Colombia´s Bilingualism Campaign Boosted

Colombia continues to press ahead with its nationwide campaign for bilingualism - primarily paring its native-Spanish with English.

The campaign received a boost from the US Embassy in the city of Pereira, in the heart of the Andean country's Eje cafatero (Coffee Axis), the geographic region where rich soil and a perfect climate and altitude combine to provide the aromatic ''java'' consumed around the world.

source: noticias.com.co

Sesenta niños de 14 instituciones educativas públicas de Pereira recibieron el pasado sábado 29 de enero el certificado que los acredita como beneficiarios del Programa de Micro-becas de inglés Access, una iniciativa de la Embajada de Estados Unidos que le permite a jóvenes entre los 14 y los 18 años con rendimiento académico sobresaliente acceder a cursos intensivos de inglés durante dos años.

translation by mrenglish101:


United States promotes bilingualism in Colombia


Last Saturday (January 29) sixty children from 14 public educational institutions in Pereira received certificates granting them benefits under the micro-grants program, inglés Access. The initiative by the US Embassy allows young people between the ages of 14 and 18 with outstanding academic performance to attend intensive English classes for two years.

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

Translators Have Jobs, For Now

Machine or computer translation still stirs debate among translators.

Future employment is at stake after years of education, training, researching, and yes, rendering documents on time for clients.

End for human translators?
Despite decades of advances, one field where technology still trails humankind is translation.

Computers are marvelous in assisting translators in managing glossaries, TMs, and making the final document appear as mirror image of the source text.

However, when it comes to the intellectual firepower to apply the correct term and register, our faithful friend has not yet delivered.

The Test
So, I decided to test Google Translation, Babel Fish, and Reverso to satisfy a curiosity.

I copied and pasted the title of a section of a collective bargaining agreement from a recent Portuguese to English translation.

The phrase in Brazilian Portuguese is:  GARANTIA AO EMPREGADO EM VIAS DE APOSENTADORIA.

Google:                 GUARANTEE THE WAY IN EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
Babel Fish:            GUARANTEE TO THE EMPLOYEE IN RETIREMENT WAYS
Reverso:                GUARANTEE TO THE EMPLOYEE IN RETIREMENT WAYS
Humble Human:     GUARANTEE TO EMPLOYEE NEARING RETIREMENT

The computer does not know the type of document. That is important because of the context and sometimes (many?) because of the vocabulary.

The computer is able to isolate the keywords correctly like ''guarantee,'' ''to employee,'' (except Google) and ''retirement.''

However, the humble human rendering the document knows ''en vías'' is in no ''ways'' in the document.

Experience, familiarity with labor contracts in Spanish and Portuguese, and outright knowledge lead the humble human to render the whole phrase to its acceptable translation.

The humble human's translation was submitted to Reverso as a suggestion for improvement.

Conclusion
So while the three computer translators above perform their functions to a point, the humble human still has the edge on acceptable translations while the debate rages on the need, efficacy, and of course, accuracy of machine or computer translation.

Companies and individuals who need an accurate translation without embarrassments still need to rely on the humble human.

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

Overcome 3 Myths of Learning Another Language

Don't let these 3 myths about learning a foreign language discourage you!

Myth #1: It is too difficult to learn a new language.
In the Internet Age, anything is possible! Check out LiveMocha or Transparent websites. Pick your language - for free!

Myth#2: It is too time-consuming to learn a new language. 
Time is money. In short few minutes a day, you may open new doors in your career...or find a new one! Learning a language is an investment. The rewards can be hefty. Download audio files to your mp3 player or iPod and you're set! You learn on-the-go when you want to. Welcome to time-shifting!

Myth#3: It is too expensive to learn a new language. 
Have you considered the cost of not learning a new language? LiveMocha offers free beginner lessons. Transparent gives you a word-a-day free.

*Bonus - Find international radio stations here.

So, are you convinced?
*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

Learn with a Language Partner!

Are you beginning to study a new language this year? Learn with a partner!

Learning a language with a girlfriend, boyfriend or significant other can enhance your confidence and add another dimension to the relationship.

When you are struggling with conjugations or cannot remember the distinct uses of  ser and estar in Spanish 101 or the French subjunctive, you have a reliable language partner ready to help.

Many long distance relationships are cemented when one partner begins learning the language of the other.

Plus, if you are planning a romantic getaway, you both will be able to speak with the locals and wander off the beaten path and discover the brand new world of your new language.

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

Motivating English Learners

Sometimes students require motivation to learn another language.

Here are a couple of tips that may help teachers.

1. Instill a positive attitude by efficiently managing the class. 
Are you prepared? Does the student have a clear direction of the class? Does the student receive timely and periodic feedback on his or her progress? Your investment (or not) in the class is palpable. Each of these combine to stimulate greater interest in the class. This ''buy-in'' is also great for student retention.

2. Remember, language and culture are tightly intertwined.
As a translator, I can still remember one of profs saying over and over - ''language is culture.'' Therefore, make your language class culturally relevant. Tie in lessons to recent events or popular themes depending on the location. Here in Brazil, the Carnival season always provides an inviting series of classes.

By raising student interest in classes, your teaching will be more effective and the student experience more rewarding.

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

Find the ''Write'' Word

As the old saw goes for writing: show--do not tell.

Avoid Abstract Diction
Abstract diction is the ''tell'' part of your writing. How banal.
Show your reader specifically what you mean by giving concrete examples of abstracts like hate, love, fear, intelligence, etc.

Ex. The young boy ate a big piece of pizza. (Abstract, boring)
Ex. The pint-size youth munched on a succulent piping-hot pepperoni pizza oozing with pesto sauce.

In other words, give readers something that they can imaginatively see, hear, feel, smell, or taste. Make your writing come alive and appeal to human senses.

"Showing" often involves the use of imagery (as in the delicious pizza being devoured by a youngster.) The audience is drawn in and expected to participate in the experience.

Conclusion
While there are times when reporting (telling) the reader facts or what is occurring, showing is much more effective (and affective).

Good writers use both styles throughout their compositions. It is a technique that often separates published authors from those left pining at the keyboard.

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please contact Professor Winn by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!