One characteristic of our Monterey Language Services team is that we are high-energy. We are motivated individuals, but motivation is not the only source of our energy. We are energized by the interactions we have with our clients, with our colleagues, and simply from the passion that we have for languages.

Energy from Colleagues

In a language services company, every day is quite busy, and we must balance between different translation and interpretations projects and our constant development work. No matter what the day looks like, we collaborate and communicate with our colleagues to figure out the work to be done. Our colleagues are clear minded, organized in their thinking and their actions, and handle things efficiently and effectively. This pace and rhythm gives us more energy.

Energy from Projects

When it comes to translation and interpretation projects, we have strategies to help us keep our energy up. If there is any confusion, we clear it up right away. By not letting things sit and wait, we keep our momentum and our energy going. This also frees up more time and energy to focus on important new requests that come in every day.

We also take our time to capture important details of new projects. This helps us decide how to proceed, and let us create a comprehensive plan, and foresee any potential issues before they occur.

Thinking energetically gives us a clear outline, which in turn gives us the energy we need to move things forward. This energy helps us deliver high quality translations and interpretations.

Energy from Clients

Our clients also energize us. We respond to all of our client requests with enthusiasm, whether we receive the request a several weeks or a single day in advance. We often receive last-minute requests from clients. When we do, we work quickly to figure out what needs to be done and who can do it. For example, when we received a request for an interpreter at 11am for an event happing that same afternoon, we immediately began reaching out to a very large pool of interpreters and selected one who is most suitable for the job. It makes us happy to be able to help our clients who are in a bit of a pinch, and the desire to help people in turn helps us stay energized and excited about completing rush projects. When a client is understanding and a pleasure to work with, that gives us even more energy.

Ultimately, passion is the driving factor behind our energy. All of our team members have a deep personal interest and passion for languages and communication; we all speak at least one additional language and understand the power that language can transmit. We love to help people communicate with others in all situations, so we feel a great sense of satisfaction every time we complete a project. When you work with your passion like we do, it is refreshing and easy to stay energized!

It might sounds obvious, but words truly are the foundation of good communication. We might have the best idea in the world, but what good is a great idea if we can’t communicate it clearly to other people?
Even worse, imagine if we use the wrong words (intentionally or unintentionally), we can leave people feeling confused, annoyed, or even offended.

With the right words, we can share ideas with depth and precision. People are much more likely to understand and empathize with us if we use the appropriate words. The ability to choose our words well can affect our personal relationships and professional success. It can even make the difference between increasing our client base or declining client loyalty.

Here at Monterey Language Services, we know how important words can be. Ideas are great, but words are what make them really come to life. This is especially true when it comes to translation and interpretation. Professional translators and interpreters always make sure that they are using the proper words that will communicate clients’ ideas exactly as they are communicated in the original language.

Many people don’t realize the level of thought that a translator puts into selecting the perfect word, or the research that an interpreter does to create a personal well of words that they can draw from at a moment’s notice. We work with translators and interpreters who are passionate about finding the perfect word that will best express the ideas of the client. For example, Monterey Language Services specializes in medical translation and interpretation; we recently worked on a translation project going from English into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Punjabi. It was intended to help pregnant women manage their prenatal health. This translation included the term “dull pressure,” which is a tricky term to define in English, let alone another language. Our translators had to discuss with each other in order to bring out the true meaning of this term using words that expectant mothers can understand completely.

In a broader sense, translators and interpreters use words to facilitate interactions and bring different groups together. It is important for all people to be able to listen and be heard, whether it is during a doctor appointment, a loved one’s graduation, or a public meeting. This is why language services like translation and interpretation are crucial when it comes to helping non-native speakers, low-English proficiency (LEP) and hearing- or vision-impaired communities. Facilitating communication is one way that language service providers bring people, communities, and worlds together.

Eloquence in multiple languages is a key characteristic of translators and interpreters. As a language company, we also strive for eloquence. We must demonstrate to our clients that we appreciate the impact that words can have. When a client came to us with some concerns, we communicated with her in a way that was clear and professional but also understanding, and she ended up being excited and pleased to work with us. We enjoy it very much when everyone is communicating at the same eloquence level, and this attitude encourages our clients and our translators and interpreters to continue working with us. We think about the importance of words in all aspects of our work and communication; it keeps us going every day and we are doing great!

Here at Monterey Languages Services we have a unique work environment. We like to think of our work as a solar system. Each team member is a planet that follows its own path, but each planet is going in the same direction, and all orbit a giant star which is our client base. Each employee is able to work both independently and in unison with the whole team to meet a wide variety of tasks ranging from scheduling interpreters to developing mobile apps.

Our team is spread throughout the country and operates in different time zones. Like the sun, our workflow moves from east to west, so being in different time zones gives us more opportunity to serve our client. We have several systems in place to help us work together effectively, so despite being in different locations we always come together to complete large (and small) projects.

Our orbits are dynamic and energetic because our team members are professional and proactive. We recently completed a 17k-word EnglishàSpanish translation project in just 48 hours. Because this project’s scope was challenging with a tight deadline, it required a lot of coordination. We collaborated with 10 translators, consistently communicating with them as well as our internal team members to make sure everything was getting done while making sure multiple people weren’t working on the same thing. It was intense, but all of our planets aligned for this project; our team worked hard, communicated effectively, and produced a 17k-word translation that we are proud of.

We value our individual creativity and spirit. Everybody has a different and important role to play, but we all have to figure out solutions to problems, work out details, and collaborate with each other. Our work requires energy and creativity, and perhaps most importantly, passion. We aim to provide our team members with the tools and flexibility needed for them to work as effectively as possible and to grow as employees; we want our employees to innovate and create their own effective routine at work. This individual-driven approach challenges our employees to think energetically at work and makes coming to work exciting.

At Monterey Language Services, we are always learning and adapting our methods to the growing needs of the language services industry. Our focus on both individuality and collaboration helps us excel in meeting the needs and requests of our clientele.

A day at our work as a translation and interpretation company can be compared to creating a piece of music. We often manage our work in a way that cultivates a rhythm and flow that feels like a melody.

Creating a good flow or melody every day at work can really enhance our work experience and help us remain motivated. We’ve all worked on projects where we were “in the groove.” It feels great, almost like the stars aligned to make that project perfect. Imagine if all of your projects were like that!

A good flow means that you have a sense of moving forward and making progress. Being able to understand the essence of your task and differentiate what is the key to complete the task is essential. For example, when scheduling interpreters, we make sure that the information on the date, time, and location for each assignment is precisely passed to the interpreter assigned. More importantly, when assigning an interpreter, we make sure to match subject expertise, qualifications, and whether it is for simultaneous interpretation or consecutive interpretation.

Paying attention to little things is a necessary part of maintaining an unbroken flow at work. For example, if you need to scan many documents for a translation project, be sure to check that you’ve scanned everything you need to. Adding this check as part of your natural workflow will greatly reduce the possibility of making a mistake, and lead to successful completion of translation under a deadline.

Be sure to keep our mind clear and with intention when we work, so that we can do everything right the first time. Mistakes and errors can usually be fixed, but the time spent on fixing them will cause the flow to be broken and the melody interrupted.

Every day at work will be a different rhythm. Some days, there will be urgent projects that need to be addressed immediately. For instance, perhaps there will be late-minute additions to projects you’ve been working on. Be sure to conclude it on the same day, so to keep up a productive flow. Putting things off surely decreases work momentum or makes you feel like doing the same thing over and over. So let’s avoid that.

Responding quickly to clients and bringing them along with you in your flow can really create a good rapport and that can help you feeling great! Also ask yourself: how you deal with issues, how you approach problems, how you contribute to work environment, how you move things forward and support your co-workers, or how you manage balance and variety at work. These answers and activities compose your music every day! Every day should a great time at work!

Language services such as translation and interpretation can be compared to the work of angels. Angels are described as always present and caring beings that watch over you and help you make the right choices. Translators and interpreters do the same by working with you to help you communicate with those around you. A “language angel” sits on your shoulder bridging the world’s different languages for you. Like angels, interpreters come in all shapes and sizes. They speak multiple languages, ready to interpret any question or concern you may have.
When you need help, your language angel will be there no matter the situation. When an Oaxacan man was lying in an American hospital bed, he was in dire need of a language angel. He had come by himself to the United States from the mountains of Mexico, and could not communicate with the American medical staff. He needed an interpreter for his native language, a rare indigenous language of Mexico. It was critical that he was able to fully understand his doctor; his illness was severe, and they needed to discuss his wishes regarding whether or not to resuscitate him if he took a turn for the worse. They reached out to Monterey Language Services, and we were able to find him an interpreter in four hours. We knew how important it was to this man to communicate once again in his own language before his passing.
This case reminded us that we as language service providers are not the only angels out there. Our clients are angels too. They inspire us to do everything we can to connect people in need to our own network of language angels. Seeing the impact that we can make in people’s lives encourages us to continue striving for peace and harmony through communication. We greatly appreciate our client angels because they motivate us to help anyone at any time in any way we can.
In today’s world, translators and interpreters continue to grow their reach through the use of modern technologies. They can now help a client thousands of miles away communicate with another client in a completely different region. These language angels know no bounds; the world is their client.

The translation and interpretation industry is a typical example of how technology has been moving us towards tomorrow’s world. Monterey Language Services recently posed a question about automation in the workplace to people who are interested in working with us in the office. We found that the answers are interesting and representative, and therefore we did a further analysis; here is the report we would like to share.

A total of 63 people responded to our question, and these 63 responses amount to a total of 4,708 words. Of these 4,708 words, 192 relate to machine/technology/automation/social media/internet, while only 133 relate to humans/people/individuals^[1]. Two thirds (42) were in favor of technology. No one was against technology or had a completely negative outlook on the effects of technological automation^[2].

Some concerns or reservations with technology and automation had to do with humans losing jobs to machines and losing face-to-face interaction. However, 48 respondents (76%) mentioned humans having a role in the automated workplace. Of these 48 respondents, 7 elaborated that automation may replace jobs involving repetitive tasks, but will free up humans to do more important work: customer follow-ups, creative and critical thinking, and research and innovation. On the other hand, nine respondents did not mention humans/people/individuals in their responses, whereas all respondents mentioned technology or automation in one form or another. Moreover, only 19 respondents (30%) mentioned a need for human-to-human interaction.

Five respondents expressed their concerns with automating translation and interpretation services. Four of these five respondents believed that humans should still have a role in providing these services. For example, people will still need to correct the mistakes made by machine translation. Specialized translations and reviews of culturally-related work will require human intervention due to the complexity of human language, thought, and emotion. The overall sentiment was that translators and interpreters will not be replaced by technology, but by translators and interpreters who utilize technology to the best of its capabilities. One of the five respondents expressed concern that pay rates for human translators may decrease, since speed and ease of review may increase significantly through the use of technology.

Overall, more than three fourths of respondents mentioned humans having a role in automated workplaces, including in the translation and interpretation industry. In general, respondents had a positive outlook on the effects of technological automation^[3].

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.

^[1] These statistics were determined through word searches for human*/people/person/individual, and for machine/technolog*/automat*/social media/internet and related words.

^[2] These statistics were determined by categorizing whether a response was generally in favor of technology, and whether it had a positive or negative outlook on the effects of technological automation.

^[3] All other statistics were derived from statements made in the responses.

It was an exciting day at the MIIS Career Fair, an important annual fair for graduate students of translation and interpretation.  A wide range of students came to our booth to learn more about our company and services. The energy in the young professionals was infectious.

The majority of students told us that they shared our values for bridging the language gap between diverse communities and industries. Indeed, the team at Monterey Language Services feels very grateful to have the opportunity to serve people and society by providing translation and interpretation services every day at work.

Students’ professional experience consisted of internships and volunteer work ranging from medical interpretation in hospitals to technical translation on important topics such as oncology, nuclear energy, manufacturing, and IT.

Students had all sorts of questions about internships and the possibilities for work at regional and international levels that Monterey Language Services offers. Many of them had diligently done research and knew about our upcoming project management and interpretation vacancies. They were impressed by the numerous opportunities offered by our company and admired our community involvement. After a very concentrated exchange of ideas, they left our booth feeling very hopeful in the future of the translation industry and our company’s role in it.

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.

As 2019 begins, Monterey Language Services is entering into a year of new developments. Moving towards the future, we are looking for energetic and passionate individuals who can support existing operations and new projects in the making.

We are looking for an Office & Project Assistant to work in our Monterey location to support the operations of a dynamic Translation & Interpretation Service Provider. The position would involve general office administrative tasks, helping support our team members in other locations, and would evolve towards a marketing direction focused on web-, app-, and social media-based platforms.

The ideal candidate will be someone: forward-thinking, in tune with today’s trends, who enjoys explaining things; energetic, motivated, and passionate, with an interest in social media and mobile apps; capable of working independently, and with team members working from other locations; organized, detail-oriented, and possessing excellent English written and oral communication skills. Native speakers of English are preferred.

Pay begins at $15/hr and up, commensurate with experience; Full- and part-time applicants are welcome. This position provides golden opportunities to gain a general understanding of a translation business, and the effects of current trends, techniques, and activities in a real-world business environment.

If you are interested, please kindly respond to Mei-Ling at mei-ling@montereylanguages.com with a cover letter and resume.

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.

Around this time of year, colleagues at Monterey Language Services are excited to create our own holiday greeting, taking photos of the environment around us, developing a new theme fitting for the year ahead — all of it to bring our most heartfelt wishes to the people we care about.

On the beautiful beach, with the blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, grey sand, and blue ocean — they all come together to create a rich harmony and balance. We hope that 2019 will bring the same richness and harmony to you in all your endeavors!

Happy holidays from the Monterey Language Services team, we send you our warmest wishes for a wonderful 2019!

As we reflect on the profile of our team members – whether employees, freelance translators and interpreters, or contractors – we are proud to say that our team is positive and grateful to serve our clients. Each of our exceptional team members speaks highly of Monterey Language Services wherever they go and appreciates the chance to represent our company; this positive attitude has made them successful and popular both at work and in life.

One important part of maintaining a positive mental attitude for yourself and the whole team is taking responsibility and being accountable for your actions and inaction. Realizing that you are responsible allows you to ask yourself what you can do to improve or change and do better in the future. Overall, a good and positive attitude creates a respectful and dynamic team atmosphere focused on serving the customers rather than on who is to blame.

In conclusion, at Monterey Language Services we feel privileged to be able to work with such excellent team members, all of whom share a positive attitude in work and life. Our employees, freelancers, and contractors embrace human interaction, feeling grateful to serve our communities and make contributions to global communication.

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.