[JIF2018] Thinking about an Interpreter’s Parallel Career
Kayo Matsushita
Associate professor (Ph.D.) of the Faculty and Graduate School of Intercultural Communication at Rikkyo University, and a conference interpreter. Entered the world of education after working as an Asahi Shimbun journalist and exclusive interpreter to Simul International. Associate professor at the Faculty of Liberal Arts at International Christian University from September 2014. Gives undergraduate and graduate courses and training mostly in interpretation and translation theory and practice, as well as guidance for thesis writing. Publications include I Want to be an Interpreter! 10 Roads to Aim for from Zero (Iwanami Shoten). Currently publishing the serial article The World of Interpretation and Translation Research in the Honyaku-Tsuyaku Journal (Ikaros Publishing). Also serves as an instructor in the Simul Academy Internet Course Interpretation Training from the Basics.
Thinking about an Interpreter’s Parallel Career
For both those who are already active as an interpreter and those who are thinking about becoming an interpreter in the near future, the greatest concern about this work is perhaps its “lack of stability.” You have to work even if you are not feeling well, there’s no paid leave, and no retirement bonus to look forward to. As you will even have to put money aside by yourself for a pension, it’s really depressing just to think about it. At times like these, don’t you hear that small voice in your heart saying, “If only I had another source of income…”? If the answer is “yes,” please come and listen to this talk.
In this talk, the speaker, who left her job with a newspaper company after 14 years to become a conference interpreter, will tell you how she skillfully used the “habitat” of the university to build a multiple career as an interpreter × educator × researcher × writer. For an interpreter with high enthusiasm for learning, there is no way s/he will not make use of a university library or a university’s free-for-all online databases. I will introduce, with concrete examples, the surprising merits (!?) of having a contact point with a university. Let’s take this opportunity to think together about a career strategy for getting through the “era of 100 years of life.”