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Sometimes it's easy to forget as we go about our day to day routine of work and home and family responsibilities that our little corner of this earth is just one tiny, tiny part of the life experience. The world is getting smaller and smaller thanks to the rapid expansion of global media and information technology. In turn, the need for interpreters and translators is getting bigger and bigger. Because of this, the profession is going through a hiring surge that hasn't been seen in many a year, thus the online degrees are on the rise as well!

As just about everyone can figure out, translators and interpreters are people who not only can speak in more than one language, but are actually fluent in at least two. Some organizations, such as the U.N., actually look for people who can read or speak in as many as six different languages. What languages they speak is part personal preference, part just plain commerce. After all, someone fluent in the more common languages - such as Mandarin, Spanish, French or English - are going to find more job opportunities than those who aren't.

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If there usually is one thing they all share, it's they usually grew up in a multi-lingual environment. Most translators could have been the children of parents working overseas or immigrants, have other family members who only spoke another language or did their share of travel in one form or another. Still, speaking a language and being fluent in it are two different things. Interpreters usually also took more than one language while they were in high school. They also got adept at navigating around a computer.

From there, they should look for schools that have life experience degree courses in linguistics, both native and foreign. What should also be noted is that they don't necessarily have to get a degree in a language. If anything, one who goes for a business or engineering degree with a minor in their choice of languages can end up doing quite well when it's time to enter the work world.

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Still, probably the most important thing any student can do is get some real world experience. They should look into such things as student exchange programs or a distance learning degree program or try to visit a county that speaks the language for an extended period. Recruiters actually look for personnel with this in their resume, and will hire them over a person with no such experience every time.

At present, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states the median annual wage of an interpreters and translators is over $40,000. A key factor in one's earnings is who and where one works. Multi-national and media companies usually pay higher than the U.N. or federal agencies. Besides translating, one can also find extra work as language or ESL instructors for universities, schools and vocational schools. Many translators also pick up freelance work with publishing companies working, translating books that are big in other countries.

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Another interesting thing about the professions is the U.S. currently employs slightly over 51,000 as of 2009. The Bureau projects there will be a need for another 11,000 more before the decade is over. While the Bureau also warns that over 25% of all translators and interpreters are freelancers, thanks to the constant shrinking of the world through media, one can guess all will be busy for some time to come.

Living in another country to gain experience in the language for career opportunities doesn't mean not attending college. With accredited schools offering on line college degree opportunities, one can study while doing practical application in the country of the language they are learning. This is the flexibility offered by online schools.

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