TRAINING & VENDOR NEWSLETTER  •  FEBRUARY 2023

February is a month very close to our (language professionals’) hearts. You guessed it! February 21 is International Mother Language Day! This year, the UN has selected “multilingual education” as the theme, highlighting its importance in facilitating access to and inclusion in learning for population group that speaks non-dominant languages. 

On the same note, February is also the month MCIS celebrates Language Advocacy Day! Read on for more.

Language Advocacy Day 2023

Registration for the third Our Language Rights Canada Conference for Language Advocacy Day #LAD23 is now open! The conference will be held virtually on February 22-23, 2023 from 12-4pm EST.

The Our Language Rights Canada Conference, sponsored by MCIS Language Solutions and organized by the Language Access Coalition of Canada (LACC), is envisioned as a gathering place for language rights advocates and stakeholders – individuals, institutions, and organizations (profit, non-profit, NGOs), academia and various levels of government - who are passionate about official, Indigenous, and non-official languages spoken in Canada. The Conference also provides opportunities to meet, share, learn about and collaborate on projects that promote language rights and linguistic justice advocacy across Canada. This Conference is a free, virtual event simultaneously interpreted in both official languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). ​

This year’s theme “Language, Education, Stories Untold” highlights the important role that language education and stories play in preserving culture, history, and fostering a sense of belonging and deeper human connection. As an essential mediator of access to essential services, critical information and civic participation, languages are also the subject of often overlooked or even ignored personal stories best told by those who face language barriers - individuals, organizations, and the language professionals that support them.

To highlight the contribution of the Coalition members that have been supporting LACC’s efforts since early 2020, this year we are thrilled to introduce a brand new “marketplace” feature to learn more about language industry organizations, both for-profit and non-profit, who are committed to their social purpose and the creation of social value and social capital. An initiative that began with a small group of enthusiasts in Ontario, spreading advocacy and policy change by meeting with MPPs to discuss language accessibility in the province year after year, has reached new supporters and language advocates, in other provinces across Canada, including Alberta and New Brunswick. This year we will introduce voices from several provinces highlighting untold stories of our many languages spoken on one shared land.

Registration now open here. Stay tuned for exciting updates on speakers, content, and more! 

Training and Professional Development Opportunities

Free Resources: Interpreter’s Technical Competence

As more and more customers are requesting service via video calls or conference calls, we invite interpreters to check out our free resources on using video platforms like Zoom or Teams and familiarize yourself with tips and tricks like blocking your number before a call. Click here to access:

Free Training: Interpreting for LGBTQIA* Newcomers

An increasing number of refugee claimants are applying for asylum in Canada on the basis of discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Interpreters can be one of the first points of encounter for LGBTQIA* refugee claimants, and the responsibilities and challenges that come with this task are significant. Take this training to make yourself familiar with the expectations and issues:

Continued Competence for Translators: Introduction to Audio-Visual Translation: Subtitling

In this course meant for professional translators, you will learn about various forms of audiovisual translation, principles and translation strategies related to subtitling and work methods that are relevant to it.

Please click here to learn more and apply: 

Continued Competence for Interpreters: Cardiovascular Disease Training for Language Professionals

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of disability and premature death not only in North America but all over the world. This online training aims to assist interpreters in enhancing their skills, expanding knowledge base, and consolidating their vocabulary base within the context of cardiovascular diseases.

To register, click here:

Bookings open for online ILSAT exams

If you wish to take a language proficiency test to get your linguistic and interpretation skills in English and another language evaluated, you might want to take the Interpreter Language & Skills Assessment Tool (ILSAT), which MCIS is now offering. Developed by the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, it is a formal language test for interested candidates to acquire professional certification as a community interpreter in various social service sectors. Here is the link to the application form:

Want to Become a Professional Chinese Interpreter in Canada?

Please scan the QR code to contact the CITG training team:

CILISAT Testing Center

CITG is licensed to offer CILISAT remotely and conducts language tests in more than 50 different language combinations. To book your test, please use this link:

Test Your Skills

PREVIOUS ANSWERS (from the January newsletter): 1. b 2. a

A. Try to answer these questions below and check the answers in our February newsletter:

1.    Why are you _________________ ?

a.    dragging your heels
b.    getting a move on
c.    going beyond a joke

2.    What does the word “gaunt” mean in the sentence “Some of Abraham Lincoln’s photographs portray him as gaunt in the face”?

a.    saintly looking
b.    healthy
c.    excessively lean

B. Interpretation / translation challenge:

How would you translate the expression “defenestration” in your language? [Click on the word to learn its definition]

Want More Information? 

Please sign up for our Information Session online!

https://www.mcislanguages.com/programs-training/information-session/

When: Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. EST
 
Where: More details will be sent closer to the date.

MCIS Wants to Hear From You!

Our Training and Vendor Relations Department is always trying to come up with new ways to support language professionals in the industry. Let us know how we are doing and what you want to see in 2023! Email engagement@mcis.on.ca

Do You Want to Hear More about MCIS? 

Subscribe to receive our General Newsletter by filling out the form found here: https://www.mcislanguages.com/news-and-updates/