Meet Connie H., a Japanese-to-English translator from Ashikaga, Japan who joined the Lionbridge Community in 2019. Read on to find out more about Connie.

What do you like most about being a part of the Lionbridge Community?

I enjoy connecting with other translators on the forums. It has been a pleasure to ponder questions about language, chat, and share our experiences with each other.

How did you get into this field?

I had been learning Japanese for quite some time and realized that I liked the language enough to enjoy translating. Right now, I mostly translate on the side for a little extra income and because I enjoy doing it.

Describe a day in the life of a Lionbridge partner.

When I have time, I check the boards for new task requests and spend a couple of hours translating. Sometimes, I also go on the forums and engage in conversations.

What advice would you give your younger self if they were just starting out in this field?

Translating is really rough at first, but it will get easier with time and experience. Also, try to invest in some translation courses, so that you can improve faster.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests.

I enjoy cooking and teaching English. I think that teaching languages, either informally through conversations or formally in a class, gives us a chance to improve our understanding with people from different backgrounds. Right now, it's both my hobby and my job.

What is your favorite food and why?

Pancakes, because they're easy to make and there are so many varieties and toppings you can add!

Pancake created by Connie H., a Japanese to English translator

How many languages do you speak, and do you want to learn a new one?

4! I speak English fluently; Japanese and Mandarin Chinese for daily conversations; and some Spanish, which has been rusty since grade school. I've thought about learning another European language like Swedish or Hungarian for the insight into being a beginner at languages again.

What is your favorite word or phrase in your native language and why is it your favorite?

Ironically, I haven't thought about this before, even as a translator and language teacher. I would go with "possibility," because I like the hopeful connotations with this word and it's from Emily Dickinson's beautiful poem "I dwell in possibility."

What do you like most about the country you live in?

I like that Japanese people are very considerate on the whole and that they all strive to get along with each other.

What country would you like to travel to and why?

I would like to travel to South Africa, because I have a South African friend and know a few other wonderful people from there. I would like to see what the country is like.

What, in your opinion, makes your field special?

We get to build bridges of communication between people from different countries.

What is the coolest language task you’ve participated in?

Coming up with alternative phrases for making household-related commands for AI technology. For example, coming up with alternative ways to say, "Turn down the volume."