This section explores Afiq's personal experience and reflections as a Freelance Translator and Proofreader

I began my part-time freelance career as a proofreader back in 2017. I was recommended by a friend to a small proofreading company that dealt especially with IIUM postgraduate students' theses. I remembered receiving my very first proofreading task. It was for a publication under Emerald Publishing. The theme of the article was Islamic Economics and the topic was Waqf system. It was quite challenging for me as I was never really exposed to the field of economics before. However, I took up the challenge and did my best. It was satisfying to know that the author gave me positive feedbacks. Since then, I've taken proofreading jobs on request.

I also remembered one of the most memorable moments for me as a freelance proofreader. It was during Ramadhan 2019. I received a proofreading task from a M.HSc (Political Sciences) student for her thesis. The topic was about political landscape in Sabah. The total amount that she was supposed to pay was RM120 (note: I set quite a low rate for IIUM students), instead, she decided to pay me triple the amount.

All in all, proofreading teaches me to be meticulous. It surely is not an easy job. High concentration is needed in order to finish one proofreading task.

In late 2018, I was approached and contacted personally by Creative Dreams International Sdn. Bhd. The company administers an education platform for online learning. They offered me a translation job for primary school exercise books. I was given the tasks to translate a bunch of modules for every topic in the KSSR Mathematics and Science syllabus for standard 4, 5 and 6.

In all honesty, this was an intense job. I had to juggle my responsibilities as an undergrad student and at the same time, giving my best in the production of these modules translation. Nonetheless, it was a worth-while experience.