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Advocacy in interpreting is hotly contested. The role of the interpreter is unquestionably to be a language conduit, a clarifier, and a cultural broker. Being an advocate is much more difficult to pin down: what’s…

In this installment of our Interpreter Skills series, we’re going to cover notetaking. Taking notes while interpreting is both a skill and an asset. When executed properly, note-taking becomes an essential part of your interpreting.…

One of the most common questions interpreters ask is, “What do we do when a client says something rude or derogatory?” It’s a tricky situation and quite uncomfortable but there’s a clear answer: interpret everything…

Physically preparing for an assignment the night before the session is a vital part of interpreting. Having the tools for the job prepped the night before helps you eliminate obstacles to being on time. Physical…

As you start in the interpreting industry, you’ll acclimate to so many different aspects of job preparation. They become a routine, an automatic reflex before you begin your assignments. The term “prep session” is somewhat…

Working as a professional interpreter requires a great deal of organization and thought. You’re not only representing yourself; you’re also representing the interpreting service for whom you’re working. To demonstrate best practices, we’ve broken the concept…

In the first parts of this blog series, we’ve discussed types of school meetings and what to anticipate. Now, let’s talk about IEP meetings. Meetings to develop an IEP are some of the most common…

School interpreting differs significantly from medical or legal interpreting but is still one of the most common types of assignments. In our last installment of this series, we discussed the most common appointments you’ll likely…

As an interpreter, you’ll inevitably encounter times when you feel uncomfortable on the job. Some clients or non-English speakers will speak in a way you feel is inappropriate, offensive, or derogatory. You may feel personally…

School interpreting is a subset of business/escort interpreting—but it’s much more than that. School interpreting accounts for a significant portion of agency work. To work as a professional interpreter, it’s important to have school interpreting…

Interpreting is a career in which it’s vital to prepare with off-the-job study hours. Alongside learning terminology, organizing assignments, and professional training seminars, the best preparation is practice. Interpreting is best learned through doing and…

Legal interpreting isn’t for the faint-hearted and is widely regarded as the most difficult form of interpreting. As a new interpreter approaching the subject, you’ll need to prepare yourself for commitment to years of training.…

As you begin your career as a medical interpreter, you’ll likely encounter a few common appointments. These appointments range in difficulty and are often daunting when you first start out. If you’re working with an…

As you start interpreting, you’ll find that using medical terminology is a vital part of your new career. This is self-evident: medical interpreters work in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and a variety of other places…

Learning medical terminology can seem daunting when you first start your career as an interpreter. There are so many words and phrases to learn and every appointment requires different vocabulary. Luckily, once you get into…

Interpreting medical terminology is, naturally, one of the key parts of being a medical interpreter. While it’s not necessary that you be a medical professional, medical interpreters need to have foundational knowledge. The ability to…

When it comes to defining the concept of “bridge the gap” or “bridging the gap” we refer to connecting concepts. When these concepts or items have similar qualities or when we are trying to connect…

In the first part of this blog series, we covered the differences between virtual classroom trainings and in-person courses. Here, we’ll expand to give you tips to prepare for your virtual course. Proper preparation is…

Knowing medical terminology is highly beneficial to working interpreters. The “behind the scenes” aspects of job preparation is one of the most vital parts of an interpreting session. Learning medical terminology seems challenging at first…

Becoming a Certified National Medical Interpreter is an excellent way to advance your career and interpreting ability. This blog contains an easy-to-use flowchart; to help you understand the requirements to become a Certified National Medical…

2020 was an out-of-the-ordinary year for everyone, with COVID-19 affecting every aspect of daily life. The move to fully online courses was one of the most profound changes for students and professionals undergoing interpreting trainings.…

As an interpreter (and particularly a medical interpreter), learning medical terminology is a vital part of the job. Without a basic understanding of medical terms and phrases; your interpreting sessions can’t proceed smoothly. It can…

Standardized interpreter training is a vital part of the interpreting industry. A well-crafted interpreter training program not only prepares an interpreter for the demands of the job but ensures consistent quality. But why attend a…

There are various reasons why you might need to work with an interpreter; a professional who facilitates communication between speakers of different languages. Whether you seek to reach a larger audience at your conference; provide…

As the person responsible for technology improvements, sales and marketing at Global Arena; I wanted outline the essentials of the translation business; and how to apply that knowledge to your organization while optimizing your translation…

You might be accustomed with interpreting services, or with the act of simplifying the communication between two people who don’t speak the same language. Are you aware that it is possible to have interpreting service…

There is a fundamental difference between Simultaneous Interpretation and Remote Simultaneous Interpretation. Simultaneous interpreting is the instantaneous conversion of one spoken language to another; a simultaneous interpreter listens to the words being spoken and immediately…

International mobility is a key factor in multinational success. As your company expands, it’s natural to face challenges as you prepare for your new chapter abroad. Global Arena’s Mobility Department will help you handle everything…

Learn what you need to know in less than 5 minutes. A Comprehensive Guide for Everyday Use. The acronym, “OSHA” is familiar to most workers as it pertains to workplace safety and employee rights. As…

Let’s say you are a growing company looking to break into the global marketplace. You know that going global will open up many possibilities, but there are also challenges. You know that to compete in…

What are the ingredients for a good translation? What differentiates a good translation from an excellent one? These are the questions that preoccupy translation providers and were uppermost in my mind when thinking about how…

Moving to another country is one of the most gratifying and challenging experiences in life. It’s vital for a business considering employee relocation to think about a prospective mover’s well-being in their new home. Using…

For Deaf students, having an interpreter makes all the difference in their academic careers. One adage (often attributed to Helen Keller) states; “Blindness cuts us off from things; deafness cuts us off from people“. While…

Global Arena is the premier source for personalized language training programs. We offer lessons in over 150 languages. Our trainers are native speakers who are dedicated to helping you achieve success in your language-learning endeavors.…

In any relocation program, people come first Businesses commonly cite five main reasons for relocating operations to a new location. These are: Labor and work force issues (including disputes between employees and difficulty reaching KPIs)…

When it comes to providing health care services, communication is an essential factor. The patient will need to describe their symptoms, discuss treatment and results, and give their informed consent. Research shows that language barriers…

Methods to enhance language skills Language training methods may be taught as general school subjects, through specialized training schools, or even through online courses. Many different methods are used to teach languages. Some have fallen…

The United States holds enormous cultural diversity. Historically, our country is known as a “melting pot,” a place where people from all cultures can make a home. This diversity shows in every aspect of American…

Important Update: Global Arena is Offering Remote Bridging the Gap Medical Certificate Courses Global Arena is a licensed provider for Bridging the Gap, a nationally recognized medical interpreter training program. Bridging the Gap offers standardized…

Translation or Interpreting? There is a lot of confusion surrounding the terms “interpreting” and “translation”. While both deal with translating one language into another, interpreting refers to facilitating communication in spoken language and translation refers…

When speaking American English, the clearest sound comes from reducing regional accent and direction towards Modern Use Standard English (MUSE). MUSE is classed as “midwestern English” and is known as the “Standard American Accent.” When…

Online Business English Training provides a time-efficient and cost-effective way to develop the English-language skills that your company needs. Online training offers a flexible, from-anywhere solution that works for everyone from entry-level managers to C-suite…

When it comes to translation, the nature of each project varies greatly. For example, concepts and messages are very important in marketing and advertising. Communicating the nature of these messages in different languages and cultures…

At Global Arena, we strive to help our customers improve their internal communications and interactions across cultures and time zones. As an international company ourselves (with employees in four countries spread across two continents) this…

Can A Non-Native Speaker achieve the Proficiency level Of A Native Speaker? There are many reasons to learn a foreign language. You might want to speak a new language in order to be able to…

Global Arena provides personalized intercultural training programs with the goal of alleviating internal diversity concerns. We specialize in connecting cultures and building positive, culturally sensitive work environments. We customize our trainings according to our clients’…

Repatriation Training 12 to 20 percent of employees leave their job within 1 to 2 years of returning home from an international assignment. International assignments represent a huge investment and losing an employee after they…

An interpreter is someone whose primary role is to facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. They aim to fully convey what the original speaker says to another individual who does not share the…

Coronavirus approach – Safety First and get vaccinated A year and a half into the Covid-19 Pandemic, we continue taking the health and well-being of our employees, contractors and the populations we serve very seriously.…

The value of professional translation services is not always easy to calculate, especially for someone unfamiliar with the industry. The return on investment is difficult to define, and we should not measure it based only…

Healthcare facilities have a responsibility to their patients to provide the best possible care. One way to improve patient satisfaction that may not come to mind at first is to offer quality interpreting services for…

We celebrate International Translator Day annually on September 30th. But what are the reasons to become a professional translator? At a glance, translation is the conversion of written text between the source language and the…

There is an increasing issue in the United States: a lack of qualified medical interpreters. According to the US Census Bureau, around 25 million Americans have limited English proficiency. The groups most affected by the…

Connecting Cultures: America and Japan Global Arena’s intercultural language academy specializes in designing, customizing, and delivering a vast array of intercultural training services. We aim to tackle and overcome our clients’ unique cultural challenges. We…

Finding the Right Translation Partner The challenge a potential customer faces today is no longer how to find a translator, but rather how to find the right translation partner. Nowadays, translation agencies can carry out…

What is HIPAA? A Brief Explanation HIPAA is The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996. The aim of the Act is…

Combining the Art of Translation with the Science of Language In the age of Google translate and AI, we must rethink the role of the human translator. Some may even wonder, where do human translation…

Global Arena Offers Language Training Programs all Over the World Language training is an integral part of working with international clients; multicultural populations, and expanding or relocating your business and employee base. Language is our…

Relocating to a Foreign Country Relocating abroad is one of the most exciting projects that an individual or company can take on. Relocation and international expansion have a number of benefits, including a vast new…

In our blog post 10 Translation & Localization Acronyms, we introduced the concept of OPI, or Over-the-Phone Interpreting services. Also known as Telephonic Interpreting, OPI is a service that provides a remote alternative to face-to-face…

The translation industry can be intimidating if you aren’t familiar with it, with a lot of industry-specific terminology. Global Arena is here to serve all your translation needs, but you can become savvy by familiarizing…

While all interpreters are expected to maintain professional confidentiality in their work, it is even more crucial in medical contexts. The conversations between a doctor and patient can be sensitive enough even without the presence…

After you’ve finished university – especially if you’ve attended graduate school – it can be tempting to think you’re done with learning. Further Education is for you You might acquire some new skills or take…

What is Learning and Development? An overview of some new offerings Having skilled interpreters with linguistic expertise and providing workers with cultural education is only part of expanding your company and “going global”. Refining policies,…

As globalization brings speakers of different languages into closer contact; interpreters have become commonplace in a variety of contexts. Medical and legal professionals are especially used to working with linguists in hospitals and courtrooms where…

What is culture? It seems like a straightforward question, but when talking about a person’s cultural background, the answer is actually quite complex. Culture in this context means a set of learned values, internalized practices,…

What is Conference Interpreting? Are you familiar with the different types of interpreting services? Each situation needs a specific interpreting service. There are some situations that require an interpreter like conferences, large gatherings, seminars, etc.…

Chances are, you’ve encountered at least a few examples of poorly-translated websites, signs, or product labels here and there. The localization industry is replete with stories about translation projects gone wrong; with results ranging from…

The Medical Interpreter’s Official Role… For any doctor it is very important to ensure that their patients comprehend their questions; in order to apply the best treatment. Having medical interpreters on call is crucial for…

Companies cannot afford to take the risk of cutting corners with confidentiality. Whether for a business contract, legal document or personal papers; they should always use professional language services to translate confidential documents securely. Trusting…

Machine translation is software that automatically translates languages on websites. Do not confuse it with online translation tools or applications for smartphones; they are tools designed for the rapid translation of words; and also short…

Each May, we celebrate some important holidays that often go overlooked. Of course, you might not have heard of these special days, but they are quite important within the language and cultural industry. Teachers and…

Creating Connections with Expert Translators The benefits of certified translation for a business or organization may not seem apparent at first glance. Why go the extra mile when you just can search for cheap freelancers;…

Benefits of Language Training Effective communication is essential for doing business. That requires recognizing and respecting cultural differences and having the ability to adapt accordingly. Communicating in the language of your client takes effective networking…

Early Intervention services provide support to families with young children who have developmental delays, disabilities, or specific health conditions. Limited English proficiency (LEP) families require the assistance of professional interpreters to understand the concerns expressed…

How to choose your ideal translation partner? Discover 5 tips for the perfect choice The success of a company depends on many factors: innovation, leadership, financial management, a clear vision, quality in service, team work,…

A freelance translator or a translation company. What’s the better option? The inner workings of a translation agency can seem quite opaque to an outsider. Do you know what goes on behind the walls of…