08/07/2009 by stefi.

Hello,

I hope you are all well, studying a new language, perhaps?

I am here to write some very exciting news. 

As you know, here at WLS, commitment to training is a major part of our work, and I am very proud to inform you that we have been approved by the Chartered Institute of Linguists in London as the first North East preparatory centre for the Diploma in Translations (distance learning). Our centre is listed on the IoL website, at the address http://www.iol.org.uk/qualifications/coursesdtbse/listcensearch.php .

This course prepares candidates for the Chartered Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translations (English into Italian) by developing their skills in translating myriad types of texts from English to Italian. It is intended for native speakers of Italian who have an outstanding knowledge of language, culture, and social situations both in the target language and in the source language and who wish to become professional translators. The Diploma in Translations (DipTrans, for short) is one of the most prestigious, internationally recognised credentials for professional translators. Before enrolling in the DipTrans Preparatory course at Williams Language Solutions, students are asked to download the Handbook and Advice to Candidates from the Chartered Institute of Linguists website (http://www.iol.org.uk/qualifications/exams_diptrans.asp) and confirm that they meet the requirements for the Diploma. The course is run entirely by long-distance learning, via e-mail and with tutorials via Skype. Course participants receive assignments from our centre, send in their translations, receive input and feedback, and attend individual Skype tutorials on problem areas arising from their work every 4 assignments. The assignments are sent ‘on demand;’ i.e., each student chooses dates and options for assignments depending on his/her schedule and commitment.

The assignments will be marked and comments will be provided, for example, on:* Comprehension and Accuracy
* Grammar and Syntax
* Cultural differences

Posted in North East News and Events, Evoluzione di WLS, Corsi di lingua, Translations | No Comments »

11/05/2009 by stefi.

Ciao a tutti!

 I am writing to you today introducing a new, vibrant school of Italian language in Italy run by enthusiastic, experienced and qualified Italian mother tongue teachers. The school is situated in one of the most beautiful areas of Italy, the famous ‘Cinque Terre’, so loved by Italians and tourists! Why not taking advantage of your holidays to learn or improve your Italian? And… watch out! You may even meet me there….. Stefania

Here are the main features of this school:

Small group, full-immersion courses for each level (25 hours per week,  from Monday to Friday)- Various afternoon, evening, weekend activities (excursions, Italian cinema,    cooking lessons, local handicrafts). Additional individual lessons are available upon request. The school is in Framura—an enchanting little town, sloping downward toward the sea, just a few minutes from “Cinque Terre”  Price: 200 euro per week + 50 euro registration fee;  Why should you choose this school? For the high quality of service; for the attention paid to students’ requiremenets; for the total assistance rendered during the entire stay; for the wide variety of offerings, tailored to every type of client; for the beauty of a town not yet influenced by modernity and industralisation; for the homely, friendly and cosy atmosphere…and much more!

For further information, please contact:  SEMA
Italian Language Centre
Loc. Setta - 19014
Framura (SP)
Italy

e-mail: italiancentreframura@yahoo.it
www.comune.framura.sp.it
www.framuraterramare.it

tel. 0039 - 349 - 3184647 (evening)

Posted in Uncategorised | 1 Comment »

27/03/2009 by stefi.

Dear All,

Welcome back to our blog. As you know, I am fascinated by words, how they sound, what they mean, in all languages. My mother tongue is Italian, and often can recognise sounds and words in languages are not familiar when they come from Latin or Greek, or I can try to read them out when I recognise letter and sounds. I just try, and sometimes I am triked by false friends….

I am so fascinated by languages which do not use the Latin alphabet, as the characters are completely unknown to me. I just wished I could know more about them! It’s so interesting to see a page of Chinese or Arabic, for example, and not being able to recognise one single word. It is at the same time fascinating and gives me a great sense of ignorance. This is why I have decided to offer English into Arabic as a language combination to our clients. I do hope - one day - to learn some key phrases of it. We have a great team of translators, and I value their professionalism and help. One of my colleagues has provided me with a list of Arabic proverbs. You know from the blogs how much I love proverbs and idioms. Here is the list: guys, out there, can you add some more to our list?

(with great thanks to Muhammad Abdulraouf Wafa for his great research)

Arabic Proverbs Translation into English
من شبّ على شيء شاب عليه Always has been, always will be

وفسّر الماء بعد الجهد بالماء
After great effort, to define that water is water
الطيور على أشكالها تقع Birds of feather flock together
الأقربون أولى بالمعروف Charity begins at home
لا تلقوا بأيديكم إلى التهلكة Do not throw yourselves into destruction

(from the Holy Quran)
إذا تخاصم اللصان ظهر المسروق When two thieves differ, the stolen thing will be discovered.
إذا سلمت من الأسد فلا تطمع في صيده
If you managed to escape from the lion, do not try to hunt it.
من اغتاب الناس لديك، اغتابك لدي الناس Who chats to you, will chat about you
إذا قصرت يدك عن المكافأة فليصل لسانك بالشكر
If you have no money to reward people with, then say to them thank you.
إذا كان الكلام من فضة فالسكوت من ذهب If talking is made of silver, silence is made of gold
إذا كنت في كل الأمور معاتبا صديقك لم تلق الذي لا تعاتبه
If you blame your friend for every thing he does, then who will be your friend.
أرسل حكيما ولا توصه
Send a wise man as a messenger and no need to give him instructions
اطلبوا العلم من المهد إلى اللحد
Learn from cradle to grave
الأفعال أبلغ من الأقوال Actions speak louder than words
أقلل طعامك تجد منامك Eat less and sleep more
أكبر منك بيوم يعرف عنك بسنة
Those who are one day older than you, know one year more than you
أملك الناس لنفسه من كتم سره The most powerful man is the one who keeps his secret
إن السفينة لا تجري على اليابس
Ships do not sail on dry lands
إن كبر ابنك آخيه When your son gets older, then treat him as a brother not a son
. إن من البيان لسحرا Some rhetoric has the power of magic
أنا الغريق فما خوفي من البلل Why should I fear to get wet when I’m drowning in water?
‘ ادفع بالتي هي أحسن فإذا الذي بينك وبينه عداوة كأنه ولي حميم Repel the evil with one which is better (then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, will become as though he was a close friend

(the Holy Quran)
تعدو الذئاب على من لا كلاب له Wolves attack people who do not have dogs
الجار قبل الدار
Choose your neighbor before you choose your home.
هل جزاء الإحسان إلا الإحسان ‘Is there any reward for good other than good?
(the Holy Quran)
الحب أعمى
Love makes lovers blind
السكوت علامة الرضا Silence is a gesture of consent
الشكوى سلاح الضعفاء Complaint is the only weapon the weak ever use.
طمع إبليس في الجنة
Even Lucifer dreams to enter paradise!
العتاب خير من الحقد to blame is better than to harbor grudge
عثرة القدم أسلم من عثرة اللسان The slip of a tongue is worse than the slip of the foot
عدو عاقل خير من صديق جاهل
A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend
عصفور في اليد خير من عشرة على الشجرة
A bird in one’s hand worth two in a bush
علم بلا عمل كشجر بلا ثمر
Knowledge without actions is like a tree without fruits.
النفس بالنفس والأنف بالأنف والسن بالسن Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth
(the Holy Quran)
فاقد الشيء لا يعطيه How can one give what he does not own?
فلان قد ركب الفيل وقال لا تبصروني
If you want to hide from the people do not ride an elephant
قليل في الجيب خير من كثير في الغيب Little money in the pocket is better than much in the foreseen.
كطالب الصيد في عرين الأسد Do not hunt in a lion’s dean
كل ما تشتهي والبس ما يشتهي الناس
Eat what you want but get dressed in what the people want
كلب جَوَّالٌ خير من أسد رابض
A live dog is better than a dead lion
كما تزرع تحصد
You shall harvest what you have planted
لا تؤجل عمل اليوم إلى الغد What you can do now, do it now
من جعل نفسه عظما أكلته الكلاب Those who make themselves as bones will be eaten by dogs
من جهل قدر نفسه كان بقدر غيره أجهل
How can you know others while you do not know yourself
من يخشى البلل لا يصطاد السمك Those who fear to get wet, should not go for fishing
من يزرع الشوك لا يجني به العنب
If you plant thorns, do not expect to harvest grapes.
الوَحْدَةُ خير من جليس السوء Loneliness is better than sitting with a bad companion.
يخاف من خياله A coward man fears his shadow
اجتنب مصاحبة الكذاب فإن اضطررت إليه فلا تُصَدِّقْهُ
• Avoid the company of a liar. And if you can’t avoid him, don’t believe him.

حذر عدوك مرة وصديقك ألف مرة فإن انقلب الصديق فهو أعلم بالمضرة Be careful of your enemy once and of your friend a thousand times, for a double crossing friend knows more evil. (or knows more about what harms you)

عَدَم الجَوَاب جَوَاب No answer is an answer
ضَرَب عَصْفُورِين بِحَجَر To kill two birds with one stone

رِحْلِة الأَلْف مِيل تَبْدَأ بِخَطْوَة
From small beginnings come great things
مَنْ تُصادِقْهُ بِـالهَدايا يَبيعُكَ بِـالهَدايا

A friend that you buy with presents will be bought from you.
مُعْظَمُ النّـارِ مِنْ مُسْتَصْغَرِ الشَّرَرِ
A little neglect may breed great mischief
أَحْسِنْ إِلى النّاسِ تَسْتَعْبِدْ قُلوبَهُمْ
Do good to people in order to enslave their hearts.
شَجَرَةٌ جَرْداءٌ خَيْرٌ مِنَ العَراءِ
A bad bush is better than an open field
يزيد الطين بلة Add fuel to the fire
خاطب الناس على قدر عقولهم Address people in the language they can understand
لافرق بين رجل حكيم وأحمق عندما يقعون في الحب There is no difference between a wise man and a fool when they fall in love
الغريق يتعلق بحبال الهواء A drowning man will catch at a straw

References:

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Charity+begins+at+home

http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85_%D9%88%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9

http://simple.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arabic_proverbs

http://www.egyptianarabic.com/proverbs.htm

http://www.phrasebase.com/archive2/arabic/arabic-proverbs.htm

http://majdah.maktoob.com/vb/majdah18747/l

http://vb.7cc.com/t101831.html

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14/03/2009 by stefi.

Hello,

it has been an exciting week at WLS. We have launched the new multilingual website. Just visit www.translate-it.org to see how many little flags on the homepage! Select the flag you wish to read the text in the language of that specific country. For me, it’s a good practice to have quick answers for my kids’ homework….”mum, what are the colours of the German flag?” - asked the other day Desperate-to-finish-her-homework daughter. Luckily, I had our homepage on the screen, and I could answer in 2 nanoseconds. Saved!!!!!

The website was translated by our associates, and I take the opportunity to thank all who contributed to its development, with their suggestions and improvements. The design is - as usual - a fantastic brainchild of mediandmore. Thanks, guys!

And now….I look forward to receive your news! If you want to see other languages, or if you are a language student who would like to earn some money and translate the text into another language (taking advantage of our training team!), give me a shout!

Stefania

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13/01/2009 by stefi.

Hello,

I just want to write a few words about BS EN 15038:2006, the European Standard for Translation Services.
On 13th April 2006 the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) approved the European standard EN 15038:2006, known as BS EN 15038:2006 in the UK.
BS EN 15038:2006 is a “European standard which sets out the requirements for the provision of quality services by translation service providers (TSPs), or translation companies. It describes the processes involved in providing a translation service through commissioning, translation, review, project management and quality control, to delivery.”
Williams Language Solutions Ltd has always concentrated on providing translations and other language services of the highest quality (training, tuition, and terminology search, creation of glossaries for clients), and already complies with the major aspects of this standard, and now committed to obtain the certification by 2010. This will provide our clients with the confidence of knowing that we comply in all respects with the highest quality standards in the translation industry,and will facilitate business with ISO certified companies.
Standards are copyright, and therefore we are unable to provide you with a copy, however, many information can be found on the net.
We would like to hear from you: your experience, your views as a freelance translator, as a translation client, as a TSP. What - in your views - are the main aspects of this standard? Does a certification / accreditation by a linguist association already provide compliance with major aspects?

Stefania

Posted in Translations | 3 Comments »

04/01/2009 by stefi.

What makes a good translator?

Preparation, patience and determination are essential qualities in any sectors and are fundamental for a translator.

Acquiring competence
You cannot turn yourself into a translator in a matter of days; even if you possess a good knowledge of foreign languages (source languages) and a perfect competence in your mother tongue (target language) - you need to be prepared in the fields of your specialisation as well as being aware of the strategies behind each translation. For this reason it is important that a translator holds also a university degree (see the indications of the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu//dgs/translation/workingwithus/recruitment/translator_profile_en.htm).

Patience
A good translator never stops learning, and continues to work patiently, day after day; each translation represents a chance to deepen your knowledge and a new challenge to face. With patience.

Determination
This is a fundamental skill: the capacity not to give up when faced by the difficulties and perils which each text inevitably brings.

The job of a translator is like a true marathon, a permanent challenge. Stefania Williams of Williams Language Solutions took this metaphor literally, taking part and successfully completing the Lausanne Marathon 2008 with the time of 4h 20min. A fantastic achievement.

Congratulations!

By Morena Nannetti
(www.traduzionitaliano.eu)

Morena Nannetti is a freelance translator from English, German and French into Italian. For her the best way to maintain a keen language sense is… to keep studying literature. This makes you aware that in a written text even a comma can make a great difference.

Download the video of Stefania crossing the finishing line at http://www.translate-it.org/english/academy.html

Stefania competed in the Lausanne Marathon 2008 (www.lausanne-marathon.ch) and she hopes to finish under 4 hours at the Edinburgh marathon on 31st May 2009. Watch this space!

For the Directory of Marathon races worldwide, visit http://www.42k195.com/ or http://www.marathon-world.com/index.php

Posted in language services, North East News and Events, Traduzioni, Holidays, Translations | No Comments »

06/11/2008 by stefi.

Hello!

I am writing today to present a new, exciting service offered by WLS. As you know, WLS works with highly qualified translators to offer the best services to our clients. An essential part of our translations is the EDITING Process.

We have now secured an association with a team of editors to offer our clients Proofreading/Editing of English documents, presentations, scientific publications.

Proofreading, editing, revising is a challenging job (see Morena Nannetti’s article on our website www.translate-it.org). “Proofreading traditionally means reading printer proofs marking any errors. Editing is the task of preparing written material for publication, as by correcting, revising, or adapting it. Revising means to reexamine and make alterations to a written text.”

Are you about to give a presentation to a business meeting, and would like a “four eyes” check on your spelling, style, and terminology? Is English your second language, and would like your text to be reviewed by an English mother tongue expert in the field? We know your challenges, because we know the language and the subject. Simple faux pas can sink you, and few pounds are well spent to avoid you any embarassment. We treat all documents confidentially, and we will polish your text adding a “smart code” which can open doors!

(”smart code” is the revision + service offered by WLS - call for details).

Stefania

PS: my blog article has not been edited by WLS experts… Can you spot that English is not my mother tongue? If I had to publish this article on a magazine, I would certainly have it edited by WLS!

Posted in language services, North East News and Events, Evoluzione di WLS | No Comments »

24/09/2008 by stefi.

Hello!

I would like to present you the Language Portal Babelyou,
awarded by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology
in the last International Funkausstellung (International Radio Exhibition)
in Berlin.
Language students from the Herder-Institut and the Studienkolleg of Leipzig’s
university are already working in Babelyou.
The Babelyou project, where people from different cultures meet, unites more
than 70 countries and 40 languages. Babelyou is planning to connect the whole
world today in order to create an international network without borders.
With a unique platform Babelyou offers the possibility to establish
international links, this means, getting in touch with people from all over
the world and keeping in contact with them.
Among the typical options of a 2.0 web Babelyou offers the chance to make your
own profile, post photos and videos and create discussion and common interest
groups.
Those who want to learn new languages will have the possibility to find, all
over the globe, a proper language partner through especial searching criteria. I
n our language portal they can learn a language efficiently and without obstacles.
In addition, they can use our translation tool which will allow them to
translate a world into different languages during their learning sessions.
At Babelyou you can get in contact with any country through its own chat room
and you can communicate yourself in different languages and countries immediately.
Babelyou was elaborated by Andreas König in February 2007 and it was launched
online in May 2008. The idea was to unite and connect people from all the
countries and cultures in the new social network Babelyou, regardless of the
language they may speak or the country they may come from.
The registration and the use of Babelyou are totally free of charge.

Contact:
Babelyou
Andreas König
Hainstraße 9
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Tel.: +49 341 9625256
E-Mail: kontakt@babelyou.de
Internet: http://www.babelyou.de
Internet: http://www.babelyou.com

Posted in Languages for Holidays, Corsi di lingua, Holidays, Language Courses, Experience | No Comments »

21/09/2008 by stefi.

Ciao a tutti!

If you are already familiar with our blog, you may remember how excited I was to be asked to contribute to the Entrepreneurs Forum with my story available at http://www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/entrepreneurs/stefania-de-angelis-williams
If you are new to this blog, let me tell you what it’s all about:
www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk is a website which inspires.
“If you’re already running a business, ‘If we can, you can’ will connect you with people who could help move you to the next level.
If you’re developing a business idea or are about to turn an idea into reality, you’ll find inspiration from others who’ve been there already along with practical guidance.

It’s all about sharing experiences.
Well, I just received the latest newsletter, and I was thrilled to see plenty of interest and inspiration from all contributors, and lost of advice from all of them, so useful.
The ‘click-through’ stats (to see who’s most popular) showed that my story is amongst the most clicked! I am so happy to be able to offer my experience for the benefit of others.

If I can help you with anything, just write in this blog: I am just at the other site of the keyboard.

If you have not read my story, click on http://www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/entrepreneurs/stefania-de-angelis-williams. Have a look at my story, and if I can help you with anything, I will be pleased to hear from you.

Buona settimana a tutti!

Stefania

Posted in North East News and Events, Evoluzione di WLS | No Comments »

15/09/2008 by stefi.

Ciao a tutti!
If you follow my blog, you know that I am fascinated about Poland and Polish culture and I am learning Polish.
Today, I would like to introduce to you www.anglisci.pl

www.anglisci.pl is a new portal that has been created in order to help both student of English and English teachers in Poland. Editors and contributors are developing all the time writing about new, interesting topics, connected with English language learning and teaching.
As the European Day of Languages is approaching, editor-in-chief Gabriela Oberda asked me to share my ideas and experience with Polish teachers. I was honoured to contribute with our experience, and an article was written especially for the portal and its important initiative. You can view the article at http://www.anglisci.pl/europejski-dzien-jezykow-obcych/the-european-day-of-languages.-a-great-opportunity-to-raise-language-and-cultural-diversity-awarene.html.

There are some important features, which makes this portal special and different from others Polish portals concerning English language:
- it was created for students to find all necessary materials
- it was created for teachers to show them new methods and ideas
- it is to show how English language is taught in other countries, that teachers have the same problems
- to make all people aware that languages are important

Have a look, and post your views!

Czesc

Stefania

Posted in Languages for Holidays, Evoluzione di WLS, Corsi di lingua, Experience, Uncategorised | 4 Comments »