Closing the Communication Gap

Blogger to Word Press to LinkedIn ... oh my!

2009-08-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

I am testing this out to see if I have connected everything correctly. But as long as I'm here I wanted to mentioned that you can send us an email and we'll add you t our mailing list so you can receive the latest updates and discounts from Workplace Languages. http://www.workplacelanguages.com/contact.html

Join our Corporate Language Training Group on LinkedIN

2009-08-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Ask any question you ever had related to: Corporate Language Training (primarily onsite & online Workplace ESL & Spanish programs), Diversity / Multicultural Initiatives, Translation Services ... We have about 60 top professionals representing these fields ready to add to any discussion. Sign up at: http://www.linkedin.com/groupInvitation?groupID=1894241&sharedKey=48003930A514

A little bit about Workplace Languages - 2-minute video

2009-07-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

First draft of a very recent video. Take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDAbg-Y-7rQ

New Photos on Flickr

2009-07-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

Just a few of our pictures from some of our classes and seminars. New bilingual product photos included too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/workplacelanguages/

Got the Shrinking Global Market Blues?

2009-05-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

As the Global Market shrinks, the competition becomes tighter just to stay in the game. Now more than ever, communication, timeliness and cultural adaptation are necessary for businesses that want to attract or keep international clients and partners. After all that spit and polish you invest in your brand’s image and the elbow grease that goes into positioning your brand, you don’t want to be one of those stories about translation disasters and cultural faux-pas. You want to be the one laughing when you get that particular forwarded e-mail.

Fortunately, the solution is simple and available in English. Workplace Languages makes it easy with our network of over 250 qualified translators, whose mother tongue is the target language. We have languages you’ve never even heard of. And for culturally sensitive issues, our panel of experts boasts a Latino Cultural Liaison, a Business Culture and Customs Specialist, and a Hispanic Marketing Specialist. It’s like one-stop shopping.

Set Yourself Apart - Make Yourself More Marketable - Learn Spanish!

2009-04-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

With today's economy, it is now more important than ever to keep yourself ahead of the competition. One way to do this is to learn a foreign language. How about Spanish? Adding bilingual skills to your arsenal is a distinct advantage. Try one of our Online Spanish Classes for free. Or ask about our one-on-one tutoring sessions or eight-week Spanish courses at your company for up to 25 students.

Translations Gone Wrong

2009-04-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

A friend recently forwarded some of these famous translation miscues to me. These are hilarious. Just thought I'd share. Happy Monday everyone.

1. Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used this in an American campaign: "Nothing sucks like an Electrolux."

2. Coors put its slogan, "Turn It Loose," into Spanish where its translation was read as "Suffer From Diarrhea."

3. Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick" curling iron in German only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure.

4. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as they did in the U.S., with the beautiful Caucasian baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside because most people can't read.

5. Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious naughty magazine. (insert oral joke here).

6. A now-defunct American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market during the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el papa), the shirts read "I saw the potato" (la papa).

7. Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" was read as "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave" in Chinese by billions of potential consumers.

8. The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Ke-kou-ke-la", meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax" depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "ko-kou-ko-le" translating into "happiness in the mouth."

9. When Parker Pen marketed a ball-point pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read, "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." Instead, the company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."

And, number ten...

10. Frank Perdue's chicken slogan, "It takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "It takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate."

Workplace English just for Latinos

2009-03-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Check out all of our Bilingual Training Products created specifically for your Spanish-speaking employees. All Spanish-to-English pocket-sized booklets come with a pronunciation guide and are available for a variety of industries.

And our Workplace English Kit includes: 5 student workbooks - 1 facilitator's guide - 2 bilingual CDs and a vocabulary flashcard deck. This kit can be used as a self-study program for Latinos and is geared for back-of-the-house / kitchen employees.

All products help Spanish speakers not only improve their English around the workplace but also their conversational English for everyday life. Products help improve: cost-effectiveness, retention and your bottom line.

Marriott & Starwood "Hotel Spanish" Booklets

2009-03-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Workplace Languages, LLC has just finished booklets for the Marriott International & Starwood hotel chains to help management communicate with their Latino / Hispanic housekeepers in Spanish. Both are customized with unique company-specific phrases & terminology with their logos on the front cover. Call us today at 866-330-9419 for discount codes that you can enter on our shopping cart to receive special rates.

Online Spanish Pilot Completed

2009-03-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

I just want to thank: Pizza Hut, Papa John's International, Sdoexo and Outback Steakhouse for all participating in our five-week (30 minutes 2X/week) Online Spanish Program. It was a huge success and we are extremely grateful for their involvement.

If you dodn't know what Skype is, go to http://www.skype.com/ and check it out. Basically what it is is connecting two individuals over a computer with a webcam & a mic - all in real time. This has been the way I have communicated with my translators for the past couple of years but only recently started using this technology for teaching.

We have native Spanish speakers / instructors in Nicaragua (very universal Latin American Spanish) that are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST Monday through Frdiay. We teach ten 30-minute lessons (one level) and the curriculum is customized to the industry. Pre & post tests / assessments are given to determine what level you should begin. We have 3 levels.

Try one 30-minute session for free. No obligation. I guarantee you'll love it.

Translation Consistency

2009-03-09T19:23:00.002-07:00

When hiring a translator or a translation agency - there are a few simple questions you and your company should ask before making a decision. I'll keep this short:

Ask for the obvious testimonials & client list
Do they understand localization - Is the language translated appropriate / "universal" & understood by your employees or whomever the target audience?
Did you ask for a sample translation - Did the target audience provide feedback on the accuracy of the translation?
Does the translator or translation agency use any type of translation memory (TM)?
Does a seaparate team of translators proof the work / finished product or is it the same team?
What guarantee are you given if you are not satisfied? What specific steps will be taken to correct any issues?
If the agency is building a work-specific lexicon for a particular translation project, will receiving this be a part of the total fee already discussed or will this customized dictionary / lexicon by an additional charge?

Those are just a few suggestions I can think of off the top of my head. I hope this information can be beneficial.

Panel Assembled

2009-03-08T19:52:00.001-07:00

Workplace Languages' Panel of Experts has now been assembled. Areas of expertise range from Accent Reduction & Hispanic Marketing to Inclusion & Online Language Learning. Check it out at Panel of Experts.

Survival Spanish for Today's Traveler

2009-03-04T18:11:00.000-08:00

Our newest offering / booklet - Survival Spanish for Today's Traveler - is now available for purchase. This handy pocket-sized booklet is all you need to effectively communicate during your travels to any Spanish-speaking country / destination.

Sections include: Making Small Talk - Dollars & Sense - Getting Around - At the Hotel - Going Out - Emergency / Medical and a Miscellaneous section.

You can click on our "FAX NOW. PAY LATER" graphic on the bottom of our Homepage, print off the order form and fax back to us. We will have it available to order off of our Shopping Cart shortly.

WORKPLACE ESL & SURVIVAL SPANISH on GRAND AVENUE in ST. PAUL

2009-02-25T17:28:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that starting in April Workplace Languages will be holding Workplace ESL / Job Readiness classes and also Survival Spanish for Today's Workforce. The job readiness / workplace ESL class will be for anyone with limited English proficiency and will cover the topics of: Health, Employment, Education, Finances, Housing, Shopping / Major Purchases and Transportation. Our Survival Spanish for the Workplace will be for all managers, supervisors and anyone needing to communicate with their Spanish-speaking staff.

Both classes will be held at 844 Grand in St. Paul. The ESL class will be on Tuesdays, starting April 7th, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and the Survival Spanish for the Workplace will be on Thursdays, starting April 9th, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm also.

Call 651-330-9419 for more details.

"FAX NOW. PAY LATER." option available at Workplace Languages, LLC

2009-02-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

There is a quick & convenient way to order any of our Workplace Languages' bilingual training products without using your credit card and having to use our shopping cart. Simply go to FAX NOW. PAY LATER. and print off / download the pdf and fax it to the number listed on document,

All products are shipped within 2 business days. We'll send you an invoice via email. What could be easier? And we stand behind all of our products & services 100%.

You still can order with a credit card if you wish when using our shopping cart.

Call about volume discounts and the possibility of customizing any of our products.

If your company needs to improve productivity, wants to retain great employees and values diversity, Workplace Languages has language solutions to improve your bottom line. Workplace Languages provides an easy, effective and immediate way to close the communication gap at your company.

THE RIGHT FIT FOR A WORKPLACE ESL CLASS

2009-02-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

Below are some of the guidelines that I have put together to help our teachers place potential workplace ESL in the appropriate class. There will always be varying levels of English proficiency in the classes but not all of the students that want to participate are a good fit for the class. Sometimes participants need additional help before they qualify for a Level I class and other times their level of proficiency is too advanced for a Level I class. Here are my thoughts:

GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING APPROPRIATE CANDIDATES for a
LEVEL I WORKPLACE ENGLISH CLASS

I. TYPICALLY POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS OF A LEVEL I COURSE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE NECESSARY ENGLISH SKILLS IF THEY:

· Do not make an attempt to communicate to the GM / Supervisor / Coworkers in English
· Haven’t completed the 2nd grade in the U.S. or their country
· Possess only a few vocabulary words in English
· Have worked less than 6 months at their company

II. CANDIDATES THAT ARE A “GOOD FIT” FOR A LEVEL I WORKPLACE ENGLISH COURSE TYPICALLY:

· Is shy / not confident of their ability (although they may possess good speaking skills)
· Knows a number of vocabulary words in English
· Have problems “getting their point across” although they can do it occasionally
· Is reluctant to speak with customers but will be able to communicate some ideas to their GM / Supervisor
· Needs to work at their company 6+ months
· Can make simple requests but can’t elaborate / give many details
· Is able to fill out personal information on a application – name, phone, address …
· Wants to take the class / has aspirations of advancement within the organization (have a bilingual coworker elicit some of this information)
· Would have completed any grade between 2nd and 8th in the U.S. or in their country

III. INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CONSIDERED A GOOD FIT FOR AN ADVANCED ESL CLASS WOULD:

· Be able to communicate their ideas and make simple requests
· Speak “choppy” English and would have an accent but could “get their point across”
· Not have any difficulty completely filling out any simple forms
· Be able to explain roles & responsibilities of various positions in a simple fashion
· Have completed 8th grade or above in the U.S. or in their own country

PANEL OF EXPERTS IS COMING

2009-02-19T20:49:00.001-08:00

At Workplace Languages, we believe the foundation of any successful organization is effective communication. So we have assembled a Panel of Experts who are some of the leading authorities in language learning and corporate communication. Our experts are educators, authors and linguists each trained in specialized fields of language learning.

Members of our Panel of Experts are available for media interviews, speaking engagements and corporate training seminars. Workplace Languages also offers a FREE 15-minute WebEx online consultation with one of our Panel Experts.

We have assembled a team of ten experts specializing in the fields of: Hispanic Marketing - Accent Reduction - Onsite & Online Workplace Language / Translation - Business English -Training & Development - Inclusion - Video Training - Business Culture and Customs - Problem-Based Classroom & Online Training - Latino Culture. Watch our website http://www.workplacelanguages.com/ and my blog @ http://edrosheim.blogspot.com/ for more information.

IN THE BEGINNING ...

2009-02-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

Going to keep this short tonight. Amazing how the day goes by. Just wanted to give you a little background on myself and how I got started with this line of work. I'll blog more on this down the line on this but I will be the first to admit I never saw myself running a business like this.

I took French back in high school and if you asked any classmate of mine, "What do you see Ed Rosheim doing after college?" - I can guarantee there isn't a person alive that would have pegged me for a language major. Before attending UNI (Northern Iowa) - I literally had never spoken one "Hola" or " ¿Cómo estás?" Spanish wasn't even offered at our high school. I took Spanish 101 as an elective as a sophomore in college. I struggled with the language but loved it and ended up getting an MA in Spanish. This wasn't because I wanted to pursue that degree but rather I thought I better continue to learn having only a total of 3 years of Spanish under my belt. During that time I received a K - 12 degree in Spanish but didn't think that was the path I wanted to take.

After college my first job was as a bilingual social worker, then I taught some basic ESL & Spanish classes at a few community colleges in Iowa. Please keep in mind - I was still no language prodigy having started so late but I loved teaching adults and thought I had a knack for putting them at ease and communicating the basics of the language.

I moved up to Minnesota back in 1996 with my wife Cheryl (hard to believe) and I got a job at a non-profit and through them I taught Survival Spanish and functional work-specific English to companies like: Pillsbury, the Minneapolis Police, Mystic Lake Casino ... That was it! I had found my niche - teaching basic work-related Spanish & ESL phrases to help companies close the communication gap. I felt (& feel) that I can make a difference with individuals that don't need or want to become language majors - they want to: "get their point across," retain good employees, increase productivity and develop a rapport with their workers.

In closing (and I said I was going to keep this short) it is never too late to pick up enough Spanish or any other language to make an impact where you work. And conversely - giving your employees the opportunity to improve their English does wonders for your bottom line.

TRANSLATION SERVICES DISCOUNT

2009-02-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Workplace Languages, LLC is running a special on all of its translation services through Monday, March 16 2009 - 03-16-09. We are offering a 20% discount to new clients. Any language (we translate into over 100 languages) and any industry. Workplace Languages, LLC has over 250 internationally-based translators and each & every one is a specialist in a particular industry.

We are also happy to provide you with a sample of our work. Send us a one-page document - you name the language - and we will email you the translated document in the target language.

Workplace Languages, LLC always provides free quotes within 24 hours. Call toll free 866.330.9419 for more details or contact us through our website at http://www.workplacelanguages.com/quote.html.

NEW OFFERINGS

2009-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Workplace Languages, LLC is proud to announce that we will be offering more "Lunch & Learn" classes in 2009. Typically these will be for 60 minutes over the lunch hour and will be for 10 weeks. The sessions can be more language-based, have a cultural focus or be a nice mix of the two. We have trainers throughout the US - you name the language or culture you want to learn about and we'll find the perfect fit.

Apart from all of our oniste (at the various companies) & online offerings - we will be offering language tutoring at 844 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. We will continue to "come to you" 24/7 - from classes to translation services - but now will be offering services at our corporate offices.

SURVIVAL SPANISH DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS

2009-02-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

I just returned from presenting at the annual CMAA (Club Manager's Association of America) National Conference in New Orleans this past Monday. This was the third time that I have been invited to speak and as always - I thoroughly enjoyed myself. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities from the beignets & chickory coffee to the French Quarter & the Garden District. And the hospitality I receive from all of those involved with the CMAA conference is simply unparalleled. This year I presented Survival Spanish for Today's Workforce - a three-hour interactive seminar that I customize to address the communication issues facing the target audience. The industry-specific Spanish phrases I taught to these country club managers covered a variety of topics. Everyone in attendance wanted to do all they could to build rapport with their Latino employees and also ensure that all of their guests / members have the best experience possible at their clubs. The 3 hours flew by. The participants walked away with some of the basics to "get them up & speaking" immediately. And they also left with the necessary tools to help them continue the learning process outside of the presentation.

Back in St. Paul now and the cold temps of Minnesota. I am very happy to return to the land of 10,000 frozen lakes but had a great time down in N'awlins. I'll post seminar pictures soon on our website - http://www.WorkplaceLanguages.com.

Establishing a Successful Language Program at a Company

2009-01-31T19:31:00.000-08:00

When you have set an appointment with a company to discuss online or onsite language training, these are some of the types of questions which you may expect. They make for good discussion points and can be the basis for planning. Developing clear answers to these questions ahead of time will help you further define your program and present yourself as a credible education and training vendor.

1) How much will a workplace Spanish or ESL program cost?

2) How long does the training take?

3) What can the company expect as outcomes?

4) What specific results will you guarantee?

5) What involvement will be required from the company?

6) What is the return on investment for the company?

7) Will on-site workplace Spanish or ESL help worker retention?

8) Is there curriculum already developed?

WHAT A COMPANY CAN EXPECT FROM YOU AS AN EDUCATION CONSULTANT

1) Help in formulating realistic measurement of program results. Results might include test score improvement, willingness of students to be cross-trained, better attendance on the job, speaking up at meetings, reduction in time spent answering questions, reduction in turnover.

2) Suggestions for how the company can reinforce what is being taught in class.

3) An invitation to visit the classroom. For the program to be successful, the company must be involved.

4) Regular information throughout the life of the program about progress and issues

Learn more at http://www.workplacelanguages.com/online_onsite.html

"Grammar-less" vs. Comprehensive Language Learning for Managers

2009-01-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Time is Money

I often get questions from clients about the advantages of “grammar-less” language learning. The simple answer is time. Many busy professionals don’t have time or patience to learn all of the nuances of another language. The traditional approach to language learning can take years. I have taught Spanish & ESL at a number of colleges and I know what doesn’t work: bogging students down with so much grammar that they are reluctant to speak.
When it comes to workplace communication, many companies want their employees to learn industry specific words and phrases without spending time learning material they may never use. That’s why we developed our programs addressing the needs of specific industries by teaching managers the language and cultures of their workers. The formula is the more effective you communicate with your employees the more effective they’ll become in their jobs.
Whether it’s taking online language lessons or using bilingual training products to facilitate learning, I found that teaching managers basic phrases in Spanish or other languages that were specific to their needs not only helps get jobs done but resulted in workers who felt more respected and motivated. Bottom line: companies retain better employees. This can be achieved in a fraction of the time of traditional language learning programs. After all, time is money……..

Ed Rosheim, President

Workplace Languages

Click here for Online Learning Link: http://workplacelanguages.com/online_onsite.html

Communication tips for Managers of non or limited English Speaking Employees

2009-01-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I often get questions from clients about how to effectively engage Spanish speaking employees. Sometimes those with limited English proficiency get left behind in fully understanding workplace directives, safety instructions or training methods.

We’ve come up with a few helpful suggestions for managers who work with those with Spanish speaking employees.

State job instructions clearly and be careful about being too impatient with language barriers.

Give employees with Limited English Proficiency time to respond.
Show employees what you need. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Don’t be shy about praising a job well done. Praise good work publicly and if there are any issues with an employee’s work – you need to talk to individual privately. “Saving face” is big in every culture.

Encourage employees to take a greater role in decisions and management tasks and providing them the necessary tools to communicate more effectively with fellow employees and customers.

New Website!!

2009-01-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

We're proud to launch our new website. We've spent months developing our virtual home where you can find all our products and services, read my language learning blog, get a free quote, and sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

The site is user friendly, easy to navigate and updated every day. Make http://www.workplacelanguages.com/ one of your favorites!!

Yes, We Speak Gujarati

2008-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

I recently got a phone call that I don’t get every day. It was a Training Director for a major luxury hotel chain. His first question was “Can you help me translate a manual in Gujarati?” When I told him “of course we can translate Gujarati” I heard a huge sigh of relief on the other end of the line. Although the Indian language is the 26th most spoken native language in the world, honestly we don’t get a lot of requests for Gujarati. Our network of more than 200 translators helped make this an easy request to fulfill. For our client it was much bigger. A simple training manual in a native language helped their employees understand job tasks faster and more effectively. The employees also expressed their appreciation to their supervisors for providing native language training materials. Another satisfied client but many more satisfied employees.