24/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao! 

I had many queries from friends and clients regarding Italian football. Luckily, with my childhood passively spent listening to the radio on Sunday afternoons, looking at my brothers following the matches of Juve and Milan, I passively learnt most rules of the game, and curiosity about Italian clubs. I can also remember some of the winning “formazioni”.  “Why are Juventus players called “bianconeri”? Where does Atalanta football club get its name from”?

Here I am now, designing and developing an online course for everyone who loves football, Italy, and Italian. Parli footballese? will be one of our Italian language courses based on interests, rather than Language knowledge (but you will learn the language, too!). “When you speak about something you like, time goes fast…and you learn quickly!”

I am preparing the topics now, and the glossaries. What would you like to see and learn in this course? Which curiosity would you like explained? What “fuorigioco” mean? Just getting ready to the next World Cup……

All comments welcome!

Stefania

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23/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao,

 a friend of mine went on holiday in Italy and came back with a nice bottle of wine. “Stef, could you help me translating the label? I speak a bit of Italian, but…I don’t understand wine-tongue!”. “Corposo, ideale con selvaggina…..colore paglierino….” could you teach me some wine-tongue?

Here I am now, designing and developing an online course for everyone who loves wine, Italy, and Italian. Parli vinese? will be one of our courses based on interests, rather than Language knowledge. “When you speak about something you like, time goes fast…and you learn quickly!”

I am preparing the topics now, and the glossaries. What would you like to see and learn in this course?

All comments welcome!

 Buon fine settimana.

Stefania

Posted in Evoluzione di WLS, Languages for Holidays, North East News and Events, Corsi di lingua, Vacanze, Experience, Language Courses, Holidays, Translations | 2 Comments »

17/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao,

I really enjoyed the evening at the Sage last night! What a fantastic organisation, great setting! When I saw my picture on the big screen, as a nominee, I was so excited (I will upload it on our website soon). Being in the final and compete with so successful women in business was a great achievement. Award winners are a source of inspiration for me, and their testimonial (in particular the speech by Christine Mavin and Nikki Gott) was an injection of confidence for me.
As my daughter says “you just have to persevere and improve”. She is right, and this is what I will do.
Congratulations to all the winners, your excellence in business is an example for all women who are already in business or planning to take the plunge.

Thank you to WIN and all the organisation of the awards. It all run perfectly!

And a great thanks goes to my family (hubby was very supportive last night!), my team and my clients, and all the friends who sent me “good luck” messages yesterday. With your help and support, Williams Language Solutions will continue developing all the language services necessary to meet the requirements of our existing and future clients. Upon demand, we are already working on tailored language courses, Italian language online lessons targeted on interest. The first two are: Parli footballese? (Do you speak football-tongue?), a football-based language course with information, curiosity explained (why Juventus players are called “bianconeri”, what “fuorigioco” means? what the origin of the name Atalanta for the Bergamo team?, and glossary of terms on Italian football teams, and Parli vinese? (Do you speak wine-tongue?) an Italian course based on wine knowledge. When a course is based on what you like, learning is fun and easy! (all courses are based on European Common Framework of Reference for Languages). I will tell you more next week. Which subjects would you like to explore? Which tailored courses would you like us to develop? Let us know!

Ciao

Watch this space!
Stefania

Posted in Languages for Holidays, North East News and Events, Evoluzione di WLS, Corsi di lingua, Language Courses, Experience | 2 Comments »

16/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao,

I am about to go to the Sage for the event….Non sto nella pelle

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE FINALISTS!!!!!! As we say in Italy: In bocca al lupo!!!!! I can’t wait to meet you all tonight!

Here is the Shortlist:

Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship

Jean Brown, Glenfield Nursery School (Stockton-on-Tees)

Susan French & Christine Taylor, Contact Field Marketing & Promotions Ltd (North Shields)

Nickie Gott, She’s Gott It! (Durham)

Elaine Hall, The Alternative Supply Co Ltd (Cramlington)

Best Newcomer
Kelly Adamson, Adept Professional Services Ltd (Hartlepool)

Helen Coleman, A & H Management System Solutions Ltd (Newton Aycliffe)

Nicola Gray, Kiki’s Kabin (North Shields)

Laura-Ann Maddison, Altitude Recruitment Ltd (Gateshead)

Delyth Raffell, TwinsUK (Blyth)

Gill Ridley & Nicky Smith, Greentea Treasures (Newcastle)

Emma Seheult, Vivid Promotional Marketing Ltd (Newcastle)

Young Woman Entrepreneur
Michelle Brannigan, BB TEL Ltd (Ashington)

Danielle Dunn, Fresh Soap Deli Ltd (North Shields)

Rebecca Jayne Philipson, UR - In The Paper Ltd (Stanhope)

Woman in Retail
Sadie Ayton, Sadie The Bra Lady (Consett)

Jan Massey & Melanie Crow, Photography for Little People (Gateshead)

Paula McArthur, Doggy Days Creche and Grooming Salon (Cramlington)

Rebecca Jayne Philipson, UR - In The Paper Ltd (Stanhope)

Woman Social Entrepreneur
Liz Chadwick, DAWN (Advice) Ltd (Seaton Burn)

Ellen Foxton, East Durham Partnership (Peterlee)

Liz Prudhoe, A.D.A.P.T. (Hexham)

Liz Reay, Equality North East (Gateshead)

Kate Welch, Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust Ltd (Peterlee)

Best Cultural and Creative Business
Pam Ainsley, Hopes and Dreams Photography (Thornaby)

Sue Moffitt, Fifiefofum (Corbridge)

Ingrid Wagner, Wagner Rug & Art Creation/Ingrid Wagner Real World Journeys (Newcastle)

Judy Walker, Blinking Eye Publishing (North Shields)

Rural Woman Entrepreneur
Gill Burgess, r//evolution marketing UK Ltd (Hexham)

Ann Maddison, Simonburn Tea Rooms (Hexham)

Christine Peart, The Weardale Organic Soup Company Ltd (Westgate-in-Weardale)

Woman in Technology or Innovation
Claire Glynn, Atomic Web Solutions (Boldon)

Elaine Hall, The Alternative Supply Co Ltd (Cramlington)

Stefania de Angelis Williams, Williams Language Solutions Ltd (Newcastle)

Woman in the Service Sector
Janice Auton, Poppys Hairdressing Ltd (Srockton-on-Tees)

Julie Craig & Deborah Strickley, AB FAB Driving School (Saltburn)

Susan French & Christine Taylor, Contact Field Marketing & Promotions Ltd (North Shields)

Vicki Gilman, Neural Pathways (UK) Ltd (Gateshead)

Nickie Gott, She’s Gott It! (Durham)

Kathryn Ling, Forum CentreSpace Ltd (Newcastle)

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

12/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao,

the big day is getting closer….
I just want to recap the path to the final, the big steps up to now.

Here are some dates:

28th June 2007: WIN event at Copthorne Hotel - Launch of the Awards. Talking to previous winners, sharing experiences with WIN members was a great experience. I received lots of useful tips about filling the forms, and including the relevant additional material. Best tip: “do not assume that others know a lot about you, until you actually tell them!”

End of July - Beginning of August: Preparation of the Nomination form, collating reference material and other additional information.

5th September 2007: photo taken by award-winning photographer Trevor Reed. I enjoyed it! Trevor suggested 2 photos (out of more than 50 taken!). I did not know which one to choose, I added both to the nomination form.

12th September 2007: Nomination form sent! What an effort! It was good to write about myself and the business, I felt as if I was looking at myself from outside. Great experience.

12th October 2007: Lisa Vickers informed me that I was shortlisted! Thrilling!

And now…only 4 days to go!

Ciao

Stefania

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10/11/2007 by stefi.

It’s Saturday, it’s raining…
If you run your own business, and if you have a home-based business, you may work weekends, sometimes. Well, I do, but I don’t quite see it as work. As I tidy up the rooms, so I do with the office. Boring, but necessary.
I am preparing to the event of next Friday, and I know it is a fantastic evening (I have been there last year and the year before, it’s a great night out!) and also a great opportunity for networking. Drinks receptions are tough for me, I don’t know how to approach people, I feel “un pesce fuor d’acqua” (a fish out of the water). I am quite good during the meal, and I met very good contacts, but this year, I would like to make the most of networking during drinks reception.

Yesterday, I bought A Guide to Networking, by Dinah Bennett and Lucy Smout (women into the network). When Lisa Vickers sent a message to us members informing that the booklet’ second edition was available, I immediately ordered a copy. A source of inspiration! So many vital tips! The Conversation Starters and the tips about how to introduce yourself are great! I am practising as the authors suggest, and my target is to meet at least 5 new people during drinks reception (I hope hubby Dave will help, he is so elegant in networking!). I am keeping the booklet in the car, and I will read it again and again while waiting outside the school yard next week (btw, school yards are 100% networking places!)

Off to Metro Centre with kids, now.
Stefania

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09/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao a tutti

- 7 seven days to the awards event. So excited! Busy teaching Italian today, I will be quick.

The shortlisting in this fantastic event has already had a positive effect on Williams Language Solutions. The fact that I was shortlisted for the Technology and Innovation category (I entered more than one category) shows that technology is our strength, and we should persevere in this direction. We are already thinking about putting on line a new version of our online course, and our next newsletter will be dedicated to explain to our readers how online teaching works in practice.

 Hairdresser is booked for 1.30pm on the 16th….

Ciao

Stefania

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08/11/2007 by stefi.

Ciao a tutti!

For all of you who do not know about WIN, Women into the Network is an organisation which offers effective business support for women. I have been a member for a few years, now. I followed a friend to one of WIN event one day, and discovered all the immense benefits of this organisation. Meeting women in business, sharing your experience, learning from women who succeded (”quelle con le palle”, we would say in Italy) is a great help for me. The website is a source of so many information, so many testimonials! A real injection of confidence, a “push to take the plunge” for all of us. Some sites just say it, but WIN does it. I have recommended so many women to join WIN! And they are all grateful. Lisa Vickers is one of the kindest, professional, proactive persons I ever met, she is so charismatic.

QUOTE
“The North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were established in 1999 by Women Into the Network.

These North East business awards:

recognise and reward the tremendous contribution being made to the regional economy by women.
are specifically targeted at women owner-managers running small and medium enterprises.
highlight successful women entrepreneurs who have turned a great business idea into a reality or developed an existing business into a thriving enterprise.
are aimed at those who have made a difference and made their organisation a success! (from www.womenintothenetwork.com website) “
UNQUOTE

When the awards were launched this year, I went to the event at Copthorne Hotel, and I had the chance to sit next to Chirstine Mavin, the winner of the Susan Dobson Awards 2006. I could not believe it! I asked her so many questions! I listened to her speech, and to Jacki Chapman’s, winner of the Best cultural and creative business. Their words were inspiring, so inspiring that I decided to download a form and enter in the category Women in Technology, presenting our website, the online language tuition, the Translation Academy.
Filling the form gave me the opportunity to “wrap up” all I did in the last 3 years of business. “Did I really do this? Why do I not try this? ” Putting black on white is very powerful, it makes spoken words tasting real. I will tell you all about the form another day; to cut a long story short, I have been shortlisted for this category and I am over the moon! I am so excited, that I have decided to write down my diary of the seven days to the event of the 16th November! I hope time will seem running faster this way.
8th November
Today I have received a card from the photographer Trevor Reed, who took the picture for the awards (the picture will be shown at the Sage Hall 1 in front of all the audience, I can’t wait!). The card says “good luck for next Friday!” I realised that the date is getting closer….
Tomorrow I will tell you more about the reasons why I entered the awards.

Ciao

Stefania

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

07/11/2007 by stefi.

Upon request of my colleague Laura Gentili, I inform you of the following course:

The Universities of Bari, Genoa, and Pisa, in cooperation with the
ICoN Consortium Italian Culture on the Net, issue an
Online University Master’s Program in Technical and Scientific Translation
from: English, French, and German
into: Italian

Mode of delivery: Blended
(on-line + 2 week face-to-face sessions)

Domains:

Law, Economics, Engineering, Computing and Localization,
Bio-medicine and pharmaceutical sciences

in line with the
European Master in Translation
Curriculum of the European Commission.

The Master’s Program is addressed to translators or candidate translators from English, French, and German into Italian wishing to obtain a high-level specialization and a leading position in the premium segment of the international market in the field of technical and scientific translation into Italian.

The Master’s Program is open to undergraduates (Italian laurea di I livello or equivalent foreign qualification) living outside Italy with an advanced knowledge of written Italian (near native) and a good knowledge of English.

The Master’s Program meets high standards thanks to the collaboration of qualified scholars and professionals from universities, from the translation industry and from leading companies in the field of computer aided and machine translation. Translations done by the attendees will be revised by teachers and qualified translators who will guide participants towards production of professional text according to the market requirements. Participants will be equipped with a dedicated web-based software for assisted translation.

The Master’s Program is equivalent to 60 ECTS credits (European Credits Transfer System).

The Master’s Program will last one year (March 2008-March 2009) in case of full-time participation, and two years (March 2008-March 2010) in case of part-time participation.

Enrolments will be open until January 15, 2008. The cost is of € 5.000 for the full-time option and of € 3.000 + € 3000 for the part-time option. Those who enrol by November 15, 2007 and those who live outside Europe can benefit from a discount.

For further information please contact: mastertraduzione@italicon.it
Interested people can go from here to the enrolment procedure

Posted in Traduzioni, Language Courses | No Comments »