Poll: Have you ever worked as a full time voluntary translator/interpreter abroad?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 19, 2016

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever worked as a full time voluntary translator/interpreter abroad?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 10:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No Jul 19, 2016

Over the years I have done a fair bit of voluntary translation, but never abroad and never full-time; I’m right now translating two blogs for the UNDP and I have another text in the pipeline for EURORDIS.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 03:50
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
No Jul 19, 2016

Translation is my source of income. I don't have a husband to support me. I would have to be independently wealthy to live abroad and volunteer on a full-time basis.

 
ChrisGT
ChrisGT  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 06:50
Member (2008)
English to French
+ ...
No Jul 19, 2016

Same here! In fact, I would love to do any kind of voluntary work abroad, but I would have to be wealthy to be able to do that. Translation is my means of income.

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Has anyone? Jul 19, 2016

I would, except who's going to bottle-feed all those orphan kittens in my absence?

 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:50
German to English
+ ...
a surprising question Jul 19, 2016

We translate to earn our bread and butter. How do you afford going abroad with no income, because you are working as a full time volunteer, and why would one do so? As a student gaining experience? But if you are translating, you should already know how, so that brings us into internships which is a different kettle of fish.

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:50
English to Spanish
+ ...
Internships Jul 19, 2016

For those translators who live and work in America, there was a useful bit of news years ago about unpaid internships. That kind of started in the middle of our last recession. Employers weren't the mom-and-pop variety or some small startup trying to get capital. These were well-established companies trying to get good work for free. The government intervened. Now these internships are mostly paid, I believe.

I did volunteer work as a Mormon missionary for 18 months in my youth. Tha
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For those translators who live and work in America, there was a useful bit of news years ago about unpaid internships. That kind of started in the middle of our last recession. Employers weren't the mom-and-pop variety or some small startup trying to get capital. These were well-established companies trying to get good work for free. The government intervened. Now these internships are mostly paid, I believe.

I did volunteer work as a Mormon missionary for 18 months in my youth. That's the only volunteer work I've done or that I'll ever do.

Volunteerism has its place in societies, just not in my life.

Speaking of internships, I did establish one for translation/project management for one translation student back in 2007, when I was doing very well as a translator (well paid, I mean). I would do it again to teach what I know to a translation student.
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DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Other Jul 19, 2016

When I was younger quite often I did work as an occasional interpreter/translator abroad.

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 07:50
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Voluntary + Abroad + Full time?? Jul 19, 2016

Kinda rare. Do you mean somebody working for the Red Cross or something like that, during a war or disaster? And even so, "full-time"? That means, while working as a volunteer, you'd have to leave all your clients unattended, and make no money at all. I think the asker did not really think of the question before posting it.

I'm waiting for someone who voted "yes" to explain it, but I don't think it will happen.

[Edited at 2016-07-19 20:38 GMT]


 
Natalia Postrigan
Natalia Postrigan  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 03:50
Member (2016)
English to Russian
+ ...
Olympic volunteer Jul 20, 2016

Yes

I am going to volunteer in the Language Services team in Rio de Janeiro next month, at the Summer Olympic Games. This is a very common volunteer opportunity for interpreters. I have been invited to volunteer at the Olympic Games in the past, but it is the first time that I took the offer. In September I can tell you more about the actual experience. In case of the Olympics, a volunteer interpreter typically works 9-hour shifts for three weeks with two breaks. It varies ba
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Yes

I am going to volunteer in the Language Services team in Rio de Janeiro next month, at the Summer Olympic Games. This is a very common volunteer opportunity for interpreters. I have been invited to volunteer at the Olympic Games in the past, but it is the first time that I took the offer. In September I can tell you more about the actual experience. In case of the Olympics, a volunteer interpreter typically works 9-hour shifts for three weeks with two breaks. It varies based on the sport and venue.

In case of Rio, it is expensive to be a volunteer. Travel to Brazil and accommodation are not covered. However, as a volunteer, you get the front row view at this major event, which appeals to many.

I've heard people saying also that for a professional interpreter volunteering at the Games opens the door to potential paid gigs in the future. I'll see if any interesting opportunities emerge after this experience, but either way, I hope to participate in the next Winter and Summer Olympics as well. It is something that matters to me, and I would go there whether I am paid or not.

[Edited at 2016-07-20 04:25 GMT]
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Chié_JP
Chié_JP
Japan
Local time: 19:50
Member (2013)
English to Japanese
+ ...
No Jul 20, 2016

Natalia Postrigan wrote:

Yes

I am going to volunteer in the Language Services team in Rio de Janeiro next month, at the Summer Olympic Games.
In case of Rio, it is expensive to be a volunteer. Travel to Brazil and accommodation are not covered. However, you get the front row view at this major event, which appeals to many.


[Edited at 2016-07-20 04:25 GMT]



Japan will host olympic (UNLESS French persecutor raise question to look into the bribery issue - I really think they should, because All fifa and IOC look suspicious)


and Japan government wants herd of bilingual guide-security volunteers, full time for 10 or 20 days, no accommodation or travel, have to attend in advance to extensive security training also without fee as well,
and the best part is you do NOT EVEN GET INTO THE STADIUM to watch the game.

Their main task is traffic control and security of visitors, not even interpretation.

Everyone is a bit cross about this (Government thinks interpreters come for free)
but a few college students are expected to join because they want some "veterans experience" before they go to job interview.


 


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Poll: Have you ever worked as a full time voluntary translator/interpreter abroad?






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