I will be 31 in ten days...feel like I should have started my career by now

[Alabama]

I will 31 before I know it. I have studied Japanese for about 10 years and still not fluent. I do not know if I have expelled enough energy on it or what. I came back to Japan to study more but still have only taught English as a career. I want to be a translator but when I did it for 6 months, I did not feel as effecient as I could be. There is a part of me hopes this year will be different, and realistic expectations. Anyone have any advice on how to acheive this?

[gebaird]

I play piano, and after about 2 years of lessons I decided I "should" be better than I was. I can't even describe how much pain and frustration that caused me. It actually took about 8 years to really hit my stride. Why did I think it would only take me 2?

 

Any kind of "should" hurts, as in "I SHOULD have started my career by now." When you approach things from a place of surrender and acceptance, it eases suffering.

 

I think you may be a bit of a perfectionist. You've obviously found your passion, but when do you get to stop learning and start doing? At what point do you finally decide you know "enough" and start taking risks? Maybe you are at that point now.

 

Trust yourself, trust the process, look for opportunities to grow and don't let frustration and perfectionism hold you back.

 

A realistic goal for this year is to look for opportunities and be open to new ideas. I think that will take you further than trying to force something.

[Boughtandpaidfor]

There are universities such as Birmingham University in the UK where you can do a Masters in translation studies as a distance learning course. So you could continue to live and work in Japan whilst studying.

[The_Seeker]

I will 31 before I know it. I have studied Japanese for about 10 years and still not fluent. I do not know if I have expelled enough energy on it or what. I came back to Japan to study more but still have only taught English as a career. I want to be a translator but when I did it for 6 months, I did not feel as effecient as I could be. There is a part of me hopes this year will be different, and realistic expectations. Anyone have any advice on how to acheive this?

 

If I were ever in your position:

- Eat Japanese food so I can learn to converse people in the restaurant who actually speak fluent Japanese.

- Keep a journal and write a question in Japanese and respond back in Japanese. This could be a journey to understanding yourself.

- Read children's books in Japanese with English subtitles or notes.

- Converse, converse, converse with people who speak Japanese.

- Get a Japanese tutor.

 

Good luck.

[Alabama]

Thanks for the advice. I will continue to study more and try not to be so much of a perfectionist. Thank you again.

[Batya33]

I also would consider alternative careers or professions -have you?