become proficient in Japanese

advice from MIIS’ website:
http://translate.miis.edu/print.php?page=/prospective/top_10.html?catid=104

Read extensively, especially in your non-native language(s)

• Read high quality newspapers (e.g. the New York Times, Wall Street Journal)
  EVERYDAY for at least a year
• Read high quality news magazines (e.g. the Economist from cover to cover; really know the material in all working languages, the Scientific American, etc.)
• Read your favorite topics in your non-native language(s)
• Read other well-written material that will help broaden your general knowledge

Watch the TV news and listen to radio news in all working languages

• Don’t just listen to news stories; analyze
• Know current events and issues
• Really know the material in both native and non-native languages.
• Tape the interviews so you can listen to them later.

Strengthen your general knowledge of economics, history, the law, international politics, and scientific concepts and principles, (in that order)

• To meet this goal, take college-level courses, review high school texts, etc.
• It is also a good idea to strengthen your knowledge in a specialized field, (preferably in a technical field, like computers).

Live in a country that speaks your non-native language -
A stay of at least six months to a year is recommended

• Live with and/or frequently interact with native speakers of your non-native language.
• Take content-related courses in your non-native language (not just pure language courses).
• Work in a setting that requires high level use of your non-native language.

Fine-tune your writing and research skills

• Take challenging composition courses (not just “creative writing” courses, but classes in journalism, technical writing, etc.) so that you can “speak” journalese, UNese, legalese, etc.
• Copy (by hand) sections of textbooks and periodicals in your non-native languages.
• Make a note of unfamiliar grammatical points.
• Practice proofreading.

Improve your public speaking skills

• Take rigorous speech courses and/or join Toastmasters.
• Practice writing and making presentations in front of other people in both your native and your foreign language(s). (Have native speakers of your non-native language edit your speeches).

Hone your analytical skills

• Practice listening to speeches and orally summarizing the main points.
• Practice writing summaries of news articles.
• Practice deciphering difficult texts (philosophy, law, etc.).
• Practice explaining complicated concepts understandably.
• Identify resources for background research; library, Internet, etc.

Become computer savvy

• Be familiar and comfortable with word processing in both your native and non-native languages.
• Practice using on-line services for research.

Learn how to take care of yourself -
eat sensibly, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep

• These are the habits required of a good translator/interpreter.

Be prepared for the long haul

• Bringing language skills and analytical skills up to the level required of a professional translator and interpreter is not a task that can be accomplished in a few short years. Only with a lot of patience and sustained hard work can anyone truly succeed in this challenging and exciting field.