My Final Post

I am writing to inform you that my blog is closing. Yes, you read right.

This is the last post I’m writing here. I no longer have the inspiration and the dedication you need to keep a blog running and updated. I’ve also changed as a person in the last three years. Three years ago my biggest dream was to become a freelance translator and/or interpreter. Now that career doesn’t appeal to me anymore. As far as my ideal job is concerned, I imagine myself in an office (not a home office, I mean in a firm) working with people face-to-face, not having my PC on 24/7 and relying on online networking activities all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I like talking to friends both on and offline, but I prefer meeting people “in real life” than at a virtual meeting. I don’t like staying at home all the time. All these things considered, I realized it’s not the right career for me. Most translation jobs are freelance, and I’d like to work as an IN HOUSE translator, unless I don’t find/choose some other job.

After this domain (mylifeintranslation.net) expires next June, I’m not going to renew it, but I’m not going to delete the blog. I’m going to move it here and keep only the resources section updated.

Ilaria

Guest Post #004: Language Learning Methods

Laurianne, today’s guest blogger, is editor and blogger at Language Software, a site that reviews language learning software.

Language Learning Methods

Learning a language is a challenging but extremely rewarding experience. Like all study, the amount of effort you put in directly equates to your level of success. Every one who undertakes learning a new language is looking for the fastest learning technique, the fastest way to become proficient and the fastest route to be able to speak with natives.

Some say there isn’t a fast track, but of course that isn’t true, some methods of learning a language are far more effective than others. In light of this the first thing you should do is to set aside a learning budget. Decide on an amount of money you are prepared to invest in your study. This budget will determine the learning methods available to you, and also help you choose and buy the learning materials required for that particular method.

Language Learning Software

Language software has come a long way in the last few years, and it is now possible to become fluent in a language from the comfort of your own home. Language learning software is extremely effective for those who are unable to find time to attend classes. This is also an affordable way to learn for those on a low budget. Language learning software has the added benefit of being multi-platform, meaning you can use it at home or on the go; on your iPod, iPad, PC, Mac, MP3 player, etc. With most language programs you get a range of interactive media that helps the learning process remain engaging and varied.

Language Learning Classes

Classes are great because you get to interact with others keen on learning the same language as you. You will also receive the benefits of conversational practice with the teacher – usually a native of the given country. Some people simply can’t study alone or can’t find the discipline to set aside time for home study. In this respect classes are useful because you are pinned down to times and dates, and just like the gym, if you don’t go, you will end up feel guilty and cross with yourself. The one problem with classes is the cost. If you want to attend twice a week you could be looking at $20-30 a time; add that up over a year and the cost is huge. With a language learning software program the cost is usually a one off fee, and for that money you get the entire course, from basic to fluent speaking.

Grammar Books and Audio Tapes

Grammar books are the old fashioned way to learn, and let’s be honest, it is likely that your pronunciation will be way off the mark and natives will be misunderstanding you left, right and center. Coupled with audiotapes, however, grammar books can be quite effective. That said, if you are opting for audiotapes then you really should look into language software where multiple format audio is included coupled with on screen interactive learning, and often course books or PDFs you can printout. Grammar books can also be expensive, heavy to carry around, and take up valuable space in your home.

Whatever method you choose, make sure it is practical, efficient, affordable and sustainable. Don’t take on a method of learning you know you won’t see through. Choose the learning method best suited to your lifestyle and budget, and most importantly best suited to your style of learning.

Guest Post #003 – Top 10 Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Italian

Top 10 Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Italian

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When Translators (and Language Students) Meet the Rest of the World

• MYTH: Translation/language students and translators/interpreters are living dictionaries.
• REALITY: Yes, we speak more than one language. No, we don’t know all the words in a given language. It’s impossible to know EVERY. SINGLE. WORD, even in your mother tongue. Vocabulary is important, but we are no living dictionaries and us humans can’t know everything.

I find situations like these annoying:

PERSON I’M TALKING TO: “How do you say *insert word here* in *insert language here*?”

I usually ask them to tell me the context (and think “Ah, if only they realized that a word has different meanings in different contexts…”), a sentence in which they would use that word. Staying on topic, here’s a joke:

• How many translators does it take to change a light bulb?
• It depends on the context.

So, for translation/interpreting professionals, student translators and language students, context is extremely important. We can’t read your mind, and guessing possible meanings might lead to making mistakes.

Next conversation:

• PERSON I’M TALKING TO: “Wow, you study languages! How many do you speak?”
• ME: “Four: Italian, English, French and some German.”
• PERSON I’M TALKING TO: “You only know those?” or “Why don’t/didn’t you study Arabic/Chinese/etc?”

You usually study two to three languages at university. It takes a lot of time to learn a language well, let alone two or three. In my opinion, it’s better to know two or three languages at an advanced level than five or six at an elementary level. In this case, quality matters more than quantity but, if you manage to speak five to six languages at an advanced level… well, congratulations! I chose to study English and French because I like(d) them and I’ve studied them since I started middle school. I can speak them fluently and I’m looking forward to improving more and more. I chose English in particular because it is “my passion, my obsession, my life” (as I wrote on some social networking site). Why should I study languages I’m not interested in learning? It also takes many years and stays abroad to learn languages like Arabic and Chinese well.

If you’re on Twitter, maybe in the last few days you read some tweets on “Tips to date a translator” (or an interpreter). I had tons of fun reading them, and I couldn’t have enough of them, haha. Two words: compulsive reading. You can find all the tweets here.

My favourite ones:

• Do not take us too literally and always be faithful. @judittur
• And for God’s sake, spell check your written correspondence. Nothing turns translators off more. @jackiedeal
• Suggesting Google Translate will replace human translators will lead to you making love *without* human translators. @miguelllorens
• Resign yourself to this: The woman loudly criticizing the subtitles in the midst of an action movie is your girlfriend. @miguelllorens
• Don’t brag about your knowledge of a foreign language UNLESS you are really fluent! @avinc1
• Distract the waiter while your translator friend takes photos of the ill translated menu. @petra_s_ger 
• We love puns. We LOVE them. If you play on words smartly, you’ll get 100 extra points.  @toolupwithwords
• Don’t be surprised if you buy them chocolates and the 1st thing they do is read the ingredients in all the languages! @Silvia_MediaLoc 
• Be ready to put up with pointless arguments about grammar and etymology when fellow translators are around. @carlosckw
• If you ask the translation of a word and she doesn’t know it don’t reply “what kind of translator r u?” @Laura_Solana
• Pour son anniversaire, un bon dictionnaire fera toujours l’affaire. @juliettelemerle

Some blog posts on the same topic:

• Che bello che sai le lingue – Storia della mia vita (in Italian)
• Le cinque cose da sapere prima di uscire con un traduttore/interprete (in Italian)
• 5 cosas que uno debe saber antes de salir con un traductor/intérprete (in Spanish)
• The Freelance Translator at Home: Instructions for Use

Guest Post #002 – Learn a language while translating the web with Duolingo

Gisele Navarro Mendez, My Life In Translation‘s second guest blogger, is a SEO consultant, has experience as a web writer and works with a leading language school in London. She defines herself as a “social media lover” and can speak four languages (Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese).

P.S.: if you’re interested in writing a guest post, you can contact me at learningbytranslating@gmail.com.

Learn a language while translating the web with Duolingo

Duolingo  is an ambitious new project that helps you learn a language while you help others by translating the web. The mutually beneficial service means you improve your skills in a foreign language, and the World Wide Web gets its content translated so that more people can enjoy it. Duolingo is a free service with no ads, no fees and no subscriptions. Learn more about it here.

What is Duolingo?

Duolingo is a language-learning website, which helps students improve their foreign language skills. Students progress through lessons by translating phrases from their chosen language into their native tongue. The service is also a text translation platform. Users learn by translating text from other websites and documents. These translations then add to the multilingual content on the web.

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The Way I Translate

I’ve just finished translating part of a text I’m going to deliver in the next few days (the deadline is on the 10th), and I was reflecting on how I usually translate a written text. I go through these steps:

1. Read the whole text before translating it  (I had to translate 34 pages once, I tried to translate the text paragraph by paragraph not knowing what came next, but it didn’t work for me);
2. Translate a sentence (I use monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, a collocations dictionary and other online translation resources);
3. Read the source language sentence to make sure that I translated everything;
4. Read the target language sentence to make sure that I translated it correctly and used natural Italian (unless it’s for a university assignment, I only translate into my mother tongue);
5. Translate the rest of the text in the same way;
6. Proofread the target language text, preferably on a printed version of it.

What about you? Do you use a different method?

2011-2012 Meme

1. What was the best part of 2011?
I’m not sure. It hasn’t been one of the best years of my life, but I’m definitely a different person from the one I was last year. I changed a lot. I’ve done lots of new experiences and learned a lot of things I never knew before. For me, 2011 will always be the year of the “first times”: the first time I baked a cake, the first time I traveled all by myself, the first time I went to a Summer camp, the first time I worked on a translation job, etc.

2. What do you look forward to in 2012?
First of all, I’m looking forward to improving as a person. In my opinion, you can’t do anything but improve. You become a better person every day.

3. Do you actually keep your New Year’s resolutions?
I try to. *reads 2011 ones* I’ve only accomplished three of them. I passed one exam, I lost some weight and, as I wrote above, I believe I became a better person.

4. What are your top 3 resolutions for the new year?

1. Lose more weight and be active;
2. Sit and pass at least 5 exams;
3. (see pic, even if it’s not really a resolution).

5. Do you have any fun new year’s traditions or plans?
I usually celebrate it with my relatives.

Alcune idee regalo creative

Natale sarà già passato, ma se state cercando ispirazione per dei regali da fare (non importa il periodo dell’anno), siete capitati nel posto giusto!

Questo post è particolarmente rivolto alle creative, a tutte coloro che amano il fai-da-te, le cose fatte a mano.

IDEA N.1 – LA “CALZA DELLA BEFANA”

Ho soprannominato così questo sacchettino (qui però andiamo più sul natalizio) da riempire con cibi in fimo (in particolar modo dolci), perline, e tutto ciò che la fantasia vi può suggerire. Per fare qualche esempio di cibi da inserire nella “calza”: ciambelle/donut, tavolette di cioccolato, marshmallow, hamburger, hot dog, liquirizie (rotelle o ripiene), Pan di Stelle, ecc… Per quanto riguarda i sacchettini di questo tipo, ne ho trovati alcuni di colori e con motivi diversi a “Happy Casa” e li ho pagati circa 1 € l’uno. Ciascun sacchettino si può personalizzare, volendo, con una mollettina (vedi foto sopra).

Una variante della “calza” è realizzata con delle perline: a parte il sacchettino, basta comprare delle perline (o magari, se ne avete, usarne alcune che non vi servono più), vanno benissimo anche quelle delle collane che vendono nei negozi cinesi.

IDEA N.2 – IL BARATTOLINO DECORATO

Questa, invece, è un’idea regalo creativa che si può realizzare tutto l’anno. Un’alternativa è riempire il barattolo di dolcetti in fimo. In ogni caso, il coperchio si può decorare a vostro piacere (nella foto sotto, come ho decorato il mio). Ad esempio, l’effetto “panna” l’ho realizzato con la colla a caldo, ma solitamente si usa il silicone.

*sings* I Wish You a Merry Christmas…

I¹ wish you a Merry Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

By the way, have you seen this year’s Google’s Christmas doodle yet? I love it!

I’m going to post my favourite Christmas songs below, I hope you enjoy them!

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Blogging Meme found on Sunday Stealing

Sunday Tuesday Stealing: The Bud is Back Meme

1. Why did you sign up for writing your blog?
Because I wanted to create one. That’s all.

2. Why did you choose your blog’s name? What does it mean?
I chose My Life In Translation because translation and foreign languages are a huge part of my life.

3. Do you ever had another blog?
Yes, my previous one was Learning by Translating.

4. What do you do online when you’re not on your blog?
Use online dictionaries and translation resources, search something related to what I’m studying on Google, check Facebook/Twitter, read blogs, watch videos on YouTube.

5. How about when you’re not on the computer?
I go to class, work out, hang out with friends and take care of myself and my household.

6. What do you wish people who read your blog knew about you?
I don’t know…

7. What is your favorite community in the blogosphere?
Does Technorati count?

8. What is your philosophy on your blog layout?
I usually get tired of my layouts easily, but I plan on keeping this one for a long time. I’m no WordPress expert (i.e. I can’t code), so I always use pre-made themes and customize them.

9. Tell me about your picture you use to represent you on your blog.
It’s a photo my Dad took on the day of my graduation, two years ago.

10. Pick 3 random blogs from your blogroll and tell us about them.

• Dailynterpreter – Natacha’s blog. She’s a translator and conference interpreter who’s about to get her PhD.
• Rainy London Translations – Val’s blog. She’s an Italian translator and conference interpreter who lives and works in London.
• Mox’s Blog – “Mox is a young but well educated translator. Two PhDs, six languages… and he hardly earns the minimum wage.” – the description says it all. It’s a webcomic, and now also a book.

11. What features do you think your blog should have that it doesn’t currently?
A site map.

12. What do you consider the 10 most “telling” interests that we would infer from what you blog persona?
Translation, English, foreign languages, online resources, Apple products, baking, creative hobbies… I counted 7.

13. Do you have any unique interests that you have never shared before? What are they?
Maybe running? I was into it a few years ago!

14. The best thing about blogging is all of the friends that you make. Beside from those folks, do you think your blog has fans?
Check my Facebook Page!

15. What’s your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination?
“In the Groove 2″, a dancing game similar to “Dance Dance Revolution”. I used to play DDR on my PlayStation many years ago, but with a gamepad. I had looked forward to playing the actual game (i.e. using a dance pad) for years until I played it for the first time about two months ago!

16. What are you glad you did but haven’t really had a chance to post about?
I’ve lost 11 kgs (24 lbs) so far!

17. How many people that first became a blog friend, have you met face to face?
Two.

18. What don’t you talk about here, either because it’s too personal or because you don’t have the energy?
Private stuff.

19. What’s a question that you’d love to answer?
Any question about my blog/studies.

20. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and regretted it?
No.

21. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and thought, “Was that overdue!”
No.