The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/271849
JULIA GRAHAM 30 The Linguist FEBRUARY/MARCH www.iol.org.uk OPINION & COMMENT Two very different but complementary stories about the economic benefits of being able to speak foreign languages have featured in the media over the last couple of months. First there was the publication of the British Council's Languages Rich Europe report, which provided headlines for BBC News online, as well as in The Scotsman, about missed business opportunities overseas due to poor language skills. Then more recently, a vivid illustration of this, which got the story into the popular news media as well: Brazilian prostitutes are flocking to foreign language classes in anticipation of a barrage of overseas visitors for next year's World Cup. Their motivation, according to the Minas Gerais State Association of Prostitutes, is 'to be able to negotiate a fair price'. This is one of the best examples I have seen of the message 'you can buy in your own language but you must sell in the language of the customer.' However, its value as a motivator for language learning in the UK was somewhat lessened by The Sun's over-excited headline: 'Brazilian prostitutes learn English for 2014 World Cup'. The other big language story was Community Secretary Eric Pickles' exhortation to immigrants to try harder to learn English. This, perhaps, got wider coverage than might have been the case because of the particular rationale put forward by the Cabinet Minister: in order for them not to miss out on the 'enormous joy' of The Only Way is Essex. Readers of The Linguist who feel his comments perhaps missed a point about the relationship between linguistic diversity, language learning and literacy in English will appreciate the pithy comment posted on The Mail online: 'Well areet then like but worra boot tha English that cannae ta'k the language or reet it doon either, like?' Teresa Tinsley is Director of Alcantara Communications; www.alcantaracoms.com. TERESA TINSLEY I t's hard to know where to start! A lot has happened since the last issue, when I was stumbling between in-house and freelance applications and getting nowhere. Job rejections, or simply hearing nothing back, can really knock your confidence, even if you know that other graduates from your translation course are in the same boat. I'm pleased to say that I have more positive news this time. What is it John Lennon said? 'Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans?' That seems to sum up the last few months for me. After hearing radio adverts for Business Gateway, a resource funded by the Scottish government to help businesses, I decided to look up their events in my area. At the time, I was claiming job seekers' allowance and trolling down to the job centre each week, and reminding them that having a qualification in translation did not mean I could take on interpreting jobs. As my career path seemed to have veered momentarily into a ditch, I decided to supplement my skills base with things I had wanted to learn but had never had the time for – things that might look good on my CV and be useful in the future. When you're working full-time it's much harder to find time to learn about things such as book-keeping, web design and marketing. Apart from which, I needed something to stop me chain- watching DVD box sets. My first Business Gateway event was a finance workshop on a chilly afternoon in Glasgow. While others were in town doing their Christmas shopping, I was in a stuffy little room looking over the city with five other hopeful businesses, trying to get to grips with cashflow statements, invoices, credit control Follow our new columnist on her first year in the translation industry First steps and the best finance software to use. I am not sure if it was the heater or the information that made my head hurt, but to say it was useful and motivating would be an understatement. As soon as I got home I was on their website booking myself in for their other business workshops. Maybe starting my own business was not so impossible after all. A similar scheme runs in England but, unlike its Scottish counterpart, the events are not free. This seems such a shame and rather counterintuitive. Surely the people that such resources are aimed at are those who need financial help the most. In conjunction with the Job Centre, Business Gateway also offers start-up grants to help you get your business idea off the ground. To qualify, your business plan and two-year cashflow forecast has to be approved. With the in-house job market in the UK so quiet, and the idea of being able to choose my own hours, work in my pyjamas, and avoid commuting increasingly appealing, I decided to apply for the grant. Say hello to JMB Translations! I am still waiting on my desk and other office furniture so, for the moment, my laptop is being true to its name. This does make working on my current project more difficult and time consuming, but I am just happy to have some work. My first five projects have all been from German into English. No one is interested in my French or Dutch so far, but the German market seems to be booming. What I have learnt as a fledgling freelancer – apart from a great deal about German fume cupboards and laboratory furniture – is that it can be a bit of an unhealthy career path. To combat the sedentary lifestyle I am trying to fit a 20-minute walk and some yoga into my day, to make sure I get some fresh air and exercise. I'll let you know next time how long that resolution lasts.