A little about me
My Profession
HELLO THERE! I’m Aaron Long and I’m here to help you navigate the complex world of translation and localization. From performing genetic research in a chestnut tree lab, to being a program assistant in Berlin, to teaching ESL in Japan, I’ve walked a long and international path to find my passion in this field. Currently, I’m studying at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and I hope to use my experience and skills gained there to dive into the world of games localization.
My Passion
If I were to describe my professional interests in three words, they would be languages, storytelling, and gaming. When I’m not immersed in studying a language, the chances are that I am either writing a story (like my published short story White River), or playing a game for longer than I probably should. The desire to marry these three interests is what led me down the road to games localization. I find that games can tell stories in an entirely unique and interactive way, allowing themes, messages and experiences to last and have an incredible impact on people. In this way, games that are written and told from different cultural perspectives can bridge gaps and open up new worlds to players. I often wonder how many amazing and important stories are hidden by a language barrier, and I strive to be a part of a team that makes them accessible to the world.
My Experience
Be sure to read through the timeline below for some highlights of my experience. If you want the official list, check out my resume.
Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences & German
University of Notre Dame
Program Assistant
Notre Dame Summer Abroad in Berlin
Assistant Language Teacher
JET Program; Kumamoto, Japan
Freelance Japanese Translator
Youtube – Aaron The Harbinger (Example)
ESL teacher of international adult students
Excel English Institute
Master’s in Japanese Translation & Localization Management
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Social Media Marketing Team Project Manager
Tierra Luna Cellars
My Future
As I continue to gain more experience with different programming languages and environments, I find myself drawn to the field of localization engineering. I find that I can lose hours diving into code, extracting strings, and messing with the code until I can deliver a good and fully localized product. At the same time, my artistic intuitions keep me interested in different kinds of DTP work, where I spend hours in photoshop trying to get the translated logo to work just right. It’s no wonder then, that I imagine my future as one in a creative facet of localization. Stay tuned and let’s see what I get up to.
Let’s Connect!
Connect with me on socials and keep in touch! Is there anything you want to ask or chat about? Please do not hesitate to reach out and Contact Me.