To those of us who already work in the translation and interpretation industry, the importance of language service providers is obvious. However, this industry is actually pretty invisible; people don’t often think of translation and interpretation until they need it, or when they see a translation or interpretation that has gone terribly wrong. One of the most famous examples is the sign language interpreter who interpreted (or rather, gestured unintelligibly) for major political figures at a memorial for Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 2013. Instances like this are uncommon but generate a lot of negative attention.

Since the importance of language service providers’ work cannot be stressed enough, we would like to shed some light on the positives that come from working with language service providers (LSPs).

You might think, “I have a family member who speaks another language, why can’t I ask them to do it?” In some cases, if the situation is low-stakes and simple, that may be helpful. But most requests for translation and interpretation have high stakes and require training that your friend or family member probably doesn’t have: simply being bilingual isn’t enough.

Translators are excellent writers in their native language, and they are trained to research and use technology effectively to help the translation process. They know how to take into account the register, purpose, discourse, and audience of a text in order to translate completely, accurately, and fluently.

Interpreters have another refined skill set, including differentiating key information, using appropriate terminology, and using various memory and note-taking techniques. Language professionals know how to do jobs accurately and efficiently, whereas untrained people are more likely to make mistakes or lack experience in bridging the gap between two languages, which can make a huge difference down the road.

Now you’re convinced that you need a professional, but you don’t know any – where can you find such a person?

This is where LSPs come into play. LSPs have strong networks of vetted translators and interpreters whose performances are evaluated regularly. LSPs know which translators specialize in legal translation, which interpreters specialize in medical and health care interpreting, etc. They also work hard to understand the client’s request and related needs, so that they can find the perfect match for the job.

Finding the right translator/interpreter is one major function of LSPs, but they do much more. LSPs can handle large volumes of work, and they can complete projects ranging from translation of a simple Word document to video subtitling to providing interpretation for conferences. Of course, every LSP is different; some choose to focus on certain domains (such as legal, technical, or medical) and some specialize in only one or two types of projects (audiovisual localization, for example). No matter what they specialize in, the best LSPs have plenty of experience working with language-related projects and can deliver high-quality projects to client’s satisfaction!

The multilingual experience that LSPs have allows them to provide consultations and advice to clients about linguistic and cultural differences that could affect their projects. Different languages have different challenges, and LSPs have experience tackling these. Most importantly, LSPs are typically familiar with different cultures and they can spot any potential faux pas and correct them before the project is finalized.

Our final thought: Most people who find their way to working in the translation and interpretation industry are incredibly talented and passionate about languages! Whether they are translators, interpreters, LSP employees, or other language professionals, they have spent their time training and refining their skills. LSPs like Monterey Language Services are able to harness the talents and passion of these people and channel it into high quality language services for our clients!

A significant part of our work involves collaborating with clients. We take time to explain the different steps and requirements involved in the process to our clients. By doing so, we are working together to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This collaboration helps us avoid potential issues, and if problems do come up, we are better able to solve them together. The end result of this collaboration and transparency is that clients receive quality work. Taking the time to collaborate effectively also builds a strong relationship with our clients, who then would like to continue working with us.

Sometimes questions need to be clarified or potential problems need to be identified before we start work. For example, recently we had a client request a Spanish sign language interpreter. Spanish Sign Language (SSL) is different from American Sign Language (ASL), so we had to clarify: which Spanish country is the hard of hearing client from? Does he know American Sign Language at all? Will an ASL interpreter who could also interpret spoken Spanish work? We communicated back and forth with the client rather than making an assumption and potentially compromising the event. It was also a nice opportunity for both the client and for us to get exact information and serve the ultimate client in the most appropriate way!

There are some things we can do to ensure that communication remains smooth and clear. We evaluate all projects and requests when we receive them, identify any potential misunderstandings or lack of information, and speak with the client. This way, we will be able to give the most accurate quote possible. It also helps us determine if the project will run smoothly, rather than getting into the project and finding issues at a later project stage.

When questions do come up during the course of a project, it is important to be unafraid to clarify with clients. Some people might think asking questions makes ourselves look bad, but the opposite is true! Clients will appreciate our attention to detail and commitment to providing the highest quality product possible. It is our job to ask questions and make sure our team has correct information to carry out the project.

While communicating with clients is necessary and helpful, we must find a balance. We don’t want to send too many emails and overwhelm our client! To streamline critical communication, it is best to gather key questions or points of clarification first, send them all in a single (but still concise) email to the client. This makes it easy for the client to quickly answer everything, and is also a nice way to document everything in a logical way.

At Monterey Language Services, communicating with our clients is fulfilling and worthwhile. The feedback and collaboration we get from our clients keep us going stronger every day. We work hard to make sure that our communication with our clients is as smooth, understandable, and enjoyable as possible. This makes our clients happy, and if our clients are happy then we are happy too!

As the translation and interpretation industry changes, people working in the industry must learn and grow with these changes. It is a common trope to be afraid of technology or to worry about being replaced by robots, but in reality, technology is neither good nor evil. It all depends on how it is utilized.

Technology helps us make even more human connections. Thanks to the Internet and certain tools that have been developed, we can communicate with people across the world, which is helpful in locating and working with highly qualified translators and interpreters in any number of specialized domains (such as medical, educational, legal, or IT), within any timeframe, or any sizes of projects.

Technology also makes it easy for translation clients, project managers, translators, and interpreters to work together as a team. This type of expanding cooperation is a huge help for people in all sorts of limited English proficiency (LEP) communities. It is necessary to build a just and fair society, and we are happy to be able to use technology to further this goal.

In our day-to-day activities, technology plays a major role. Most of our translation and interpretation requests come in electronically, which ensures that everyone is on the same page. We are also better able to fill last-minute requests; most translators and interpreters have access to their apps, text messages and email at all times, and so we can reach them to discuss last-minute projects and especially emergencies. In all of these scenarios, technology helps us expand our reach and make more human connections than would otherwise be possible.

We are greatly appreciative of all of the benefits that technology allows us in our work. However, there are some aspects of the job and the industry that technology cannot replace. Technology has limitations.  Our main focus is helping people and the last thing we want to do is use technology as a substitute for human interaction. This is why we try to make it clear that although we are using many different technologies in our work, there is always a person behind the screen working hard to connect with people and serve our clients. In hospital settings and in most cases, having live interpreters serving clients face to face is even more valuable and worthwhile than over video or phone.

People are still at the heart of the translation and interpretation industry. After all, these services wouldn’t exist if there were no people to read or listen to the translated product! So while certain aspects of this work don’t take place face to face, the importance of people and human input is as high as ever. At Monterey Language Services, we use technology to facilitate communication with our team members and with our clients, who are always our main focus.

One of the best parts of working in a translation company is when we have an opportunity to tangibly help someone out. We recently had clients who had accidents in other countries resulting in severe injuries. All of these medical documents were in Portuguese and Japanese, and they needed to be translated so that they could be sent to their insurance companies.

Medical records often come in hard copy. When we make a quote, we count the total amount of words and base the quote on this number. Hard copy makes counting the words more complicated, so we must do our best to accurately count and calculate by hand; we might even do this process two or three times to ensure that our quote will be as accurate as possible.

These projects had several different types and lengths of documents, including handwritten doctor’s notes, medical histories, diagnosis information, receipts, itemized bills, and information sheets. We bundled these by type and had them translated in different batches, to make sure the translator wasn’t overburdened and could focus on one type at a time based on their specialization. This helped us produce high quality translations and stay organized.

This also helped us notice patterns in the documents, and come up with ideas that would make translation easier and quicker. For example, several of the documents were nearly identical, with just a few words or sentences being different. Rather than having the same content translated multiple times, we translated one of the documents. Then for all the others, we identified every piece that was different, translated these “strings,” and inserted them where they belonged. This saved our client a bunch and also helped us stick closer to the budget.

The volume of medical records is usually heavy especially for severe injuries. It requires a team to complete managing and translating all sorts of documents, and the tasks involved include selecting translators who have relevant experience and qualifications, organizing all of our files, keeping track of the status of the project, clarifying unclear parts with experts, reviewing the translations for completeness and accuracy, and preparing the files for final delivery to the client.

We work to have a supportive environment where our team members can cover for each other’s backs, so no one is overloaded. When improvements are needed, we are willing to talk about them and improve them rather than brush them under the rug. After all, accuracy and completeness are the utmost goal of our work. We enjoy medical records translation projects, because it gives us a great sense of helping our clients and also because there is always something challenging us to put in the extra effort!

We would like to share some interesting experiences we encountered while handling large translation projects. For example, we recently finished a 330-page Japanese to English translation of medical records, which posed some interesting challenges due to its sheer size and the highly specialized medical content.

When working on a large project, we have to be organized in our thoughts, in our workflow, and in both our physical and digital space. Every step or the must be clear-cut, and everything must be organized logically and efficiently. This includes labeling all of our files and folders clearly and consistently. When we organize our project documentation, the question we ask ourselves is, “Would the next person working on this project be able to jump in and find everything without any trouble?” This helps us make sure that everything is crystal clear to all of the team members involved, which in turn means that everyone will be able to work effectively. We also create spreadsheets with relevant and up-to-date project information, we keep our files organized in a location we can all access, and we make sure to update each other regularly on what we’ve done and what remains. Ultimately, having clear and understandable organization is the foundation of our work.

We organize the different phases of the project in a way that will help us meet the deadline. In addition to the actual translation, which can take a week or more, there needs to be editing and review, quality assurance, etc. We need to make sure that there is enough time for all of these phases, which are all necessary steps in producing an accurate, high quality translation. For example, in the Japanese-English medical records translation, we received work back from the translators several days before the official due date. We were then able to review the translations and communicate with the translators to settle any possible mistakes or issues. One way we approach this, for example, is to make comments in the delivered file regarding even the tiniest potential inconsistency, and send it back to the translator for clarification.

Another strategy we used, in addition to recruiting multiple translators who had demonstrated experience working in the medical field, was to also include an expert to help us identify less legible doctor’s notes. Part of the source files were handwritten doctor’s notes (which are notoriously difficult to read) so we made sure to find a professional who could help decipher these notes.

Finally, as with any project, there can be unexpected setbacks. We have to be prepared for anything and ready to do what it takes to get the job done, no matter what happens. For example, when one of our team members had an unexpected emergency and couldn’t complete certain parts of the review process that he was going to do, our other team members coordinated to make sure that it would get done.

While these challenges of large projects can take a lot of energy and time, it helps us to remember our end goal: delivering a great translation, and ultimately helping our client. These challenges are much easier to manage when we think about our clients and how they are depending on us to do our best. Our passion for helping people gives us the energy and drive we need to do our best and ensure that we deliver high quality translations!

People face challenges in every work environment, and the language services industry is no different. How do we break through them? We work in a fast-paced environment, often with a lot of requests coming in on a daily basis. How do we juggle many things at once without dropping the ball? How do we handle stressful challenges?

Keeping open channels of communication is of utmost importance. To ensure smooth communication, we are sure to leave notes and give explanations. We also have our process documented and written down. When we don’t know how to handle something, we can look to see if there is a relevant guide already written. If there is not, we can write one so that the next person with a similar problem will have more resources at their fingertips. Emails, text messaging, voice messages, and phone calls are ways to communicate and we choose our method depending on the urgency of the task at hand.

There are things that a single person can’t or doesn’t know how to handle alone. This is why we make it a point to always ask for help when we need it. This way, more challenging problems are dealt with sooner rather than putting them off or sweeping them under the rug. For example, we had to figure out our new tax responsibilities. Taxes are usually complex to deal with, but with several people working with different sources, we were able to check our information against each other. This led to clarity. During the process, we found different opinions, but it was that confusion that helped us identify the problem areas and showed us where we needed to focus and research in order to find the right answer.

Teamwork is important when there is too much work for one person, but that is not the only time teamwork matters. Another key aspect of effective teamwork is understanding everyone’s different roles and their strengths as an individual. Recently, for one graphic design project, we asked one of our team members who hadn’t worked on the project at all to read our instructions. A fresh pair of eyes on the project was needed to make sure that the instructions were clear and understandable to someone who hadn’t seen it before.

We always try to keep a positive attitude. Having the right state of mind can help turn a hectic, stressful day into a learning opportunity and a chance to solve new problems. For example, when we work with certain communities such as blind and deaf/ hard of hearing people, there are extra considerations we must think about. We must make sure that our work is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act. We needed to do some research on it, and took this as an opportunity to learn more about our legal system and about how to help different communities that we want to serve.

Staying positive can keep us energized, productive, and satisfied at work. Having a positive attitude also makes it a pleasure to work with our coworkers and clients, and that helps us build teamwork and respect, which in turn makes tackling challenges easier and more interesting. Last but not least, having passion for the projects encourages us to face challenges energetically. At Monterey Language Services, we know that no problem is insurmountable thanks to our energy, teamwork, and passion for our jobs.

At Monterey Language Services we always encourage everyone to think energetically and positively. We recently came across two articles about the power of thought and the brain, which can makes us happier and more energetic people at work and in life.

The first article, published in Scientific American, discusses how our expectations and associations can change our mind and body. It describes several studies that suggest that expectancies and learned associations can have a physiological effect on people. In one study, participants were told they’d be taking a test. They did better on the test when they thought the answers were flashed on their computer screen before taking the test (although they weren’t). If our minds can change us, maybe we can actually choose our best mindset to help us improve our abilities.

The second article, published in Psychology Today, tells us about the effects that thinking positively can have on us. Neuroscientists have found that more cheerful, optimistic people generally have higher activity occurring in certain areas of their brains. Behavioral scientists have also observed that optimistic people tend to have better moods, persevere more, and be healthier. These findings suggest that you can train your mind to be more positive and optimistic, starting with thinking good thoughts, looking for the positives in any situation, and refocusing your thoughts when negativity creeps in.

We wholeheartedly agree that thinking energetically and positively can have many beneficial effects on our minds and bodies. We will continue to practice that, and we hope you will too!

One characteristic of our Monterey Language Services team is that we are high-energy. We are motivated individuals, but motivation is not the only source of our energy. We are energized by the interactions we have with our clients, with our colleagues, and simply from the passion that we have for languages.

Energy from Colleagues

In a language services company, every day is quite busy, and we must balance between different translation and interpretations projects and our constant development work. No matter what the day looks like, we collaborate and communicate with our colleagues to figure out the work to be done. Our colleagues are clear minded, organized in their thinking and their actions, and handle things efficiently and effectively. This pace and rhythm gives us more energy.

Energy from Projects

When it comes to translation and interpretation projects, we have strategies to help us keep our energy up. If there is any confusion, we clear it up right away. By not letting things sit and wait, we keep our momentum and our energy going. This also frees up more time and energy to focus on important new requests that come in every day.

We also take our time to capture important details of new projects. This helps us decide how to proceed, and let us create a comprehensive plan, and foresee any potential issues before they occur.

Thinking energetically gives us a clear outline, which in turn gives us the energy we need to move things forward. This energy helps us deliver high quality translations and interpretations.

Energy from Clients

Our clients also energize us. We respond to all of our client requests with enthusiasm, whether we receive the request a several weeks or a single day in advance. We often receive last-minute requests from clients. When we do, we work quickly to figure out what needs to be done and who can do it. For example, when we received a request for an interpreter at 11am for an event happing that same afternoon, we immediately began reaching out to a very large pool of interpreters and selected one who is most suitable for the job. It makes us happy to be able to help our clients who are in a bit of a pinch, and the desire to help people in turn helps us stay energized and excited about completing rush projects. When a client is understanding and a pleasure to work with, that gives us even more energy.

Ultimately, passion is the driving factor behind our energy. All of our team members have a deep personal interest and passion for languages and communication; we all speak at least one additional language and understand the power that language can transmit. We love to help people communicate with others in all situations, so we feel a great sense of satisfaction every time we complete a project. When you work with your passion like we do, it is refreshing and easy to stay energized!

It might sounds obvious, but words truly are the foundation of good communication. We might have the best idea in the world, but what good is a great idea if we can’t communicate it clearly to other people?
Even worse, imagine if we use the wrong words (intentionally or unintentionally), we can leave people feeling confused, annoyed, or even offended.

With the right words, we can share ideas with depth and precision. People are much more likely to understand and empathize with us if we use the appropriate words. The ability to choose our words well can affect our personal relationships and professional success. It can even make the difference between increasing our client base or declining client loyalty.

Here at Monterey Language Services, we know how important words can be. Ideas are great, but words are what make them really come to life. This is especially true when it comes to translation and interpretation. Professional translators and interpreters always make sure that they are using the proper words that will communicate clients’ ideas exactly as they are communicated in the original language.

Many people don’t realize the level of thought that a translator puts into selecting the perfect word, or the research that an interpreter does to create a personal well of words that they can draw from at a moment’s notice. We work with translators and interpreters who are passionate about finding the perfect word that will best express the ideas of the client. For example, Monterey Language Services specializes in medical translation and interpretation; we recently worked on a translation project going from English into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Punjabi. It was intended to help pregnant women manage their prenatal health. This translation included the term “dull pressure,” which is a tricky term to define in English, let alone another language. Our translators had to discuss with each other in order to bring out the true meaning of this term using words that expectant mothers can understand completely.

In a broader sense, translators and interpreters use words to facilitate interactions and bring different groups together. It is important for all people to be able to listen and be heard, whether it is during a doctor appointment, a loved one’s graduation, or a public meeting. This is why language services like translation and interpretation are crucial when it comes to helping non-native speakers, low-English proficiency (LEP) and hearing- or vision-impaired communities. Facilitating communication is one way that language service providers bring people, communities, and worlds together.

Eloquence in multiple languages is a key characteristic of translators and interpreters. As a language company, we also strive for eloquence. We must demonstrate to our clients that we appreciate the impact that words can have. When a client came to us with some concerns, we communicated with her in a way that was clear and professional but also understanding, and she ended up being excited and pleased to work with us. We enjoy it very much when everyone is communicating at the same eloquence level, and this attitude encourages our clients and our translators and interpreters to continue working with us. We think about the importance of words in all aspects of our work and communication; it keeps us going every day and we are doing great!

Here at Monterey Languages Services we have a unique work environment. We like to think of our work as a solar system. Each team member is a planet that follows its own path, but each planet is going in the same direction, and all orbit a giant star which is our client base. Each employee is able to work both independently and in unison with the whole team to meet a wide variety of tasks ranging from scheduling interpreters to developing mobile apps.

Our team is spread throughout the country and operates in different time zones. Like the sun, our workflow moves from east to west, so being in different time zones gives us more opportunity to serve our client. We have several systems in place to help us work together effectively, so despite being in different locations we always come together to complete large (and small) projects.

Our orbits are dynamic and energetic because our team members are professional and proactive. We recently completed a 17k-word EnglishàSpanish translation project in just 48 hours. Because this project’s scope was challenging with a tight deadline, it required a lot of coordination. We collaborated with 10 translators, consistently communicating with them as well as our internal team members to make sure everything was getting done while making sure multiple people weren’t working on the same thing. It was intense, but all of our planets aligned for this project; our team worked hard, communicated effectively, and produced a 17k-word translation that we are proud of.

We value our individual creativity and spirit. Everybody has a different and important role to play, but we all have to figure out solutions to problems, work out details, and collaborate with each other. Our work requires energy and creativity, and perhaps most importantly, passion. We aim to provide our team members with the tools and flexibility needed for them to work as effectively as possible and to grow as employees; we want our employees to innovate and create their own effective routine at work. This individual-driven approach challenges our employees to think energetically at work and makes coming to work exciting.

At Monterey Language Services, we are always learning and adapting our methods to the growing needs of the language services industry. Our focus on both individuality and collaboration helps us excel in meeting the needs and requests of our clientele.