Brain training for interpreters and for you
Mental training is a process that helps interpreters develop the skills they need to excel in their profession. There are many ways in which interpreters and translators can train their brains: reading, writing, speaking, listening and memorising. They can also use mental training apps or software to practice when they are not at work.
We will look at how mental training can help interpreters learn new languages faster and retain more of what has been learned. We will also see how you can use certain tools to be more mentally agile, regardless of whether you interpret into English, German or Spanish.
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How mental training empowers interpreters with benefits
The brain is a muscle and, like any other muscle, it needs exercise to get stronger. Brain training is a way of doing just that: by strengthening the brain's cognitive capacities, brain training can improve interpreting and translation skills.
- Immersing yourself in the culture of the country whose language you are interpreting. Language is not just a succession of words; they are all impregnated by a culture that you must be connected to, so that interpreting and translation work can be carried our much more reliably. Regardless of whether the language in question is Italian or Portuguese, it is very important to carry out this exercise.
- Practice constantly. Of course, every opportunity should be taken to put the language into practice, even in an immersive way to get the best results and keep it alive.
- Have a good understanding of idioms and colloquialisms. They are very important when it comes to providing services and translations. For this purpose, contacting local people or moving to the country of origin of the language for a short while may be a good idea. Such idioms are always an excellent resource and a translation agency appreciates professionals who know how to use them.
- Maintain your physical health by eating well and exercising regularly. It has been proven that a healthy diet, in addition to practising sports, helps our whole brain capacity, making us much more active and eager to do things.
Language is an important part of human life, it is a basic skill. It helps us to communicate with each other and express our thoughts. But language is a complex system that cannot be mastered simply by reading a few books or taking a few classes. We must improve our language skills using the power of our mind. We can do this by understanding the relationship between our mind and languages, using different techniques to activate the brain and improving our vocabulary on a daily basis.
Tips for a successful career as a language professional using your mental skills
- You have to be a good listener.
- Practice your writing skills at all times; this is as important as speaking.
- Keep in touch with the latest trends, i.e. what is happening in the country where the language is spoken. Working at a translation company is a very important objective.
- Be persistent and determined. This is a maxim to apply in all areas of your life and is always a value to be taken into account.
- Mastering a language is a constant succession of trial and error, so putting it into practice whenever possible will give the best possible results. Don't be afraid of embarrassment or failure, because it is thanks to them that you can continue to make progress.
We live in an increasingly globalised world where the constant use of different languages is a reality. A career as an interpreter has a great chance of success, but it can also be further improved with all these simple techniques. Achieving it is always possible if you persist. If you want to work towards the same goal, seeking greater fluency and offering interpreting services that are fully adapted to the specific needs, all you have to do is persevere.
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Blog writer and Community Manager interested in multiculturality and linguistic diversity. From her native Venezuela, she has travelled and lived for many years in France, Germany, Cameroon and Spain, passing on her passion for writing and her intercultural experiences.
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