Every year, thousands of students face the decision of choosing what to study. That decision really matters, because they are choosing what they want to do for the rest of their lives, the work they want to devote themselves to.
Many are not at all sure about their future, and there are so many interesting degrees that the choice becomes very hard. Some decide to take a gap year, others start a course with better job prospects and then drop it to do what they really enjoy. Today at Alos we want to talk to you about the translation and interpreting degree, so you know a little more about what it involves, whether you have the right profile and where you can study it.
An overview of the translation and interpreting degree
The aim of this degree is to train professionals who are able to process, analyse, transform and finally convey information between different languages. In other words, working from a text in its original language, being able to capture the essence of the message and render it in one or more languages without losing its meaning, guaranteeing the highest quality of the text. You will generally work with four languages (the fourth is optional), and depending on the university you attend, you will have several specialisation pathways. At the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, for example, these are: translation project management and new technologies, specialised translation and, lastly, interpreting.
Is it for me?
This is a question you have to ask yourself when choosing what to study, whatever it may be. If you are thinking about studying translation and interpreting, you need to ask yourself:
Am I good with languages? Do I cope well with pressure? Do I have a good memory and a talent for summarising? Do I enjoy reading? Do I have a broad general knowledge?
If you answered yes to these questions, this degree is for you. Do not think twice, because you will certainly be very good at it. The most important thing is to do what you enjoy. What is valued most in a professional is that they love what they do, that they do it with passion, with heart.
Where can I study translation and interpreting?
In Spain there are a great many universities offering this degree, so your decision will be a more personal, individual one.
How to choose a university:
When choosing where to study, you should bear several factors in mind:
The university’s reputation: Some universities have a stronger reputation than others, but make no mistake: what matters here is the reputation of the university for that particular degree (an institution may be highly regarded overall but not for these studies, so it may be better to choose a university with a lower general reputation but a stronger one in this field)
Location: Some people prefer to move to another city so that their student years are a completely different experience. That involves costs not everyone can take on, which is why many prefer to stay in their own city so it does not become a handicap.
Entry grade: It is true that however much you want to attend a particular university, if your grade is not high enough to get in you will have to look for alternatives. We recommend checking this information in advance so you are not caught out.
State or private? This decision is entirely personal, since some people steer clear of private universities because they are sometimes not held in the same regard as state ones. You also need to bear in mind that a private university will cost far more. This degree is fascinating and offers plenty of career paths. Many universities offer joint degrees (with law, for example), which widens those options even further. If languages are your passion and you still have a few years before you have to make this decision, we invite you to come and meet us and find out about all the courses we offer. It is always good to be prepared for anything in life. Get in touch with us for more information about language courses in Valencia, as well as intensive courses without leaving the city. Follow us on social media and keep up with all our news. You will find us on facebook, instagram and Linkedin.