I have credentials for both, and have experience in doing both, and want to continue pursuing a career here in Japan past my current ALT stunt. My gut instinct says “teach English at private schools=best”, but I imagine the world of translation is another vessel which could be boarded entirely.
Any people with experience in either or both, and perhaps even any people with interpretation experience, who would offer advice or opinions?
2 comments
Stunt?
Both are awful career paths long-term. Translation is increasingly going to be done by AI. Maybe you can get a gig proofreading what the AI produces… but it won’t likely pay well. English teaching, whether as an ALT or at a private school is a dead end unless you open your own school and work for yourself. But be prepared for long crappy hours and also not great pay.
I don’t know what IS a good career path here right now, TBH. And yes, plenty of folks are English Teachers for life and are happy working for small change! Plenty of folks have worked as translators for a long time, but the landscape is changing… If I were you, I would think long and hard about what other interests or skills you have and start building those into a career that is more future proof. Use either of those as a “job” while you work on your skill set towards a real career.