WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
Not to continue the doom and gloom of yesterday’s post, but a good portion of today’s news was again devoted to Toyota Shock. For this company itself, out of 9,200 temporary workers, 3,000 of them will be laid off. In regard to next year’s sales forecast for the whole Toyota group, an estimated 9.5 million cars were anticipated to be sold to the American market, but this forecast has been reduced to 8 million.
The car company Isuzu fired 1,400 workers from its factory in Kanazawa, and those affected took it upon themselves to fight back. Footage was shown of these workers handing out pamphlets to co-workers asking them to join their union and asking executives to retract their dismissal. Evidently these cuts came without notice, causing Read More
Jobs, Translating/Interpreting 
Comments Off on Job: Japanese speaking intern for global market research firm
Reply to: job-954318271@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-11, 4:58PM EST
An industry leading global market research firm based in Manhattan is looking for a Japanese reading, speaking and writing intern to work part-time with the sales staff. Hours would be up to the intern and this job can be done partly from home, however some evening hours may be required (come at 6 or 7pm leave at 9 or 10pm) due to need to call Japan (+13 hours)
No prior sales experience is required, however must have good communication skills, and some knowledge of standard Japanese business practice is a plus. However we will TRAIN you.
Duties Include:
Ø Sorting and entry of information into company database
Ø Translation of sales materials and e-mails into Japanese
Ø Translation and creation of marketing materials in Japanese
Ø Phone calls to potential and current Japanese clients in Japan from office
Ø Translation of report summaries into Japanese
Reply to the e-mail address above to schedule an interview. This is an UN-PAID internship but we will help you to with course/college credit.
Advice, Article/Journalism, Career, Interview/Profile, Writers Comments Off on Career advice from the WSJ’s Elizabeth Garone (Saga-ken, 1993-95)
It turns out there’s a JET alum writing a career advice column for the Wall Street Journal. Check out the latest column from Elizabeth Garone (Saga-ken, Omachi-cho, 1993-95) at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122874945537188153.html#articleTabs_comments.
It also turns out that she is a freelance journalist with more than a decade of writing for publications that have included Business Week, The Washington Post, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Her specialties are technology, education (specifically SAT and test prep), human interest and children.
You can learn more about Elizabeth through her website at www.garone.com or through her LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lizgarone
Article/Journalism, Humor, Japan Trends, Video Comments Off on Another attempt to replace ALTs
Yet another devious attempt to replace ALTs. And this one doesn’t like being touched on the breast. (I’m not making this up. Read the article for yourself. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/10/aiko-the-female-robot-inv_n_149860.html)
From a JETAA Pacific Northwest email about Kevin Kajitani (Hyogo-ken, 2006-07) who has created Japanese Accelerator, a new online Japanese study method for keeping your Japanese skills up. He’s offering a special discount to JET alums who want to try it out.
Research Proven Japanese Conversation Training System
Japanese Accelerator, presented by Speekit, is a unique Japanese language education tool specifically designed for Japanese. It’s method has been proven through University research to significantly improve your overall conversational fluency by putting you inside real, everyday conversations.
Japanese Accelerator will take you beyond simply “learning” the Japanese language and help you to truly *acquire* it. To learn more about Japanese Accelerator, visit us as www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com
If you are a JETAA members, you can save more than 50% off the normal price of Japanese Accelerator. Get full, unlimited access to Japanese Accelerator and it’s growing library of content for a one-time fee of just $29.
To get in on this great deal, go to: www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com/ jetaa-sign- up Read More
Events Comments Off on NHK live broadcast and free synthetic ice skating today at 4pm
Kind of last second but….JET alum Marea Pariser (who is an associate producer for NHK in NY) sent me this last night, which I finally have time to post:
We’ll be broadcasting live from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 11, for the NHK morning news. Because of the 14-hour time difference, we’ll go live at 4:15 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. (Japan time that will be 6:15 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. Friday). It will air on NHK’s “Ohayo Nippon.”
We’ll be reporting live from AMNH’s new Polar Rink, which is an outdoor skating rink made from synthetic ice. It’s good for the environment and it complements the Museum’s current Climate Change exhibit. There’s a good chance of rain tomorrow, but our live broadcast goes on-air rain or shine. We’re looking for people (who can ice skate!) who are available at either 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. — or at both times — to appear as an “ice skater” on our broadcast. Free ice skating! No close-up shots, just in the background. We’re especially interested in children ice skaters. Could you pass the word along? If anyone is interested or available could you ask them to contact me at the details below for more information?
FYI-Location: American Museum of Natural History, Polar Rink, which can be accessed from 79th Street and Columbus Avenue.
Web site: http://www.amnh.org/
I just found about a blog by JET alum Aaron Madlon-Kay (CIR Ehime-ken, 2006-08) that seems to do a good job of addressing translation issues. (e.g., this post on Romanizing Japanese Addresses, this one on Translating Place Names, and this one on an attempt to translate into Japanese from English.)
Definitely a resource that other JET alums, especially other translators and those of you interested in getting into translation, might want to check out. Wish I had found it sooner, but glad to have it the JetWit orbit now.
Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife #6 – Toyota Shock
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
In my previous post I mentioned that in Japan they use “Lehman shock” to refer to the crumbling of our financial institutions, and it seems like they are seeing the same phenomenon at home.
On the news yesterday morning the buzzword “Toyota shock” was used, referring to the economic woes Japan’s most famous and successful brand is having and its repercussions. (I’m waiting to see what they come up with for other countries. Is “Samsung shock” for Korea next?).
Factories are being closed in Aichi Prefecture where Toyota headquarters is located, as well as in more far-flung locations such as Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. There they have laid off 1,000 employees, who lose Read More
Blogs, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Writers Comments Off on Bankruptcy Bill – Haiku #6
From structured finance
Quietly I transfer to
The bankruptcy group
***************
(Mug with haiku available for purchase here.)
Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall. To see more strips as well as bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.wordpress.com.
Reply to: gigs-951821237@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 5:26PM MST
Software company supporting multi-language document databases seeks help with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese searching. This is a short term, part time project (that could turn into longer term or more) to work with our search consultant to test how well our search engine works when searching for phrases NEAR other phrases (proximity searches), wild card searches, and understand the best way to do searching each of the CJK languages.
Jobs, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job: Translators wanted (all languages)
From Craigslist:
Translators Wanted
Reply to: job-951792020@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 6:02PM CST
Inexpensive and Professional Translations
Alliance Business Solutions is looking for translators of all languages. Whatever language/languages you are fluent in please contact us.
We prefer individuals with Associate Degrees or higher, obtained domestically or abroad. Our compensation is based on per contract work and a % of the work sourced, which will dependents on your education and work experience of the applicant.
Please send us your resume or contact us at translators@alliancebizsolutions.com.
For further information about our firm please visit us at www.alliancebizsolutions.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Jobs, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job: Freelance translator needed (J to E)
From craigslist NY:
Reply to: job-951723860@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 6:08PM EST
A marketing consulting company is looking for a freelance translator from Japanese to English. A minimum of 5 years experience translating Japanese material to English required. If you have editing experience, please indicate.
Subjects are mostly marketing and strategy related . Quick delivery is sometimes required. Please send your resume and translation sample to Susan.
Thanks to Alexei Esikoff (Fukushima-ken, 2001-02) for passing on this excellent career opportunity for JET alumni. Note that bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply (though doesn’t really sound like they’re looking for Japanese):
Want a job you can really relish? Do you have an appetite for adventure, a friendly personality and boundless enthusiasm? Do you want to become a goodwill ambassador for Oscar Mayer, helping to organize promotions and even pitch TV, radio and print media? If the answer is “Yes”, you could qualify to be an official Oscar Mayer Hotdogger. Read on for all the juicy details.
Se Habla Espanol? Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Details here: http://brands.kraftfoods.com/oscarmayer/omm_hotdogger.htm
Career, Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife #5 – Keeping up on the Japanese news
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
Starting with this post I thought I’d introduce a more behind the scenes aspect of WIT life, that being the preparation and work that takes place when I am not traveling or working on an assignment.
In order to keep my Japanese skills sharp, besides conversing with native speakers (don’t be afraid to ask to be corrected!) I enjoy the daily programming of Fujisankei. In particular, the news airing at 7 a.m. (rebroadcast at 10) every weekday morning is especially insightful for keeping up to date on what’s going on in Japan and beyond, and how certain concepts would be expressed in Japanese.
An essential part of being a translator/interpreter is knowing the correct vocabulary for recent phenomenon, as these are words that change with the times and require constant updating of your brain. For example, in Japan the collapse of our economic institutions is referred to as Read More
Article/Journalism, Interview/Profile, Japan Trends, Uncategorized, Video Comments Off on Reuters video article on NY de Volunteer’s recent Spa Day
Speaking of volunteering, Reuters Japan has a good video article (in Japanese) about NY de Volunteer’s recent Spa Day, where the volunteers go to a nursing home and treat the residents to a day of various beauty spa treatments. (FYI, the segment starts at about 2:55 into the video.)
(For those of you with stronger Japanese skills, please feel free to post summary comments in English so other JetWit readers can get a sense of what’s being said.)
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