of early research wasn’t done in English. But Arabic, Chinese, Hindu and Hebrew.
Learning one of these languages in depth can help you. And pay well. There aren’t enough people working through ancient texts. Which leads discoveries to take forever. We can’t leave this solely to a few researchers from the National Geographic. So if learning fascinating facts that no one else has talked about in over 2000 years seems appealing. Consider it!
6. Product Localisation Manager
Have you ever been to a country with far different culture to that of our own. India? China? Paraguay? Have you ever noticed why a Big Mac in India doesn’t exist? Because it clashes with the local culture.
A product localisation manager makes sure this doesn’t happen. They go into the field and use their linguists’ knowledge to talk to the locals. Becoming an expert in the local culture. Seamlessly integrating a large corporation with a sometimes small local community.
Is becoming a translator worth it?
Obviously, I would say ‘Yes.’ But maybe I’m a little bias. A translator earns $50,000 per year on average. Which isn’t too bad.
Obviously, you won’t become Bill Gates from being a translator. But you won’t be doing too bad for yourself… If you are interested in working on a wide array of work. Then a translator can be a great career choice for you.
Do I need a degree to be a translator?
The short answer: No. Whilst a degree is often preferable, it is not a necessity. Many translation agencies ask that their translators have a degree or are able to pass difficult in-house language tests. Although some translation agencies may require their linguists to have both a degree and pass a test.
If you don’t have a degree, many translation agencies will expect that you are bilingual. Or that you have lived in a country that speaks that language, ie. French and you lived in France.