1) Read extensively, especially in your non-native language(s)
· Read high quality newspapers (e.g. the New York Times, Wall Street Journal) EVERY DAY for at least a year.
· Read high quality news magazines (e.g. the Economist) from cover to cover.
· Read your favorite topics in your non-native language(s).
· Read other well-written material that will help broaden your general knowledge.
2) Watch the TV news and listen to radio news in all working languages.
· Don't just listen to news stories; analyze them.
· Keep abreast of current events and issues.
· Tape TV news and interviews so you can listen to them later.
· Mutual respect for the dignity and individuality of each person
3) Strengthen your general knowledge of economics, history, the law, international politics, and scientific concepts and principles, (in that order).
· Take college-level courses, review high school texts, etc.
· Strengthen your knowledge in a specialized field (preferably in a technical field, such as computers).
4) Live in a country where your non-native language is spoken. A stay of at least six months to a year is recommended.
· Live with and/or frequently interact with native speakers of your non-native language.
· Take content-related courses in your non-native language (not just pure language courses).
· Work in a setting that requires high level use of your non-native language.
5) Fine-tune your writing and research skills.
· Take challenging composition courses (not just creative writing courses, but classes in journalism, technical writing, etc.) so that you can "speak" journalese, UNese, legalese, etc.
· Copy (by hand) sections of textbooks and periodicals in your non-native language(s).
· Make a note of unfamiliar or troublesome grammatical points and work towards mastering them.
· Practice proofreading.
6) Improve your public speaking skills.
· Take rigorous speech courses and/or join Toastmasters.
· Practice writing and making presentations in front of other people in both your native and your foreign language(s). (Have native speakers of your non-native language edit your speeches.)
7) Hone your analytical skills.
· Practice listening to speeches and orally summarizing the main points.
· Practice writing summaries of news articles.
· Practice deciphering difficult texts (e.g. philosophy, law, etc.).
· Practice explaining complicated concepts understandably.
· Identify resources for background research (e.g. library, Internet, etc.).
8) Become computer savvy.
· Be familiar and comfortable with word processing in both your native and non-native languages.
· Practice using on-line services for research.
9) Learn how to take care of yourself.
· Eat sensibly, exercise regularly, and get sufficient sleep. These are all habits required of a good translator/interpreter.
10) Be prepared for lifelong learning.
· Be patient. Bringing your language skills and analytical skills up to the level required of a professional translator and interpreter is not a task that can be accomplished in a few short years. Only with a lot of sustained hard work can anyone truly succeed in this challenging and exciting field.
