To my surprise and great pleasure, my former Spanish lecturer, mentor and dare I say friend, who is now an honorary professor, Dr. Lancelot Cowie, called a couple days ago to invite me to attend the relaunch of the Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Institute of International Relations, UWI, St. Augustine Campus. Dr. Cowie, held the post of Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to Cuba for the last 6 years and recently returned to Trinidad.

It was an honour and a privilege to be invited to be part of this momentous occasion especially at a time when the ambassadors of many Latin American countries accredited to Trinidad and Tobago are once again coming together to promote the Spanish language and culture of the different Latin American countries. The Venezuelan Institute for Culture and Cooperation (IVCC) in Port of Spain recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and resumed classes in January 2023 after a 2-year hiatus.

Members of the diplomatic corps in attendance at the relaunch today, 27 April 2023, included the Ambassadors of Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela and diplomats from the Embassies of Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Most of the speakers addressed the audience in Spanish – even the Brazilian Ambassador – whose native tongue is of course Portuguese.

The Latin American region is not homogenous. Besides the main languages of Spanish and Portuguese, multiple languages are spoken there and it is home to about 656 million people, with Brazil having the largest population of 200 million people.

Imagine if #CARICOM were to take full potential of the market right on our doorstep.

Imagine if #language were not a barrier.

Imagine if we, Trinidad and Tobago (and CARICOM as a whole), were to take significant, sustained steps to promote #foreignlanguageacquisition from early childhood, right through to university in addition to continuous learning in the workplace, especially of #Spanish and #Portuguese. So many opportunities are on our doorstep in the areas of education, research, trade, training and development, cultural exchanges, tourism and regional security, to name a few.

At present there is funding in place (through exporTT Limited) to assist non-energy sector companies to access services like translation to create marketing materials and interpreting to conduct meetings in French and Spanish spoken in these and other largely untapped markets.

The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) through its #GoGlobalTTServices initiative has been supporting companies to export their services and access new markets including non-English-speaking markets. (See link to article published today in the Trinidad Guardian in the comments together with the balance of this article.)

In addition, in early April 2023, Rutaca resumed direct flights to Margarita, once again opening the doors of tourism to the Trinidad and Tobago population.

So many collaborations and business opportunities are staring us in the face. Are we going to allow them to pass us by? This could be the year you invest in improving your foreign language skills and take advantage of the resources that are available right now.

For more information on how you can acquire or boost your foreign language skills, email us at admin@rmclanguages.com.

​Here are 5 reasons why you should reconsider the use of raw machine translation as the sole method of producing official publications and reaching new markets.

1. Literal translation and loss of original meaning
Online translation platforms can produce errors that may go unnoticed without the trained eye of a professional translator and reviewer. These platforms tend to translate literally and may not convey the true sense of the intended message. An idea that may be expressed in one word in English may be expressed in four words in another language and is not always the perfect match for the intended audience. Machine translation tools tend to translate word for word and the true meaning of the original text may be lost.

2.The loss of meaning in idiomatic expressions
Idiomatic expressions are an excellent way to learn more about a language and culture. Oftentimes, machine translation apps will literally translate word for word thereby losing the real sense and essence of the expression.

​3.Grammatical and structural errors
Machine translation tools may not produce consistent, grammatically sound output. For example, when translating from French to English, a lengthy statement may need to be divided into multiple shorter ones. A skilled translator will take this into account, but an online translation tool may produce a document that is inaccurate, challenging to understand and filled with grammatical and structural errors.

4. Cultural and regional elements
Differences in dialect are not taken into consideration by machine translation. These platforms are unable to discern cultural and regional differences and this can result in a completely unintended or even embarrassing outcome. MT output can change the intended meaning of the original text by ignoring these elements, thus impacting accuracy.

5. Lack of confidentiality
Using free online machine translation tools means throwing all confidentiality out of the window. Text dropped into the tool will most likely be saved for future public use. This is a not advisable for sensitive legal or medical documents, for example.

Consider these 5 reasons to reconsider using raw machine translation to produce your official correspondence, contracts and corporate content, be it brochures, price lists, advertisements, marketing material or website localisation.

Investing in professional translation will benefit your corporate image in the long run, ensure that sensitive information is protected, adapt your message to your target market and respect grammatical and cultural nuances.
​
For professional translation services, email us at pm@rmclanguages.com.

​Moving to another country can be both quite exhilarating and daunting. The move can be full of excitement and positive experiences. However, the excitement of the unknown and limitless possibilities can be jolted by culture shock, language barriers and homesickness. In order to make your move easier and transition to a new life and culture, being proactive about integration into a new culture is key to an almost seamless transition. Here are a few tips to help you settle into your new life and culture.
 
Embrace the experience and accept it for what it is.
 
1. Research the host country and culture where you will be living
 
Being familiar with the culture and keeping abreast of the way of life in a country – before arriving there – is paramount to getting acclimatized. Taking the time to read, observe and educate yourself about your future place of abode, its customs, norms and public etiquette will make the transition a lot easier.
 
2. Learn the language
 
It goes without saying that if you are planning to live in a country where your mother tongue is not spoken, you should at least know the basics of the language. Having some knowledge of the language will be a great asset, especially during your first few days and weeks of settling into a new country. Learning the language can help you to be safer, as well as help prevent someone from taking advantage of you. Basic phrases and vocabulary that can come in handy are greetings, directions and commands.
 
3. Go out to explore
 
There is no better way to experience a country other than going out into the town and living the experience. Reading and watching videos can greatly assist, but getting out, immersing yourself, engaging with the locals and having different experiences will serve to accelerate your acclimatization to your new environment.
 
4. Build your community
 
It is highly likely that at some point during your stay, you may experience homesickness and yearn to return to your homeland. While some may be able to do so, it can be quite difficult, costly or simply not an option for others. Building a community comes in very handy in this situation. Whether it is joining clubs related to your interests or joining Facebook groups of people from your homeland that reside in your new adopted home, building a community is key to aiding in reducing and easing homesickness.
 
5. Socialize
 
When making the move to another country, we often forget that our friends and family are not coming with us. This can be extremely difficult when we arrive and reality sets in. Interacting with and meeting new people is a crucial and vital step to fully immersing into a new culture. These people will be your new neighbours, co-workers, friends and fellow countrymen. A few ways to meet new people include joining clubs and organizations, going to cafes, restaurants and bars and also volunteering.
 
Moving to a new country is no easy feat. There can be many challenges and hurdles; however, the experience and outcome are priceless. Following these tips can greatly assist you on your journey. Be sure to embrace the experience.

The new year is a representation of endless possibilities and a time for celebration. Around the world, traditions to ring in the New Year are nothing short of unique. Here are four New Year’s traditions to know about:
 
Bermuda – Onion Drop
 
Onions have always been of significance to Bermuda as it is one of their biggest crops and a culinary staple in their diet. On New Year’s Eve, the count down to the new year is celebrated by dropping a paper-mache onion which is covered in lights, from the roof of the town hall in St. George's. Individuals also enjoy local food and music and wait for fireworks while waiting for the drop.
 
Spain – Las doce uvas de la suerte tradition
 
In Spain, at the stroke of midnight, locals will eat exactly 12 grapes which symbolize each strike of the clock. The grapes must be eaten in a matter of seconds as they need to be gone by the time the clock finishes striking midnight. This is done in hopes that it will bring about a year of good fortune and prosperity.
 
Philippines – Serving round fruits
 
On New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, it is customary to display and serve 12 round fruits. Round fruits such as apples, plums and grapes are believed to represent prosperity in the coming year because of their shape which mirrors coins.
 
Greece – Hanging an onion outside of the door
 
It is a tradition to hang an onion outside your door in Greece. The onion is believed to symbolize rebirth, fertility and growth and it is hung to promote growth and good luck throughout the new year.
 
Tell us where you are from in the comments below and let us know how you ring in the New Year!

​

• We are a one-stop shop.
• We know what to look for, we've done the research and we've built up a team of professional interpreters with varying backgrounds.
• We’ve already vetted all the interpreters on our team, so you don’t have to do background checks. We save our clients time by taking care of the preliminary work.
• You want qualified, experienced interpreters to ensure the success of your conferences and meetings. We only work with professionals.
• All our interpreters sign NDAs and service contracts. Confidentiality is covered.
• Send all of your background documents and event details to one place and we liaise with the entire team.
• We interpret in multiple languages.
• We provide a guided list of steps and tips for the success of events requiring in-person and virtual interpreting – from start to finish.
• Those who work with us attest to our professionalism, reliability and service quality.

 
What else do you look for when partnering with an interpreting service provider?
 
Connect with us at pm@rmclanguages.com for more information.

​Earlier this year we posted an article about the benefits of foreign language acquisition. Some of the benefits included having access to new business opportunities, access to a wider range of job opportunities and improved cognitive function, to name a few.

As the new year is almost upon us, you may want to improve or pick up a new skill and what better skill to have than speaking a foreign language?

We know that learning a foreign language can seem like a stressful task; however, all you need are the right tools, habits and attitude. Here are 5 tips to make your language-learning journey easier: 
 
Set language goals. Having specific goals can help us determine the best way to achieve success. Ask yourself questions like:
 
“Why am I learning this language?”
 
“What do I want to achieve?”
 
“By when do I want to achieve this?”
 
Asking these questions can help you stay on track and achieve your goal of having a basic conversation with a stranger, for example. When planning your language-learning journey, you should set some short- medium- and long-term goals which will help to keep you motivated and on the path to your desired level of fluency.
 
Practise speaking. Sometimes when just starting out, you may feel intimidated to speak in front of others; however, a crucial part of language learning is being able to communicate effectively. Speaking with natives is an excellent way to improve your language skills. In addition, speaking to yourself, practicing vocabulary out loud and recording yourself speaking can help you to gain confidence and improve your oral proficiency, as well as your listening abilities.
 
Consume media in foreign languages. Consuming media in foreign languages, whether it be music, books, videos, TV shows or movies is an integral part of language learning. By consuming various media, you are able to gather a vast amount of information about a language and culture such as understanding and picking up on various accents, gestures, and cultural references, which all contribute to successful communication and functioning in a language and culture.
 
Take a class or work with a tutor. There are many ways to learn a language. Some people prefer to try and learn by themselves and others may prefer to learn from someone. Taking a language course and working with a tutor is an excellent method and is highly recommended. A tutor is able to guide and work with you in achieving your desired goals and fluency. The tutor is also readily available to answer any questions or assist with something you may not understand, which may not always be the case when learning on your own. Working with a tutor is also an excellent way to improve your oral proficiency as they are able to take the time to assess where you may need some help, as well as correct and encourage you along the way.
 
Be patient with yourself. Language learning never ends and every day you learn something new. The key to successful language acquisition is to be patient with yourself and to keep going. When you feel dejected or as if you are not making any progress, ask yourself this question: “Do I know every word and its meaning in my mother tongue?” Chances are you may not and so you must give yourself grace. Remember that Rome was not built in a day, however, its lasting beauty is splendid.
 
As Charlemagne once said, “To have another language is to possess another soul.” Speaking a foreign language can open so many doors and opportunities and there is a whole other world to explore and bask in.
 
We at RMC are ready to help you start or continue this exciting and rewarding journey. Email us at admin@rmclanguages.com for more information and let us know in the comments below if you have learned a language and what practice was most beneficial for you.

After attending a LinkedIn live by Jarrod Best-Mitchell and Jaime Rampersad on Monday on the things that keep us women back from doing video, I know that I am not alone. These include worrying about / not having enough time for:
 

• Make up
• Hair
• What to say
• What if no-one shows up
• What platform is the best place to go live
• What time is best

 
We were reminded that we, women, are our biggest critics.
 
Jaime Rampersad spoke about perfection being an excuse for procrastination.
 
Everything that could go wrong in her first live did, but she did not give up.
 
She looked at the replays of her first few lives, kept going and improved each time.
 
Here are my takeaways from both Jaime’s and Jarrod’s tips.
 
Content Ideas:

• You can re-post the best performing content as your audience grows.
• Put yourself in your client’s shoes – what questions do they ask? What do they want to know?
• What pain points do you solve?
• Check out a site called “Answer the public” – if you search what you do, you will see what clients ask about your industry. You get two free questions a day.
• Structure content – Jaime uses an Excel spreadsheet where she notes her topics as they come to mind
• Be consistent in your live activity – go live on the same days / at the same time

 
Makeup – if you must:

• You can do makeup in 10 minutes by laying out a tray with only the stuff you need, instead of digging through a makeup bag
• Then, create videos in one go
• Every single person who filled out her form got added to a WhatsApp broadcast list

 
Equipment:

• Phone
• Tripod
• Two LED lights at 45 degrees in front OR ring light

 
You should know what to say to your leads:

• When people interact with your content who fit your ideal client profile, you send them a #videomessage

 
Best time to post?
Look at Meta Facebook analytics and it tells you best time to post.
 
How often?

• Once a week
• For a specific campaign – every day for a period of time
• If you run out of ideas – ask your audience what they would like to hear
• Also observe what your competitors are posting – what are people commenting?

 
What if no one shows up?
Most people watch lives on the weekend – not during the live – so don’t worry about it. If you have one person in your audience, that could be one new client!
 
The impact that videos and going live can make on your business is huge.
 
For translation (editing, proofreading), interpreting, intercultural coaching and language tuition, email us at pm@rmclanguages.com.

At RMC Language Consultancy Limited, we help our customers to communicate, negotiate and transact business in foreign languages and develop intercultural skills for success when relocating and working with global teams.  To date we have:

• Served over 160 companies
• Translated over 8 million words
• Have clients in 8 countries
• Coached over 110 global leaders (to be successful on assignment)
• Delivered over 300 hours of language classes 

 
We have been supporting private and public organisations locally, regionally and internationally for the last 10.5 years by providing:

• professional document translation
• simultaneous and consecutive interpreting (verbal translation) 
• cross-cultural business coaching services
• language tuition (to adults and children)

 
Some of the customers we serve include:

• Government ministries and agencies
• Export and investment promotion agencies
• Multinational organisations
• Private lawyers offices
• Conglomerates investing in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Local banks with branches in foreign countries
• International financial institutions
• Companies in the energy sector
• European bodies
• Individuals seeking official translation of their documents for immigration applications
• Funeral homes and customers seeking to repatriate the remains of their loved ones      (from non-English-speaking countries).

In addition, we are recognised as an official translation and interpreting provider by the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and the Immigration Division of Trinidad and Tobago, among other official bodies.
 
Do you need your documents officially translated and certified? Let us translate for you.

Would you like to speak with partners, colleagues and stakeholders in another language? Let us interpret for you.

Are your global leaders relocating on assignment? Let us support the adjustment process with intercultural services.

Need to become proficient in a foreign language? Let us teach you.
 
Connect with us at pm@rmclanguages.com.

We recently turned down the opportunity to work on a translation job because the client’s deadline was unrealistic. It was a very difficult one to turn down, because the subject matter – financial statements –is a topic with which I am intimately familiar.
 
You see, I have done work as the treasurer of two organisations. I did accounting at the ordinary level (fifth year of secondary school) and advanced level (seventh year of secondary school) and I have been serving on the board of a financial institution for some years now and we review accounts monthly. In addition, I interned at two banking institutions and have 10+ years’ experience translating various financial documents.
 
So you could understand my disappointment when I could smell and taste this project, but knew that it would not be a good fit for us because of the unrealistic timeline for delivery. It was not just interesting for me to work on, but it was a beautiful, sizeable project, so it would have been a lucrative opportunity.
 
There are sometimes disappointments that I face as a business owner, but I have to assess situations and opportunities before me and make decisions that benefit both the client and the RMC team.

If I were to accept a job which I knew fully well we would not be able to deliver within the limited timeframe, I would be:

1. extremely stressed out;
2. disappointed if the client’s deadline was not met; and
3. I am sure that the client would be disappointed or lose trust in our ability to do what we say we can.

 
For these reasons, we chose to say no to this project. This is just one of the tough decisions that had to be made, but I can safely say that it was done to the benefit of both the client and our company.
 
I hope that the client recognises that we made the best decision that we could, and as professionals, we would not accept a project if we did not think we could deliver quality on time.
 
Have you had to make tough business decisions? Do you turn down opportunities that are not the right fit for both you and the client? Please let me know in the comments.

Email us at pm@rmclanguages.com for more information on how we can help you translate sensitive and confidential documents into another language.