Can You Help Others to Translate or Proofread Chinese Meeting Parts?
I occasionally get emails asking for help in preparing Chinese talks or other meeting parts. For example, a brother in a Chinese group in the USA recently asked:
“If we write up an English talk can someone help us convert [it] to Mandarin for us?”
The group he is in is likely a small one, and the closest Chinese congregation to his group that I know of is over four hours’ drive away, according to Google Earth, although perhaps that depends on who’s driving :-). I suppose that many others are in a similar situation, that sometimes they need a translator or proofreader to help them to prepare a meeting part, but it may be difficult for them to find one.
I suppose also that everyone’s busy in the Chinese field in general, and since you’re reading this blog, you’re probably still learning Chinese yourself. But consider:
- Especially if you’ve been at it a little while, there are almost certainly a large number of people in the worldwide Chinese field who are even less far along than you are, who could benefit from your help.
- As you may have noticed from preparing your own parts, such translation or proofreading can give your Chinese language abilities a good workout, that helps them to grow and be strengthened in the process. I have certainly found that to be so with my own meeting parts, as well as with the 3-line production work I do. So, while helping others in need, you can help yourself as well.
If you feel you may be able to make yourself available occasionally to help someone else translate or proofread a meeting part, please email me to let me know, and I will pass on the contact information you agree to supply to ones like the above-mentioned brother who need such help. (Please be prepared to provide a reference on request who can vouch for your translating or proofreading ability. Technical details about what information formats to send each other while doing the translating or proofreading work will be up to you and whomever you end up helping.)
