Welcome to Joshua's Blog: 7 ways to make money from your language skills

Become a conversation buddy

Credit: BBC

If you studied a language at school, you'll already be familiar with conversation practice: it involves chatting about everyday topics with a teacher or native speaker, and it's a way to test out or improve what you've learned.
There are ways to get your conversation practice in for free, usually by swapping a language you know with someone who speaks the language you want to learn. So, if you want to get paid for talking, you need an angle.
• Advertise your strengths – If you're a native speaker or have teaching experience, tell people!
• Go niche – Think essentials for business travellers, medical vocab, technical terms, phrases for students or sports fans.
• Use your accent – Regional differences can be the most challenging aspect of a language, so if you've got an accent, make the most of it.
Once you've got a hook, setting up an online 'classroom' is easy as pie with these free online video messengers.
Most messaging apps let you vary your style of interaction: use video chat for role play and speaking practice, or stick to texting or emailing for writing skills (or if you're camera shy!).
Alternatively, use notice boards, leaflet drops and language clubs to get in touch with local learners.
Create language resources

Teaching doesn't have to be about real-time interaction: there's also demand for language learning resources, from textbooks and quizzes to stories and podcasts.
André Klein doesn't call himself a language teacher – he's a coder, blogger and linguaphile – yet he's cutting a reputation for himself as a top-rated Amazon author thanks to a series of dual-language books.
The format is simple but effective: short stories using basic words and sentences, with an English translation alongside. If that sounds like your cup of tea, head over to our guide to publishing eBooks and have a go yourself!
You can also sell quiz sheets, grammar notes, vocab lists, audio lessons and anything else you fancy from your own website. If you've got the coding skills, you can make use of these by creating an app too.
Make language videos on YouTube or a language blog

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Settling into a new country can be a tall ask for any international student or expat. Once you throw in linguistic hurdles like slang, cultural references and accents, it's a minefield – which is where native speakers like you come in.
YouTube and written blogs are a brilliant way to provide secondary student support, and there can be cash in it too – whether it's revealing what locals are really mumbling about or getting to the heart of the cheeky Nando's.

Examples of language topics to teach online
• 'How to lose your accent and sound like a local'
• 'Ten bizarre phrases or customs you'll find in the UK'
• 'Language pointers: anything from grammar essentials to conjugating verbs'
• 'How to master a British/Welsh/Scottish/Geordie accent [or whichever you're blessed with]'
• 'Everyday situations (like buying bus tickets or asking for directions) which can double-up as listening practice or tourist info.'
Blogs and YouTube videos are winners for monetisation, too – by running ads alongside your content or linking to books, apps or products as part of your spiel. Naturally, we've got full guides on how to make cash with both options:
• Make money from blogging
• Make money from YouTube videos.
Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Whether you're after a side hustle or a fully-fledged career, getting a qualification or work experience (through TEFL, for instance) can help you become a better teacher.
Some courses even cover the practical side of things beyond the teaching part, such as how to go freelance, find work, manage your taxes or teach online.
TEFL is a well-trodden teaching path with the chance to travel and work abroad once you've got your qualification. Courses can be pricey, and can take a bit of commitment – but neither are reasons to blow it off if you think it'll pay for itself.
Take a look at our TEFL guide to see how it works and where to head next.
Become a tour guide

Credit: Warner Bros.

If you like walking and the sound of your own voice, tour guiding could be your bread and butter. It's also one of the few freelancing gigs that you don't need qualifications or certificates to set up.
In fact, you don't even need to start anything at all – you could find tour guides who already operate in your area and just offer to ride along as an interpreter.
That said, it's fairly simple to go it alone: you just need a set of walking routes, excellent local knowledge and some decent jokes. Obviously, you can lead tours in English if that's all you speak, but a second or third language gives you an edge (and it's likely you'll be able to charge more for your services).
Check out more tips on being a tour guide if it sounds like your kind of scene.
Plan trips abroad for holidaymakers

Credit: TruTV

Derek Low – a blogger who famously crossed the US by train for just $231 (about £190) – now also offers a bespoke travel planning service off the back of his master plan. It's an idea we've previously pitched as well because it's brilliantly simple.
To do it, you can use your travel experience and freakishly impressive organisation skills to put together packages for holidaymakers or business travellers. That could include planning itineraries, researching transport options, suggesting sights or shows to catch en route, and then booking it all – for a fee.
You don't need a second language to start your own travel-planning business, but it can definitely help. Not only could you reach more punters, but language skills can help you deal with overseas paperwork, visas and getting ahead without the faff.
Work as a freelance translator

Credit: Warner Bros

If you're interested in becoming a translator, paid work can be tricky to pin down (especially when you're up against experienced pros) but you've still got options:

Make money translating books
There's a growing legion of DIY authors and publishers out there, and that means a growing demand for translated editions. Even better, it means someone else has already done most of the hard work...
Get involved by finding author hangouts and making yourself visible: set up a blog, join writer forums like Goodreads, or get vocal on social media. And don't forget to reach out to people on LinkedIn – where everyone and their gran seems to have a book to plug.
You may also find opportunities by approaching academic publishers or app developers. For example, if you spot a game you like, check if they offer it in the language you speak. If not, drop them a line.
Other students can also be a prime source of work – just watch you don't fall into plagiarism like this skint student (getting caught can be a stinker for both your business and your degree).

Translating for businesses
From writing assembly instructions and ads for foreign markets to managing a Facebook page on the other side of the world – there's tons of scope for translation with UK business and corporate clients.
If you've lived abroad, you could also hook into cultural awareness training like teaching organisations which jokes, clichés or dinner table fails to avoid.
Closer to home, there may be local businesses who want tourist-friendly translations or councils who need to communicate with speakers of other languages. Whatever it is, keep your eyes peeled for job listings, or (even better) print off some flyers or business cards and do the rounds.
If you prefer to network remotely, a home-working site can bring the clients to you instead, but expect to sift the decent payers from the out-right exploitative! Try Upwork.com, or the far stingier Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Work in 'reverse' translation
It's tempting to assume translation opportunities will generally be from English to another language, but the reverse is just as valid.
Don't forget about businesses, charities and organisations based overseas who want to tap into UK markets: writing blog posts, vlogging or getting in touch in your second language can help you get a foot in the door.