Knowledge is power and, in the case of foreign languages, it is valuable too. Whether you are born in a multicultural family and you are natively bilingual or you have learned a foreign language, you could make money from your skill and start a successful home-based business. Living in a globalized world, with many expats working for multinational corporations, people who are fluent in two (or more) languages are always in demand to facilitate communication both at a personal and corporate level.
Before we go on detailing the types of home-based business opportunities you have as a bilingual person, there are a few things you should know. One of them is that proficiency in a foreign language if learned in the family is more focused on speaking and listening, while if you learned the language in school or through private tuition, your strongest points are reading and writing.
So, depending on the manner in which you acquired your knowledge of the second language, you could be more successful in different positions. These are the most popular types of home-based businesses for you:
1. Translator
As a translator, you receive different written documents and translate them using either specialized translation tools or simple text editors. Proficient translators, specializing in legal and juridical language, can become sworn translators and be authorized to translate legally binding documents.
In general, each translator becomes specialized in a specific terminology: legal, financial, medical, engineering, etc. There are plenty of business opportunities in each of these niches, however the more specialized your translation skills, the higher your chances are to make more money.
2. Interpreter
Interpreters are usually present during meetings or teleconferences between people speaking different languages and provide a direct speaking translation of what each person says. There are different specializations for interpreters: some are able to provide instantaneous translation by whispering to the other person (a technique named chuchotage), while others provide the translation during the break between sentences by the speaker.
3. Virtual Call Center Agent
Providing customer support is one of the core activities of any company. Since they operate all over the world, large corporations need to provide support to all their customers, in their native language.
If you are a native speaker of two languages, you have very good chances to become successful in a home-based business offering customer support on behalf of various companies. There are plenty of opportunities available, so you can pick the niche you are most comfortable with.
4. Tutoring
If you speak, write and read a second language at proficient level, you can become an online tutor for people who want to learn it, either for work or for travel and leisure. Online tutoring businesses are very popular, with plenty of people from different backgrounds wishing to learn something new. Foreign language knowledge being a big plus on the resume, you will certainly find sufficient people willing to pay you to teach them to speak and write in a second language at a satisfactory to high level.
Also, depending on other specializations you may hold, you could qualify to provide translation and interpreting services to clinics and private medical practices, law offices, or other specialized businesses. Thus, you have plenty of opportunities to put your knowledge of a second language to work and use it to run a successful home-based business.