National Language Service Corps

Potential assignment for a native speaker of Ibo (Igbo)

2012-02-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

The NLSC has received a government request for a native speaker of Ibo (Igbo) with an ACTIVE clearance to provide translation/interpretation services. This language assignment will take place in Europe and will last approximately two weeks. We are looking for individuals who have immediate availability. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

You must join the NLSC in order to be considered. If you meet the requirements of this request, have a valid passport (expiring no earlier than June 2012), and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-04. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

Potential assignment for Vietnamese speakers

2012-02-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps is looking for Vietnamese speakers for an interpretation/translation assignment in Vietnam from February to April, 2012. This potential assignment involves being part of a recovery team comprised of up to 12 individuals for a six-week Prisoner of War (POW) and/or Missing in Action (MIA) search mission to recover the remains of unaccounted for U.S. servicemen and civilians. The locations of this potential assignment will be in remote parts of Vietnam and will require rugged travel. Candidates will need to be physically fit and able to withstand austere living conditions for an extended period of time.

You must join the NLSC in order to be considered. If you meet the required qualifications listed below, and are interested in finding out more about this potential opportunity, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

Required qualifications:

Available to travel to Vietnam from February 2, 2012 - April 10, 2012
Professional interpretation/translation experience in Vietnamese to/from English (Northern dialect preferred)
Experience working in a military environment and familiarity with military terminology
Ability to interact professionally with local nationals, Vietnamese officials, and team members
Ability to handle coming into contact with human remains during excavations
Ability and willingness to work as an integral part of a recovery team
Ability and willingness to work in austere conditions (e.g., living in a tent in a camp)
Ability to withstand high heat and humidity and tropical weather for extended periods
Ability to walk, hike, carry a backpack and conduct digging at excavation sites
Willingness to work extended work weeks (10 days in a row, with one day off)
Willingness to work flexible hours on a 24-hour standby basis, outside of normal working hours.
Knowledge of culture, geography and political history of Vietnam
Current passport with an expiration date after October 11, 2012
Willingness to take both a DLPT and OPI language test administered by NLSC Language Certification Team
Willingness to be federally hired

Secret clearance preferable.

If you meet these qualifications, and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a Vietnamese interpreter/translator, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-03. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

Potential translation assignment for an Assamese speaker

2012-01-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps is looking for an Assamese speaker for a translation assignment in the spring of 2012. Washington, DC area residents are preferred, but Members living in other areas will be considered for tele-work. You must join the NLSC in order to be considered. If you meet the required qualifications listed below, and are interested in finding out more about this potential opportunity, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

Required qualifications:

Fluency in Assamese
Willingness to have language skills verified by the NLSC Language Certification Team
Willingness to be federally hired

Secret clearance preferable.

If you meet these qualifications, and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of an Assamese translator, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-08. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

Potential assignment in Africa for Portuguese, Arabic and French speakers

2012-01-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) has a potential potential interpretation assignment in Africa from May 12 – 19, 2012 for speakers of Portuguese, Arabic and French. You must join the NLSC in order to be considered. If you meet the required qualifications listed below, and are interested in finding out more about this potential opportunity, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

Qualifications:

Available to devote 5 days of full-time work, plus additional travel days, from May 12 – 19, 2012
Professional diplomatic interpreting experience in Portuguese, Arabic or French
Experience working in a large conference setting, specifically experience with simultaneous conference interpreting in a booth
Knowledge of military terminology and familiarity with current affairs in Africa
Willingness to be vaccinated as required
Willingness to travel to Africa
Willingness to take a language test administered by the NLSC Language Certification Team
Willingness to be federally hired
Passport must be valid through August 31st, 2012
Simultaneous interpretation (booth experience)
Active secret clearance

If you meet these qualifications, and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a Portuguese, Arabic or French interpreter, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-09. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

Potential assignment for Dari and Russian interpreters/translators

2012-01-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) has a potential interpretation/ translation assignment that may occur as early as in February 2012. You must join the NLSC in order to be considered. If you meet the required qualifications listed below, and are interested in finding out more about this potential opportunity, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

Qualifications:

Professional interpretation/translation experience in Dari or Russian
Experience working with military and/or military operations
Extensive interpretation experience in a conference setting
Extensive document translation experience
Willingness to travel
Willingness to take a language test administered by the NLSC Language Certification Team
Willingness to be federally hired
Simultaneous interpretation (booth experience)
Active secret clearance

If you meet these qualifications, and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a Dari or Russian interpreter/translator, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-16. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

Potential Washington, DC-based assignment for Spanish and French speakers

2012-01-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) has received an inquiry from a federal agency that has a need for Spanish and French translators. This potential assignment will require on-site translation of message traffic at a translation center from Spanish and French into English. This opportunity would require you to become a member of the NLSC. There is no membership fee to join the organization and all members of the NLSC are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather an assignment that requires an individual with the skill set below.

Position Requirements:

5+ years of professional translation experience from Spanish or French into English
Available to devote at least 40 hours of work each week
Willingness to commute to client offices in Washington, D.C.
Willingness to take a Spanish or French test administered by NLSC
Willingness to be federally hired

Experience translating business documents is preferable. Again, if you meet the required qualifications listed above and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a Spanish translator, please apply as soon as possible.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-02. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format

The on-line application process includes the option to upload your resume, please do so when you apply. Also, if you know of someone with Spanish or French interpretation/translation skills who might be interested, we welcome your referrals. Thank you.

Potential assignment for Spanish speakers

2012-01-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

The National Language Service Corps has a potential assignment for Spanish/English speakers with interpretation/translation experience. To qualify, you must join the NLSC and already hold an ACTIVE Secret/Top Secret security clearance. This assignment may require travel within the continental U.S. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC. All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen. To apply to join, click here and then click Apply. When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-06. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format. Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.

NLSC surpasses 3,000 members!

2012-01-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

There are now over 3,000 members of the National Language Service Corps! As of this morning, we counted 3,003 individuals who bring over 230 languages. If you are a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old, and you speak English and another language, apply to join the NLSC to use your "Language for the Good of All"!

2011 in review

2012-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Looking back at 2011, the National Language Service Corps (NLSC) reached important milestones as the first government language program designed to support the security and welfare of the nation.

We grew over 75%, from 1,657 to nearly 2,950 Member volunteers.
The number of languages our Members speak grew to 232, an increase of 95% over year-end 2010 (you can see a list of those languages here).
The NLSC worked with 18 federal agencies to help fill existing foreign language gaps or to prepare for future needs.

We are looking forward to a busy 2012.

NLSC launches first local Chapter in Washington DC

2011-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

The NLSC launched its first local members’ Chapter in Washington, DC Chapter on Friday, October 14th. The event marked the beginning of the NLSC’s initiative to establish local Chapters throughout the US and overseas in areas where there are high concentrations of US citizens who are foreign language speakers.

Eighty-six attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception followed by words from distinguished speakers. Our keynote speaker was Ms. Dawn Hart (Limited English Proficiency/ Additional Communications Needs Multilingual Content Manager of the Federal Emergency Management Agency) who shared some insights into how FEMA supports Individuals with limited English skills during a disaster.

Other speakers included Dr. Kevin Gormley, Senior Program Officer of the National Security Education Program (NSEP, the NLSC's parent agency), NLSC Members Mr. Wi "Will" Vattananun and Mr. Poowanat "Joe" Tasma, both participants in an assignment in Thailand.

Attendees spoke an array of languages including Arabic, Akan, Dagbani, French, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Konkani, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese.

During the reception, we heard many Members expressed enthusiasm for the NLSC Washington Local Chapter and were interested in receiving further details. They were also excited to network among themselves.

Currently, over 400 members reside in the Washington, DC greater metropolitan area, are available and willing to use their language skills and cultural knowledge in support of federal agencies in this region with foreign language needs.

Washington, DC currently has the largest number of NLSC members in a single geographic area as well as the largest number of government agencies using the NLSC. The NLSC intends to gradually expand chapter organizations into other regions where there are a high number of NLSC members.

Building a presence in Hawai'i

2011-09-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

Hawai'i is an important location for the NLSC because of the presence of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM). The NLSC will be in Hawai'i in the next few weeks to meet with current members, recruit new local members and to build relationships with several areas of PACOM.

We will be hosting a member "Meet & Greet" in Honolulu on October 7, an opportunity for NLSC members to meet each other and get updates on NLSC activities.

We will be recruiting at the following locations during the first week of October:

National Foreign Language Resource Center - University of Hawai'i
University of Hawai'i Center for interpretation and translation Studies
Windward Community College
Office on Equality and Access to the Courts, Hawaii Interpreter Action Network
University of Hawai'i Campus Center (sponsored by Korean Language Flagship)
University Hawai'i Campus Center(sponsored by Korean Lang. Flagship)
Kapi Olani Community College
Honolulu Community College
Leeward Community College

:

Regarding meeting with PACOM, we have the following scheduled between the first and 8th of October:

Troop Command
29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Joint Forces Headquarters and 18th Medical Command (MEDCOM)

298th Regiment
US Army Pacific and PACOM representatives

We are recruiting for a specific assignment requiring speakers of several languages

2011-09-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) is a one-of-a kind organization that offers citizens with language skills the chance to help communities and the government during times of crises, emergencies and non-emergencies; domestic or abroad. The NLSC is responding to a potential request from a federal agency for interpreters for a five-day national conference. We are currently looking for professional interpreters for the following languages:

- Cambodian
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Lao
- Mongolian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Thai
- Vietnamese

This opportunity would require you to become a member of the NLSC. There is no membership fee to join the organization and all members of the NLSC are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather an assignment that requires an individual who meets the required qualifications. Below please find the requirements to participate in this conference:

Requirements:

-Experience as a professional interpreter with simultaneous and consecutive skills
- Availability to participate in a 5 day conference during the month of October 2011
- Willingness to travel to Hawaii
- Willingness to be federally hired
- Willingness to take a DLPT test administered by NLSC

Preferable:

- Familiarization with military jargon, diplomatic jargon, subject matter of a nature common with military officers
- Translation skills a plus

NLSC Membership requirements:

- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You must be at least 18 years old
- If you are a male, you must have registered for Selective Service

If you meet the required qualifications listed above and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of an interpreter, please apply as soon as possible via our website. The on-line application process includes the option to upload your resume. Please do so when you apply. Also, for EXP, enter 11-31.

Contact/Application Information:

E-mail: recruiting@nlscorps.org
Website: www.NLSCorps.org

Mandarin-Speaking Member home from assignment off the coast of Africa

2011-09-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our Mandarin-speaking Member supporting the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter FORWARD has returned safely from her assignment. Ms. YiYi Johnson provided interpreting support as the FORWARD participated in maritime security and safety exchanges with countries along the west coast of Africa as part of the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership mission.

Ms. Johnson with the FORWARD's crew

The commander of the FORWARD noted in his Letter of Appreciation that Ms. Johnson was "instrumental in the successful boarding of [a suspect boat], acting as USCGC FORWARD’s Chinese interpreter. [She was] the sole source of translation between the boarding team, Senegalese mission commander and master of the vessel. When the master of the vessel refused to comply with requests from the boarding officer, [Ms. Johnson was] quick to translate a final decisive order from the Senegalese mission commander. [Her] overall bearing and immediate response in translating orders ultimately led to the master of the vessel compiling with the boarding team. As a direct reflection of [her] efforts, [the boat] hauled in her nets and was sited for a violation regarding illegal net size."

While onboard, Ms. Johnson supported USCGC FORWARD in 14 joint boardings in three countries to combat illicit transnational activity with Senegalese maritime forces that resulted in five vessel seizures, potential fines in excess of $350,000 and the identification and response to international companies that exploit developing nations’ Exclusive Economic Zones. In addition to her translation efforts, she participated in the daily operations of a Coast Guard cutter (including painting) and positively engaged with the crew of the FORWARD.

Ms. Johnson was enthusiastic throughout the assignment. She called it the best experience of her life and “would do as many assignments as you (NLSC) have!” She was so ready to go again that even though she was home, she said didn't want to unpack her bags.

NLSC Members Assisting with Validation of New Language Proficiency Tests

2011-08-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Several NLSC Members are participating in a study to validate new language proficiency tests being developed by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Members are currently assisting in validating the DLPT 5 in Persian Farsi and will soon be assisting with Turkish and other languages.

Members have already helped validate the Very Low Range Defense Language Proficiency Test (VLR DLPT) in Levantine Arabic, French, Western Farsi (Persian), Mandarin and Korean. The VLR DLPT is part of the Defense Language Proficiency Testing System 5 (DLPT5), which is designed to assess the global language proficiency in reading and listening of native speakers of English who have learned a foreign language as a second language, and speakers of other languages with very strong English skills.

The DLTPT 5 testing system is designed as a measure of language proficiency in the reading and listening skills of foreign language learners, as set forth in the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) descriptors of language proficiency for levels 0+ through 3(The ILR scale ranks language skills on a scale of zero to five.

In response to the current needs of government agencies that make use of language proficiency testing, the VLR DLPT is explicitly designed to make distinctions among personnel with language proficiency of 0+, 1, and 1+. Although the current DLPT 5 tests do in fact make distinctions below level 1, the VLR DLPT is explicitly designed to focus on distinctions below level 2.

The “Low Range” DLPT tests for levels 2 through 3.

US Coast Guard Cutter Forward pleased with NLSC member's performance.

2011-07-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

As we wrote yesterday, Ms. YiYi Johnson, a Mandarin-speaking member of the NLSC, is on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward, which is conducting maritime security and safety exchanges with countries along the west coast of Africa as part of the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership mission.

Initial feedback from the Forward has been positive, and includes comments such as: "YiYi had her first operational test last night and passed with flying colors!" and "... her skills are [already] paying dividends."

Ms. Johnson is due back in the U.S. in late August.

NLSC Member on assignment off the African coast

2011-07-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

In May, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward, set sail from its homeport in Portsmouth, Va., across the Atlantic. Forward will conduct maritime security and safety exchanges with countries along the west coast of Africa as part of the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership mission.

And a Mandarin-speaking NLSC member is on the Forward. YiYi Johnson, joined the Cutter Forward on July 9, using her language skills to assist in the Forward's mission.

“All the excitement is overwhelming, but I’m coping with it,” she said. “I haven’t been to Africa before. I was on the road when the NLSC sent the email. I emailed ‘count me in’ right then and there. I haven’t been to Africa before, so I had to volunteer”.

During the three-month mission, the 270-foot Forward and its crew will work with such countries as Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Liberia, Guinea and Senegal in support of the Navy’s 6th Fleet. Through various activities and exchanges they will focus on offshore operations in support of the host country’s efforts to stem illicit maritime activity and bolster maritime security and safety.

Ms. Johnson added that she loves different cultures, so when she has opportunities to go ashore in these countries, she plans to check out the local area and people, to “see how they live, their cultures and customs”.

ASTM releases language proficiency testing standards

2011-07-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that ASTM has approved industry standards for assessing language proficiency! The standards are available from the ASTM web site for a fee.

The Chief Linguist of the NLSC organized and chaired the sub-committee that developed these standards because, while we accept volunteers who speak any language, we focus on the less-common ones. Many, maybe most, of these languages do not yet have proficiency tests. Our concern was how to develop reliable tests for these languages when there were no standards for creating them.

There was enough interest to launch a sub-committee to take on this challenge as I have noted earlier. And the members of this sub-committee came together and produced the standards in an amazingly brief (for standards development) 15 months!

The new standards cover the entire lifecycle of a test, from creating it to administering it, maintaining and updating it.

I approached two individuals in the field for their reactions: from the business side, Dr. Charles Stansfield, President and Founder of Second Language Testing, Inc., and from government, Glenn H. Nordin, Foreign Language and Area Advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence.

Dr. Stansfield noted that the ASTM standards will benefit both industry and the government. “For years, government agencies have tried to create their own tests. This has not worked out for a variety of reasons. Often the tests simply were not completed. Other times, they were not developed and reviewed carefully enough. Within and across agencies, there was inconsistent rigor, because there was no set model that people were following.

The ASTM standards change all of that. The government and the language industry have collaborated to produce standards that can be used by either to develop language tests based on the government's scale of language proficiency. This will allow the government to issue contracts for test development and to evaluate the products for adherence to the relevant ASTM standards. This will mean much more work for those companies involved in language testing and most likely new companies will feel that they can enter the picture.”

When asked how he thought the standards will benefit a company like Second Language Testing, Dr. Stansfield said that “SLTI already understood and was practicing the processes and procedures elaborated in the ASTM standards. It won't change our processes much. On the other hand, it will facilitate reaching agreement in discussions with the Government on funded language testing projects. It will also facilitate consistent evaluation of the work products we submit.”

Mr. Nordin agreed that the standards “will meet a long-felt need for detailed guidance on development and employment of language proficiency test vehicles, test content, and use of test results. “In itself, the standard is useful as a textbook with checklists for persons without education or previous experience in proficiency assessment. As a reference within a contract for test development, it will serve to focus buyer and supplier concentration on essential components of test development and use.

“The document is a consensus standard practice that has been produced by a consortium of the best and brightest from government and academe language education community together with the language service industry.

“When … widely employed in test development, it will make a significant contribution to the national framework essential to building the US professional cadre of language workers. This Standard Practice joins the ASTM guidance on language teaching, translation and interpretation in the base documentation essential to improving the US capabilities in world languages to meet the global communicative needs of the future.” Speaking of the other language-related ASTM standards, these and the new language proficiency testing standards will move out from under the Consumer Products committee (which covers products ranging from baby carriages to wall coverings), in which they have resided, to their own committee on Language Services and Products.

The National Language Service Corps is part of the National Security Education Program.

NLSC member honored by White House

2011-06-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

NLSC member Lan Diep was recently named "Champion of Change" by the White House. His bio, posted at whitehouse.gov, mentions NLSC.

Congratulations, Lan!

Members in all 50 states

2011-06-02T12:40:00.001-07:00

This week we accepted a Japanese-speaking member from Wyoming. That means that we now have members residing in all 50 U.S. states plus DC and Puerto Rico!

Professional development opportunity

2011-05-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

The English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) program is an adult scholarship and professional development opportunity which may be of interest!

EHLS is an intensive, advanced English and professional skills program that prepares nonnative English speakers for careers with the federal government. The program involves 6 months of full-time study at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, followed by two months of part-time study which can be completed remotely. Participants improve their English through study of research and presentation skills, meeting participation and facilitation, and professional writing. The program also provides support for participants who are seeking employment with the federal government.

Full scholarships, a living stipend (during the full-time portion of the program), and a relocation reimbursement are available for qualified applicants. EHLS is currently seeking US citizens who are native speakers of Arabic, Balochi, Dari, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, Turkish, or Urdu.

Please visit http://www.cal.org/ehls/ for more information and contact ehls@cal.org with any questions.

EHLS and the NLSC are initiatives of the National Security Education Program (NSEP).

FEMA conducts exercise; NLSC assisted in planning

2011-05-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

The NLSC was involved in the planning stage of FEMA's National Level Emergency (NLE) 2011 exercise, which started on Monday, May 16 and concludes tomorrow, May 20.

NLE 2011 is the largest National Level Exercise (NLE) held to date and the first to deal with a natural disaster.

This year’s scenario revolves around a catastrophic earthquake occurring in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) and involves eight Central U.S. States: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee spread across 4 FEMA regions (IV, V, VI, and VII).

The NLSC provided input on language communities that fall within the NMSZ.

Pending assignment requires Hausa, Igbo, Efik and Yoruba speakers

2011-05-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

We have a pending assignment with a law-enforcement client that requires the following languages: Hausa, Igbo (also known as Ibo), Efik, Yoruba.

Note that the requirement includes that the Igbo and Efik speaker be the same person.

If you are an NLSC member who speaks one of these languages (or two, in the case of Igbo/Efik), please contact your Interactions and Engagement representative. If you are not a member and are interested, or you know someone else who's not a member who might be interested, you can apply on-line at http://www.nlscorps.org/ to join the NLSC.

NLSC to brief National Guard language program managers

2011-05-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

We recently met with the National Guard Bureau’s Total Army Language Program (TALP) Program Manager. TALP's goal is for Army linguists to achieve and maintain an appropriate level of language proficiency, based on the 0-to-5 scale of the Defense Language Proficiency Test. TALP provides funds to the major Army commands for language maintenance and sustainment training. The most common use of TALP funds is to provide teachers and materials for use by Army linguists.

We outlined the NLSC's capabilities and updated the TALP Program Manager on recent interactions we have had with some individual National Guard units. The Program Manager was so impressed with the mutual benefits of NLSC membership and the utility of the program that he invited the NLSC to present a short briefing in Monterey, CA, to all the National Guard Language Program Managers tomorrow.

Looking for Japanese speakers with professional background in mental health

2011-03-25T05:50:00.001-07:00

The NLSC is closely monitoring the current situation in Japan after the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster, and is ready to provide assistance at the request of a federal agency.

The NLSC has received an inquiry from a federal agency for a Japanese speaker with a background in mental health. If you are a mental health professional with Japanese language skills, we would like to hear from you as soon as possible. Please email us, specifying your availability and related mental health experience. Alternatively, if you know someone who meets these language and professional criteria and would like to recommend him or her to the NLSC, please let us know immediately.

Membership in the NLSC is required; there are no fees to join.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. As always, we appreciate your interest.

For more information on the NLSC or to apply to join on-line, visit http://www.nlscorps.org/.

Urgent need for Japanese speakers

2011-03-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

The NLSC is working with federal agencies to support humanitarian assistance efforts for the Japan earthquake/tsunami disaster. We currently have an immediate request to do Japanese to English translation work. Please find a brief overview of the assignment below:

Requirements:

Membership in the National Language Service Corps (apply here)
Japanese > English translation of up to 30 pages of documentation on a daily basis.
Technical subject matter relative to the current situation in Japan.
Work may be performed remotely or on-site in Hawaii.
Duration of the assignment is 30 days.
Hawaiian resident is preferred or member must be willing to travel.

If you speak Japanese and are interested in finding out more about the assignment, we want to hear from you. Also, if you know of someone with Japanese language skills who might be interested, we welcome your referrals. Due to the time sensitivity of this request, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible, so we can provide you with more details regarding this exciting NLSC opportunity.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The NLSC and Japan

2011-03-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are standing by to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake off the coast of Japan. We have expressed our availability to Federal agencies.

In Salt Lake City last weekend to recruit and meet members

2011-03-08T10:08:00.001-08:00

Last weekend we were in Salt Lake City at the 22nd Language Conference of the 300th MI Brigade. The theme of the conference was "Training the Army Linguist for Cyber Network Operations". Our recruiting table was in a great location (near the refreshments table!), and easily half of the 400-500 linguist attendees stopped by.

This really was a great event for us, as we networked among the attendees and other exhibitors. We even got an unsolicited plug during a presentation from one of our members, who was the speaker and is an Associate Professor of Russian in the Department of German Studies and Slavic Languages at Brigham Young University. He spent his initial few minutes of his presentation talking about the NLSC.

We also held informal “meet and greet” sessions with some of our Salt Lake City-area members, giving them a chance to ask questions and giving up an opportunity to update them on the latest goings-on at NLSC.

Below: a scene from our table in the exhibitor's hall, followed by two scenes from our time with Salt Lake City-based NLSC members.

ASTM’s new Language Services and Products committee holds first meeting

2011-02-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

Recently, the ASTM’s new Language Services and Products committee met for the first time. The scope of the committee is to develop standards for language services and products. This includes developing specifications, guides, test methods, classifications, practices and terminology.

The services and products that the committee will deal with initially include language interpreting, foreign language instruction, language translation and language proficiency.

The past fifteen years have seen a rapid expansion of the language industry in the US and globally. International trade, globalization, localization and government services have put significant demands on all sectors of the language industry. Groups active in the development and provision of services and products such as translating, interpreting, language training, machine translation and human language technology, and language testing recognize the need for standards.

While the ASTM, under other committees, has developed some standards, many sectors and activities have none. The new committee will own the standards already developed and will work on defining standards to fill the existing gaps.

The NLSC was instrumental in the formation of this committee (see more on that here) and is involved in a significant way, as the committee’s chairman is our Chief Linguist, Dr. Bill Rivers, and two other NLSC staff on the committee. In addition, committee members include federal government agencies, private sector companies in the language industry, and universities.

Cebuano and Drents now among languages spoken by NLSC members

2011-02-24T07:35:00.001-08:00

Two new NLSC members add Cebuano and Drents to the list of languages we can now offer to government agencies who need them for sudden, short term assignments.

Cebuano is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines. Estimates of the number of people who speak Cebuano range from 14.6 million (Britannica.com) to 20 million (Wikipedia) . According to Wikipedia, it is the most widely spoken member of the Visayan language and is related to Malaysian, Indonesian, Ilongo and Waray languages. It has the largest speaking population of the Philippines despite not being taught formally in schools and universities.

The language is also known as Sebuano or Sugbuhanon.

According to Omniglot, “Cebuano started to appear in writing during the early part of 18th century under influence from Spanish missionaries. As a result of Spanish influence, Cebuano contains many words of Spanish origin.”

Drents (also known as Drèents, Dreins, Dreints, and Drints) is a collective term for the dialects spoken in Drenthe, a province of the Netherlands.

According to Wikipedia, over half the population of Drenthe speaks the Drents language. Each town or village has its own version. All versions are part of the Low Saxon language group, which collectively have been officially recognised by the Dutch government as a regional language and is protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

NLSC Member on interpreting / translating assignment for the U.S. Marine Corps in Germany

2011-02-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

On January 17, 2011, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) kicked off a 10-week military course for experienced Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The course is designed to equip NCOs with basic skills to operate on a military staff and to forge long-lasting partnerships among the participating countries. The academic portion is executed by a training team from The Defense Department’s Joint Analysis Center, based at RAF Molesworth in the UK.

US Marine Corps Forces Africa (MARFORAF) provides AFRICOM with a Marine Officer and Staff NCO to serve as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge (SNCOIC), respectively.

The students participating are from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, and the United States. Since many of the students are native-Arabic speakers, the course is being presented in both French and Arabic.

An Arabic speaking member of the NLSC is currently in Grafenwoehr providing linguistic support to MARFORAF.

Many of the students preferred to be taught in Arabic because that is what their junior NCOs will understand. Furthermore, some students remarked that providing Arabic instruction shows AFRICOM's respect to their countries but assured MARFORAF that they want to build partnerships with the French speaking students as well.

MARFORAF requested NLSC support in order to provide interpretation among the Arabic speaking students and the Course Staff to insure proper care of student health and welfare issues. In fact, MARFORAF has been very thankful our member has been on site, as he has already assisted MARFORAF with resolving numerous issues ranging from military specific needs to extensive medical complications. He has a wide range of unique skills including a medical background that has been very helpful to the OIC and SNCOIC of the course. "Having [him] on the team has been almost critical to the success of the program."

Our member has been interpreting for the OIC and SNCOIC, translating course material, and even assisting in the lectures. The students are involved in classroom training, physical training, as well as cultural trips in nearby German cities.

His assignment will last until the last student departs to his home country, but his contributions will be forever realized on the African continent through increased stability, economic growth, and greater regional security.

We are assisting FEMA with contingency planning

2011-02-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

We are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on one of its disaster contingency plans. The plan we’re involved with covers the “New Madrid Seismic Zone”, which essentially is made up of part of the Mississippi river valley. Part of the planning is to estimate the number of “people at risk”, which includes disabled people and those who don’t speak English as a first language.

We’ve been providing summary data to FEMA, including the fact that based on 2005 Census data, in the states that make up the New Madrid Seismic Zone there are about 20 million people who speak a language other than English. While the data only indicates individuals who speak a language other than English, it does not indicate how many of those do not speak English. Even so, it provided FEMA a good starting point.

We also provided the map below, which shows, by FEMA’s ten regions, where our NLSC Members are concentrated. Each icon color represents a FEMA region.

New ASTM Committee to Develop Standards for Language Services

2011-02-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

I've written in the past on our involvement in creating standards for language proficiency testing under the umbrella of the ASTM. The final vote on the standards should happen very soon.

In the meantime, and an outgrowth of this effort, the ASTM has set up a committee dedicated to the language industry. Today, the ASTM formally announced the formation of Committee F43 on Foreign Language Services and Products.

NLSC translates document for the Secretary of the Navy

2011-02-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Last summer, an NSLC member served as a Vietnamese language interpreter for the Secretary of the Navy during town hall meetings on the gulf coast relating to last summer’s oil spill.

The meetings were part of a project that resulted in a major report, America’s Gulf Coast: A Long Term Recovery Plan after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Because of the communities affected by the spill, the Secretary’s staff also asked the NLSC to translate the report into Spanish and Vietnamese. NLSC members recently completed this follow-up project as well. For the Spanish report, one member translated the report and one reviewed the work. For the Vietnamese report, two members translated, with one member reviewing their work.

Reaching out to our Members in New Orleans

2011-02-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

The NLSC will host its first New Orleans Meet & Greet, on Friday, February 18th. This event will be in conjunction with the 40th Annual National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference to be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The NLSC Meet & Greet is a social event we offer our Members as an opportunity to learn more about the NLSC and what we are currently doing; to meet other like-minded Charter Members and build a sense of camaraderie; to share the spirit of volunteerism; and to discuss language and culture with one another.

This event is open to all NLSC Members, who will be receiving an invitation via email.

First DOD Language Summit to Set Future Strategy

2011-01-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2011 – After a five-year effort to institute processes needed to gauge service members’ foreign-language skills, the Defense Department will hold a summit this month to help in forging a systematic path forward, the director of the Defense Language Office said yesterday.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Woodman Fleurizard, right, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Detail Horn of Africa, interprets for sailors working on a primary school project Dec. 11, 2010, in Djibouti. Fleurizard is fluent in French, the primary language of Djiboutians. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Lindsey .

Nancy Weaver told American Forces Press Service that DOD issued the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap in 2005 that created her office, which was overseen by the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

Each service and organization also set up senior language authorities, she said.

“Prior to the roadmap, we did not know what our capability was,” Weaver said. “We tracked professional linguists in the department, but if you were language-capable, we never asked the question.

“Now when you come in, if you are a civilian or a military [service member], you have an opportunity to tell us what language you speak,” she added.

The roadmap contains the rationale for its creation: “Post 9/11 military operations reinforce the reality that the Department of Defense needs a significantly improved organic capability in emerging languages and dialects, a greater competence and regional area skills in those languages and dialects, and a surge capability to rapidly expand its language capabilities on short notice.”

Since establishing the infrastructure needed to quantify its language capabilities, DOD has documented more than 250,000 military members and 33,000 civilian personnel tested and self-identified as having foreign-language skills, said Bradford Loo, deputy director for culture in the Defense Language Office.

Loo said the totals include personnel with more than one language, and more than 340 languages are listed in the office’s inventory.

“We didn’t know we had this rich resource, and the roadmap helped us get this capability,” Weaver said. “It also allowed us to document and [determine] our requirements. We’re still working on that.”

The roadmap also required the services for the first time to set up recruiting plans for language speakers, the director added.

Now that the infrastructure is established, Weaver said, the Pentagon and the services are ready to move beyond the roadmap and begin in an organized way to improve and bolster DOD’s national language, regional and cultural capabilities.

The first step in that process begins Jan. 25-26, during the DOD Language and Culture Summit here, Weaver said. The 250 to 300 participants will include officials from DOD and other federal agencies, experts from academia, scientists, and people such as combatant commanders who have an interest in the topic.

Speakers will discuss the development of language, regional and cultural skills ranging from the education of pre-kindergarten through high school students to training DOD personnel.

“We’ll be discussing the role of technology -- what we’re doing and how we can deploy it better,” Weaver said.

“Technology is not as advanced as, nor will it ever take the place of, human interaction,” she added. “But there is a place for technology, and we want to make sure that we exploit it to gain the best efficiencies we can.”

On the last day of the summit, expert panels will present action plans for the future and discuss the way forward.

“We think the department has done a lot,” Weaver said. “We’ve made tremendous progress but we haven’t crossed the finish line and that’s why this important step is needed. We can’t lose the momentum we gained from the roadmap. But because we need to go in a more structured and more efficient manner forward, the summit is going to be the first step to get us there.”

Weaver said DOD will be a model for a nation whose citizens all will benefit from improving their knowledge of other languages and cultures.

“There’s a desire for language to be taught pre-kindergarten all the way through college so that we can enrich our recruiting market,” Weaver said. “But also it strengthens America, which strengthens national security.”

NLSC Member in to northern Germany for interpreting assignment

2011-01-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

An Arabic and French speaking Member of the NLSC arrived this past weekend in northern Germany to serve in an interpreter role during a U.S. Army training course being offered to individuals from Arabic- and French-speaking African countries..

The NLSC Member will interpret for a class of about 30 students from several western African nations. The students speak French and/or Arabic and very little English.

The Army requested NLSC involvement in order to ensure proper care of student health and welfare issues. And in fact, the Army is thankful he was on site, as he has a medical background and he has already assisted one student with a medical issue.

Our Member's assignment will last approximately eleven weeks.

Looking for someone who speaks French and Arabic

2011-01-17T08:36:00.001-08:00

On Friday I posted that we need a French speaker for an assignment in Germany that starts January 24th. We also need someone who speaks French AND Standard Arabic for the same assignment. This position has the same general requirements as the French position, but obviously requires someone who can speak Standard Arabic as well. If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible.

Need French speaker for assignment in Germany starting Jan 24

2011-01-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

The NLSC has received an inquiry from a federal agency that has a need for French interpretation. This potential assignment will require travel to Germany beginning as early as January 24th for a period of approximately 11 weeks to provide interpretation services, primarily in a training environment.

Please carefully read the position description below and apply as soon as possible if you meet the required qualifications and would like to be considered for this opportunity. If you cannot devote the entire 11 weeks, please let us know if you are interested and can travel abroad for at least 3 consecutive weeks.

Required qualifications:

Extensive simultaneous or consecutive interpreting experience in classroom/seminar setting using French language
Available to devote at least 3 weeks of full-time work
Current passport that expires no earlier than November 2011.
Willingness to travel to Germany
Willingness to take a French test administered by NLSC Language Certification Team
Willingness to be federally hired

Desired qualifications (pluses):

Experience working with military and/or military operations (or familiarity with military terminology
Medical background or training

Again, if you meet the required qualifications listed above and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a French interpreter, please apply as soon as possible. The on-line application process includes the option to upload your resume. Please do so when you apply.

Recruiting at the MLA convention plus meeting members

2011-01-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

We were in Los Angeles last weekend for the 126th annual convention of the Modern Language Association. We set up a booth in the Exhibitors Hall to recruit, and our Chief Linguist, Dr Bill Rivers, participated in a panel discussion on opportunities in the Federal government for those with language skills. We took advantage of the trip to also host a "Meet & Greet" on Friday night with our Los Angeles-area NLSC Members ... a great turnout as over 30 attended.

Exhibitors Hall

Our booth

Dr Rivers during the panel discussion

Member "Meet & Greet" group picture

We need Arabic speakers.

2010-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

We are seeking volunteers for a potential assignment with a federal agency as an Arabic interpreter. This opportunity would require you to become a member of the National Language Service Corps. There is no membership fee to join the organization and all members of the NLSC are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked and reimbursed for travel expenses.

This is not a full-time position, but rather an assignment that requires individuals with the skill set below.

This potential assignment will require travel to Africa (the specific location is to be determined) beginning in January for a period of approximately 11 weeks to provide interpretation services, primarily in a training environment. There are several opportunities available, as there will be multiple sessions occurring.

NLSC Membership requirements:

You must be a U.S. citizen
You must be at least 18 years old
If you are a male, you must have registered for Selective Service.

Assignment requirements:

Experience working with military and/or military operations (or familiarity with military terminology)
Extensive simultaneous or consecutive interpreting experience in classroom/seminar setting using any of the following languages:

You must be available to devote at least 3 weeks of full-time work
You must have a current passport with a minimum of six months remaining prior to expiration
You must be willing to travel to Africa (specific location to be determined)
You must be willing to take an Arabic test administered by the NLSC's Language Certification Team
You must be willing to become a temporary federal employee.

If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible. Simply go to http://www.nlscorps.org/ and click the Apply button to get started.

Meeting our members in Boston

2010-12-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

When we were in Boston for the ACTFL conference, we took advantage of being there by also hosting a “Meet & Greet” for local area NLSC members. Over twenty joined us to share appetizers, feedback and personal networking.

We met at the John Hancock Hotel and Conference Center, just a short walk from the Hynes Convention Center, the ACTFL venue. Members enjoyed a variety of appetizers as they met one another for the first time, as well as meeting several from the NLSC staff.

We held a brief "what do you know about the NLSC" contest, awarding prizes to members who knew their stuff about the NSLC. We also gathered feedback on the concept of local chapters, asking questions on how to organize a chapter and what activities it could be involved in.

This Meet & Greet follows on the heels of our summer meetings. We look forward to our upcoming Meet and Greets in Atlanta and Hawai'i.

Scenes from our Boston Meet & Greet:

In Boston for ACTFL 2010

2010-11-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

For the third year in a row the NLSC recruited at the annual conference of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). It was held in Boston, MA this year, over the November 19-21 weekend.

While our booth was a few aisles away from the main entrance of the exhibit all, we had strong traffic, including 19 people who completed applications on the spot (several were interested in applying on-line – we hope all who expressed that interest will follow through!).

Conference attendees included university professors and instructors, linguists, high school foreign language teachers, industry representatives and professionals in the federal government foreign language community. Organizers expected over 5,000 to attend, and about 400 of them visited the NLSC booth.

Dr. Bill Rivers, our Chief Linguist, spoke in a session about the NLSC’s effort to develop ASTM standards for language proficiency testing (which is currently going through the final ASTM approval procedures).

On endangered and lost languages

2010-09-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

The NLSC accepts applications from any US citizen who understands English and another language ... any language. As an organization that supports Federal government agencies, we work to support as many languages as possible. But our focus is on less-common languages And since there are between 6,000 and 7,000 languages in the world, we could list hundreds that most people have never heard of.

There are many articles out that talk about a UN report that predicts that half of the world's languages will be gone by 2100. Here's just one article. Since by definition those are lesser-common languages, we are particularly sensitive about news regarding these endangered languages.

There have been several articles recently on endangered languages ... we thought it might be useful to consolidate them here rather than do individual posts.

Manx is a language spoken on the Isle of Man, off the coast of Great Britain. One article questions whether Manx is worth saving while another article two weeks later says Manx is not in danger.

Canadian news outlet often talk about aboriginal languages at risk. This article reports that Nakota, Lakota and Dakota, languages of Saskatchewan are in danger of extinction. In New Zealand, Maori may be at risk. This article recaps five rare languages ... Yuchi, Wiaramus, Nivkh, Yami and !Kung (the exclamation point indicates a clicking sound).

Here's an article that asks whether endangered languages are even worth saving.

Many feel they are. A professor and students at the University of Texas at Arlington are trying to preserve Triqui, a language in Mexico whose speakers have dropped from 6,000 in the 1980s to 1,500 today, and those folks are concentrated in just three villages. The University of Arizona is trying to save Yaqui. Again in Canada, the last three surviving speakers of Rigolet Inuktitut gathered in Labrador to record conversations in that language.

Taiwan is trying to save its indigenous languages, and so is Nigeria. A Frenchman is trying to revive Eyak in Alaska. Another French linguist is trying to save S'aoch, a language spoken on Cambodia's sea shore.

And a linguist in Massachusetts has worked to revive the Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) language, receiving a "genius grant" for her work.

Several rare languages have taken root in New York City, including Vlashki, Garifuna and Mamuju.

But not all languages can be saved. Cochin Creole Portuguese disappeared with its last speaker's death in August. The last member of a 65,000-year-old Andaman Island tribe died in February, taking Bo, one of the world's earliest languages to the grave. Tarùsc, in Italy, was spoken by a community of master umbrellla makers, but it died many years ago.

Urgent need for native speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, Khmer, Croatian, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Lao and Thai

2010-09-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) is a one-of-a-kind organization that offers citizens with language skills the chance to help communities and the government during times of crises and emergencies as well as non-emergencies; domestic or abroad. The NLSC currently has translation opportunities to provide aid for the Gulf Oil Spill recovery effort.

We are seeking volunteers for two different short-term translation assignments, a 100-page government report from English to Spanish, and a five-page executive summary for that report from English to Vietnamese, Khmer, Croatian, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Lao and Thai. Both opportunities are work-from-home assignments and would require you to become a member of the NLSC.

There is no membership fee to join the NLSC and all members are volunteers and are paid a stipend for any hours worked. These are not full-time positions but rather assignments that require someone with these skills for a short period of time.

The work is expected to begin in the next two to three weeks. There are multiple positions per language for each assignment.

Please read the minimum qualifications below. If you meet the required qualifications and would like to be considered for either of these opportunities please email us at as soon as possible.

Required minimum qualifications:

US Citizen only
18 years of age or older
Bachelor´s Degree in Linguistics or Translation, or a related discipline, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
Native speaker of your language
5+ years of professional translation experience
Must possess computer skills, including MS Office
Must possess excellent English language written communication skills
Must be willing to take a language proficiency test in the native language administered by NLSC Language Certification Team
Available to devote one to two full days per week for the executive summary, or two to three weeks of full-time work for the report.

Meeting our members

2010-09-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

The NLSC hit the road several times this summer to meet many of our members throughout the country. We held six “Meet & Greets”, visiting Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, Beltsville, MD and New York City. Over 120 members and prospective members attended, eagerly getting to know one another and NLSC staff. The staff also discussed the NLSC and gathered input on several ideas on how to keep our Member actively engaged. We have four Meet & Greets tentatively planned for the fall … if you’re a member in one of the cities we visit, we will let you know in plenty of time to make your plans and RSVP.

New York Meet & Greet

New York Meet & Greet

Philadelpha Meet & Greet

Philadelphia Meet & Greet

New Orleans Meet & Greet

Chicago Meet & Greet

Beltsville, MD Meet & Greet

Beltsville, MD Meet & Greet

The Civilian Expeditionary Workforce - a kindred spirit

2010-08-27T11:50:00.001-07:00

We recently learned that there’s a Federal agency that has a more-than-slight resemblance to us. It’s the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce, or CEW.

The Department of Defense (DoD) set up the CEW in 2009. It’s made up of civilian DoD employees who volunteer to be available for overseas assignments if and when such needs arise. The NLSC seeks volunteers from all walks of life. CEW assignments are in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Europe and the Continental United States and are typically one to two years long. NLSC assignments can be with any government agency and can take our members anywhere in the US or the world. But in contrast to the CEW, our assignments last an average of about two weeks.

CEW staff might support combat operations by the military, as well as emergency operations, humanitarian missions, disaster relief, restoration of order or drug interdiction and could play roles ranging from logistical to HR to public affairs. NLSC assignments, on the other hand, are limited to language-related assignments.

While deployed, CEW staff are provided the same living quarters and medical services provided to our Uniformed Service Members.

The CEW allows employees to remain assigned to their home organization while freeing up military personnel for other tasks, and CEW staff gain valuable experience to bring back to their command. Plus, participants who meet program requirements would be eligible to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism.

So, a shout-out to the CEW, an organization that shares a kindred spirit with the NLSC.

NLSC supports Navy Secretary in Gulf town hall meetings

2010-08-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

During the week of August 2 - 7, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus traveled to the Gulf Coast to conduct town hall meetings regarding the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Traveling with him was NLSC Member Terry Trinh of Dana Point, California, who served as Secretary Mabus’ Vietnamese interpreter. Terry was with Secretary Mabus at three of the five town hall meeting locations: Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, where the Secretary met with Gulf residents to get their input and feedback on ongoing plans to clean up the Gulf.

NLSC members Trang Teiu (on left) and Terry Trinh

Our client agency was the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, aka WHIAAPI. WHIAAPI co-ordinates efforts across several agencies to provide access to English-based services for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with limited English skills. WHIAAPI contacted us on Thursday, July 29, asking for assistance with interpreting to/from Vietnamese.

This was a real test of our ability to provide services quickly. From the time we learned about the possible assignment to the time Terry deployed was about 72 hours. When we first contacted Terry that Thursday, we told him that the trip had about a 50/50 chance of happening. He said he could be flexible. It wasn’t finalized until late Friday afternoon and Terry had to deploy on Sunday. Over the weekend the NLSC was scrambling to handle a great deal of behind-the-scenes co-ordination.

Terry handled the schedule with aplomb.

The NLSC Deputy Director for Operations, Verónica Coon, also consulted with the town hall organizers to how to set up the events for effective and unobtrusive interpreting.

While on the trip, Terry not only interpreted for Vietnamese speakers asking questions during the town hall meetings, he also greeted them as they arrived and let them know that he was at their disposal for interpreting assistance. In addition, he assisted them when filling out the claims forms and dealing with the many agencies that were also there to help.

At the end of the trip, Terry told us that as he finished his last meeting, Secretary Mabus shook his hand and told him he did a good job. Comments from Navy staff at the town hall included “We appreciated you and your team's professionalism and thoroughly enjoyed working with you all” and “Terry did a wonderful job!”

NLSC’s Coon noted that “Terry was perfect for the assignment. He was a real team player”.

A hat-tip to New Orleans-based NLSC member Trang Tieu for presenting Gulf opportunities to us, which led to this assignment.

What we're doing these days

2010-06-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

The NLSC Pilot program was so successful that it was extended until Federal legislation is in place to authorize a permanent program. We are pleased that we have successfully met the objectives of the NLSC’s Pilot Program.

The success really belongs to our members. They confirmed what we expected ... that there are many individuals in this country who are willing to offer their language skills for the good of all. In fact, we exceeded all expectations. So we'd like to say “thank you” to each and every member.

The NLSC is a requirements-driven organization. That is, the languages that we need are driven by the needs and requests of the Federal departments and agencies. We continue to receive inquiries regarding our ability to help from Federal government agencies.

And we are expanding the number of languages we can offer to client agencies. While we accept applications from all U.S. citizens who speak English and at least one other language, we focus on the needs of existing and potential client agencies. Currently, our clients' priorities include Dari, Efik, Farsi, Hausa, Igbo, Khmer/Cambodian, Lao/Laotian, Pashtu, Punjabi, Somali, Tagalog, Uzbek, and Vietnamese.

We also have a busy travel schedule over the next few months, reaching out to our Members in cities across the country. We’ve already met with Members in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, and we'll be in more cities this summer.

Draft standards for language testing forwarded to full ASTM committee for vote

2010-06-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

As I wrote in May, the ASTM foreign language proficiency sub-committee, organized by the NLSC to develop standards for language proficiency testing, was set to vote on the final draft of the proposed standards this month. Last week, that sub-committee approved the draft and has forwarded it for approval to the full committee (currently the committee that covers all consumer products, but as noted last month, after the vote it will shift to the new Technical Committee on Language Services and Products.

We don't yet have a timetable for the full committee vote, but we will continue to post updates.

We'd like to acknowledge the contributions of the following organizations, whose staff volunteered their time to help develop these standards as part of the sub-committee. Listed in alphabetical order: Defense Language Institute (DLI), American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL), Avant Assessment, Center for Applied Linguistics, CyraCom, Interagency Language Roundtable, International Center for Language Studies (ICLS), Northrup Grumman, Schreiber Translation, Inc. (STI), Second Language Testing, SWA Translation, U.S. Department of Defense, and University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language (MD CASL).

Looking for Pashtu, Dari, Farsi, Punjabi, Uzbek and Igbo speakers

2010-06-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I mentioned a half-dozen languages we are particularly interested in. This week I want to mention six more. If you speak English and Pashtu, Dari, Farsi, Punjabi, Uzbek or Igbo, we have government agency clients with potential assignments that require those language skills, and we encourage you to apply for NLSC Membership today. If you know someone who speaks English and one of these languages, please let them know about us!

These aren't full-time positions. Most of these assignments average two weeks in length, and range from helping people affected by disasters, to assisting with training exercise, to working on small translation projects. The NLSC Member is someone who says that he or she is available for short-term assignments to help his/her country, state or local community. If we contact you about an assignment and you are able to participate, we pay for your time and expenses during the assignment.

Learn more about the NLSC on our web site and our YouTube channel.

We are looking for some specific languages

2010-06-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

We accept applications from anyone who speaks English and at least one other language, but we are announcing that we have clients with potential needs for specific languages. These needs are for short-term assignments that are still evolving. If you are a U.S. citizen and speak English and one of these languages, we encourage you to apply for NLSC membership. If you know someone who has these skills, please pass our web address to them. Thanks!

Apply here.

The languages:

Tagalog
Khmer/Cambodian
Hausa
Lao/Laotian
Somali
Vietnamese

UPDATE: Driving the definition of standards for language proficiency tests

2010-05-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I didn't plan it this way, but a year ago today I blogged about our efforts to work within ASTM International to set standards for language proficiency tests. Yesterday, the foreign language proficiency sub-committee we organized met to make what we think are the final revisions to the draft standards document. It will meet next month to review that final version and with luck, voting members of the ASTM will act on the final ballot soon after.

We are proud of the progress the sub-committee has made in less than two years. By comparison, ASTM standards for interpreting took around five years and those for translation took about four.

And we have another reason to be pleased. As a result of our work, the ASTM is establishing a new permanent committee, the Technical Committee on Language Services and Products to oversee all things related to language. This is no trivial accomplishment.

Language industry standards will no longer fall under consumer products such as bathtub and shower structures, baby strollers and bean bag chairs. The Technical Committee will assume responsibility for the existing sub-committees that deal with language proficiency testing, translations services and language interpreting, and will be the umbrella committee for any future language-related sub-committees.

When the standards are final and have been published, we will post a link to the document(s) here.

In a panel discussion hosted by the NAAAP in Washington, DC

2010-03-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, we participated in a panel presentation co-hosted by the Washington, DC chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Our own Mondo Segarra was one of the panelists, along with folks from the FBI, U.S. House of Representatives, and Departments of Commerce and State.

The event flowed smoothly. The panelists spoke for about 10 minutes each to over 50 attendees, and elaborated on what they did and what they were looking for with a focus on career opportunities and public service. The event was more like a career fair than anything else. At the reception afterwards we had some great discussions with the attendees. We appreciate NAAAP-DC giving us the opportunity.

NLSC's Mondo Segarra speaking on the NAAAP-hosted panel

Last week in Miami

2010-03-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

We attended the 20th annual Asian Culture Festival on March 6-7 in Homestead FL at Fruit and Spice park. We were a sponsor for the second consecutive year.

The festival had a great atmosphere, and we met people from not just Asian cultures, but European ones as well. When things were rolling, we were swamped. Approximately 300 people stopped by the NLSC booth. And that included some of our members stopping by to say hi. We were able to promote the NLSC on stage to a packed audience and distribute over 300 brochures to attendees.

On the even of the festival, March 5, we also hosted a meet-and-greet social for NLSC members. Members, excited to meet each other, also mingled with our staff, and the staff updated the Members on our latest activities. The NLSC staff distributed festival admission tickets to NLSC members, their families as well as prospective members who were also there.

I think we'll be back in 2011!

At the Asian Culture Festival

At the Meet and Greet on Friday night.

The National Language Service Corps is coming to South Florida!

2010-02-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

NLSC Staff members will be coming to Miami for the Asian Cultural Festival March 6-7, 2010. If you're in the area, please come by and see us!

NLSC Information Session @ Stanford & UC Berkeley

2010-02-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

Your language skills are valuable. You can help your language community by volunteering with the National Language Service Corps. Are you fluent in English and another language? If so, the NLSC is looking for individuals like you.

The NLSC is a national initiative, bringing together multilingual people, like you, for the greater good of our country. This is your opportunity to help your language community while supporting government efforts in times of need. Join us at one of the following NLSC information sessions:

At Stanford:

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 NLSC Information Session at 2:00 pm
Career Development Center, 1st Floor Conference Room
or
Silicon Valley Nonprofit Career Fair from 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Tresidder Memorial Union

At UC Berkeley:

NLSC Information Session

Thursday, March 4th 2010
Howard Room, The Faculty Club
2 sessions: 12:15pm and 6:00pm
Refreshments will be served.

To find out more about the NLSC call 1-888-SAY-NLSC (729-6572) x828. You can be the bridge to your community.

Dallas Tet Festival Recap

2010-02-25T07:41:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we traveled to Grand Prairie, Texas, near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport to recruit at the local Tet festival, the Vietnamese new year's celebration. On Friday night, we hosted an informational "meet-and-greet" session for our NLSC Members and anyone interested in learning more about us. Then on Saturday and Sunday, we were at the Traders Village, a huge open-air marketplace, where the Tet festival (among other events) was being held. We were pleased that cool windy, raining weather did not stop a large crowd from coming to the festival, and we made good contacts; several applied on the spot!

Next week we'll be at Stanford and UC Berkeley and in Miami. More details on those events shortly.

Archway to the Tet Festival

Meet-and-greet attendees

Tet Festival stage

Interested person talking with Constance, an NLSC recruiter.

Constance watching as a festival attendee filled out an "I'm interested" card.

Recruiting at the Tet Festival in Dallas this weekend

2010-02-16T13:18:00.000-08:00

We will be at the Tet Festival in Grand Prairie, TX this weekend (10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday). You'll find us at booth #45. If you speak any language, but particularly Vietnamese, please stop by and say hello!

This Friday night, we 're hosting an opportunity for NLSC Members to meet one another AND for anyone not already a Member who is interested in learning more about the NLSC. The "meet-and-greet" is this Friday night, February 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Hyatt Place in Grand Prairie - 1542 North Highway 360. We'd love to meet you. If you come ... please RSVP to Taylor by Thursday night so we make sure we have enough snacks and soft drinks.

Hope to see you at the Hyatt Place or the Tet Festival!

LA & SF Info Sessions Went Very Well

2010-02-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday and Thursday, we held our first on-the-road information sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and both were great!

Wednesday in LA, 32 of our Members joined us, along with 18 guests at Life On Wilshire. All three NLSC Members who participated in our Garuda Shield assignment were there and spoke about their experiences. Two of our Members who were part of our Thailand assignment described that trip as well.

On Thursday in San Francisco, 22 Members and three guests came to Circa to learn more about the NLSC.

At both events, Members wasted no time in reaching out and meeting each other. We got nothing but positive feedback, so look for us to be on the road in the future.

In Los Angeles:

In San Francisco:

Summer Government Language-Related Positions Available in DC Area

2010-01-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

Critical Languages Research Analyst Program
Summer 2010

The U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) has several unclassified open source analysis units in the Washington, DC area to conduct research related to national security issues and is looking for undergraduate and graduate student summer research analysts who can conduct native language research on the internet, apply social science research methods to identify social and political trends, and critically analyze and present information.

Students majoring in the following areas are encouraged to apply: Middle Eastern Studies, Persian Studies, South Asian Studies, Asian Studies, African Studies, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Intelligence Studies, National Security Studies, Economics, Political Economy, Cultural Anthropology, Comparative Sociology, Demography, Defense Studies, Social Psychology, Public Policy, History, Political Islam, Nuclear Engineering/Physics, Computer Science/Engineering, Political Geography, Library Science, Geographic Information Systems and other science and technology fields.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Fluency in spoken Arabic (Yemeni dialect), Dari, Farsi, Indonesian, Pashtu, Somali, Turkish or Urdu required. Advanced listening comprehension required. Ability to read target language strongly preferred.
Excellent research and oral and written communication skills
Excellent analytic/critical thinking skills
Advanced internet proficiency
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a close team environment
Ability to work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
Strong academic background (3.0)
Completion of at least sophomore year of college by the beginning of summer 2010
U.S. citizenship required*

*The work performed will involve unclassified research only so there will not be a full security clearance process conducted. However, each selected individual will undergo some security processing. Final selection for the program is contingent upon the successful completion of the security vetting process. The security vetting process will not equate to eligibility for access to classified information and only allows participation in the Critical Languages Summer Research Analyst Program.

COMPENSATION:

This will be a paid position for a 40 hour week for a maximum of 10 weeks. The hourly rate will be commensurate with education and experience. There are no benefits other than free parking. Work location is not easily accessible by public transportation

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Email cover letter detailing your interest in the position and your qualifications to Doris.B.Johnson@ugov.gov. Attach your resume, a writing sample in English (maximum of 5 pages), and the names, telephone numbers and email addresses for two academic references, one of whom must be able to verify your language skills. Please also provide a student copy of your transcript – a download from your institution’s website is acceptable for initial consideration. Application deadline is February 19, 2010.

NOTE: The U.S. Intelligence Community is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace.

Staff, Charter Members meet to discuss NLSC processes

2010-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

This week we brought in three of our Charter Members for input on how we select, prepare and deploy Members for an assignment. Our thanks to Suman, Aida and Pawan for giving up a morning to spend time with us.

Volunteer Interpreters and Translators needed for the Haiti Relief Effort

2010-01-20T05:54:00.000-08:00

By now we are all painfully aware of the situation in Haiti following the devastating earthquake last week. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators and the American Red Cross are seeking Haitian Creole and French interpreters and translators to assist in this time of great need.

Interpreters are needed for two types of assignments – either at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC (see "Immediate Need" below) or on the hospital ship USNS Comfort off the coast of Haiti (see "Anticipated Future Need" below).

Immediate Need

The American Red Cross wishes to identify and recruit a Haitian Creole and French interpreter and translator to work at its National Headquarters Office in Washington for periods of between one to three weeks. The volunteer will support the International Services Department (ISD) in response to the earthquake in Haiti by sharing information with Haitian Creole speakers in the United States, translating documents from various ISD offices and/or American Red Cross chapters around the country, may be called upon to record messages in Haitian Creole or respond to inquiries from Haitian Creole speakers by telephone or in writing. The qualifications for this assignment are below:

Willingness to support Red Cross Mission
Translate written information into Haitian Creole
Respond to inquiries from Haitian Creole speakers

Qualifications:

At least three (3) years of demonstrated experience as a professional translator and/or interpreter
Excellent writing, good interpersonal and some cross-cultural communication skills and experience.
Advanced use of Microsoft Office for word processing.

Training:

Orientation to American Red Cross

Reports to or Partners with ISD/ International Communications Department

Length of Appointment: Open

Time Commitment: 20 - 40 hours a week -- flexible

Anticipated Future Need

Last week a request was sent out for the recruitment for interpreters for the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship that is scheduled to arrive in Haiti Tuesday night January 20 and will remain docked off the coast. Thanks to the American Red Cross chapter network, that need was filled quickly. NAJIT and the American Red Cross anticipate there will be a continued need for interpreters for the USNS Comfort over the weeks and months to come. Currently, the projection is that USNS Comfort will be deployed on this mission for 6-12 months.

At this time, in an effort to anticipate the ongoing and future need for interpreters, NAJIT and the American Red Cross are standing ready by identifying available volunteers for the next possible 30 day rotations. Volunteers will remain on the ship throughout the duration of the assignment and will not deploy to the mainland of Haiti.

Both assignments are on a volunteer basis and the American Red Cross will cover all travel expenses.

Because of the special American Red Cross and NAJIT partnership and our joint collaboration in recent years during major disaster response operations, NAJIT has been asked to coordinate the recruitment of interpreters for the Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort. NAJIT continues to serve as the direct link between interpreters and the Red Cross emergency response. In order to participate in the Haiti Relief Effort, interpreters must either be members of NAJIT or members of one of NAJIT’s organizational or institutional members.

We know that many interpreters and translators want to help in this time of great need, either by volunteering or making donations. Please be as generous with your time and resources as you can be. Thank you.

Please send all responses to christina@najit.org or phone 202-293-0342 for further information.

Bringing Members and Staff face-to-face

2010-01-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

On January 27 and 28 we're hosting member/staff meet-ups in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Several of our Charter Members have expressed interest in meeting each other, and we always get incredibly helpful feedback from Members whenever we see them. So this is a way to do two things at once.

In L.A. on Wednesday, you'll find us at Life on Wilshire, 6311 Wilshire Blvd in West Hollywood (http://www.lifeonwilshire.com/). Come by, meet fellow NLSC Members and NLSC staffers! In San Francisco on Thursday, we'll be at Circa, 20091 Chestnut Street (http://www.circasf.com/) starting at 6:00 pm.

If you're not a Member, don't let that stop you. Join us and learn more about offering your "Language for the Good of All"!

We picked these two cities because we have large numbers of Members in each of those metropolitan areas, so we are hoping for a good turnout.

These are our first meet-ups oustide of our Washington DC home-base area. If these go well, we'll have others. And if those are successful, we will explore doing them regularly in key locations across the country.

Recruiting at the ACTFL conference

2009-12-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) held its convention the weekend before Thanksgiving in San Diego, and we were there. About 4,500 elementary, high school, college and university teachers were there, and we got to speak with many of them.

This was our second trip to ACTFL, and so much had changed for the better. On the ACTFL side, we were in a convention center with much more room than last year. Until we began attending association conventions like this, I had no idea that they had to book venues years in advance. So if your group grows significantly, you wind up in a space that is unexpectedly tight. This year, the convention center seemed to have all the space needed.

On our side, last year we had only begun to recruit, so we could only talk about what NLSC Members might do. This year, we could talk about Members travelling from Atlanta to Thailand and Indonesia. That made for a much more effective pitch. Plus, we had our videos playing on a monitor in our booth. As a result, I think we had a more compelling story to tell when ACTFL members came to our table. Based on the number of business cards and brochures we handed out, it looks like touched close to 1,000 people. Not only that, last year there were no NLSC Members to come by and say hello! Four came by this year; see their pictures below.

Thanks ACTFL!

NLSC Charter Member Mara (center) with NLSC recruiters Charlie Pressley (left) and Bridget Baker (right)

Member Michelle with NLSC's Chief Linguist, Dr. Bill Rivers

NLSC Charter Member Amy with Bridget

Counterpoint: Is the loss of dying languages bad?

2009-11-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

My previous post was about how many languages could be gone in the next 100 years and some of the efforts to preserve endangered languages. John McWhorter is a linguist, political commentator, and lecturer in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. In the current World Affairs Journal, he asks "Would it be inherently evil if there were not 6,000 spoken languages but one?" Read his discussion here.

Endangered languages

2009-11-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

Did you know that nearly 80 percent of the world's population speaks only one percent of its languages, according to National Geographic?

One of the purposes for the National Language Service Corps is to recruit volunteers who speak the less-common languages in the United States. While our goal is not language preservation, I'm noticing that among language-oriented Tweeps (a contraction of "Twitter" and the slang "peeps" for people, thus: people who use Twitter) that we follow, the topic of endangered languages pops up. Endangered in the sense that there are few speakers of these languages left, and their numbers dwindling.

When we lose a language, we lose contact with the culture that expressed itself with that language. We lose a way of thinking. We lose that culture's wisdom ... "The wisdom of humanity is coded in language," says Lyle Campbell, director of the University of Utah's Center for American Indian Languages (CAIL) and professor of linguistics. "Once a language dies, the knowledge dies with it. Take for example medicinal plants. A tree bark may prevent cancer, AIDS, etc., but the name of the tree (and the associated knowledge) typically is lost when the language becomes extinct -- a loss to all humanity." (quoted from Science Daily)

Languages are disappearing completely as the remaining survivors of small language communities die. It's nothing new ... In the last 500 years, half of the world’s languages have become extinct. But now languages are dying at an even faster rate. Last month, the BBC reported predictions that half of the remaining 7,000 languages will be gone by 2100. Ethnologue lists 473 of today's language that it categorizes as already near extinction, including 76 in the United States. It also lists 65 other languages in the United States which are now extinct. This map highlights five "language hotspots" - areas in the world with high number of languages at risk of extinction.

Even though this is not a matter that gets the attention of mainstream media, when I googled "endangered lanugages" this morning, the search listed 499,000 links; "extinct languages" brought up 194,000 links.

Linguists are treating the issue as significant and serious. This month, the University of Utah's Center for American Indian Languages is hosting a workshop on the topic. And efforts are underway to preserve languages ... including those by Cambridge University to create a digital archive of languages, National Geographic to "document endangered languages and prevent language extinction", the Australian government to save aboriginal languages and the University of Chicago to study how, against the odds, the Greenlandic language is surviving and actually strengthening.

Joining APEX in LA

2009-10-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Linda and I were in Los Angeles for the 9th annual Career Symposium hosted by the Asian Professional Exchange (APEX). Over three hundred young professionals and college students were there to hear Victor Jih, winner of the 14th season of the reality show The Amazing Race. They also participated in panel discussions and checked out the Career Expo, which were a part of.

Several came by our table ... many already knew about us because we were listed as a sponsor on the event web site, and they took the trouble to visit our site. Ricko (pictured with me, below. he's on the right), one of our current members, came by and said hello. He found out about the APEX event by reading it on one of our social networking sites.

The APEX folks were great, and the event was very well run. Thanks Karen and Maggie!

The Festival of Light

2009-10-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

On October 4, 2009 the NLSC participated in a local recruiting event at the Diwali Mela 2009 also known as the Festival of Light. We discovered this event after speaking with the organizer from a previous event, and it was well worth the our particpation. In the words of the event organizers, the Festival of light was a celebration of the “ageless culture of India by touch and taste” and was organized by 14 local Hindu and Jain temples in the Washington Metro area.

The Festival of Light was held in Fairfax VA at the George Mason Patriot Center, and there were over 500 attendees from predominantly Hindi speaking communities from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Additionally, there were many individuals who spoke a number of less common Indian dialects represented at the festival. The one-day festival began at 12:00 pm and ended at 10:00 pm, and featured international vendors selling traditional Indian clothing, cuisine, jewelry, furniture, and other cultural items. There were also many businesses and non-profits catering to the Indian community, including a student association, real estate, insurance, and medical businesses.

Many people came to our table to inquire about the NLSC. Fortunately, we were right in front of the main stage, so we were able to watch and enjoy traditional Indian dancing and singing. Overall it was a great event, and I hope we go back next year!

An "@" by any other name ...

2009-09-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

We in America call the "@" the "at" symbol. Other languages/countries use more colorful expressions:

Czech (Czech Republic): Závinaĉ, which means a herring wrapped around a pickle.
Danish: Snabel-a, "elephant’s trunk."
Dutch: Apestaartje, "little monkey’s tail."
Hebrew: Shablul or Shablool, "snail" or Shtrudl, "strudel."
Hugarian: Kukac, "worm or maggot."
Italian: Chiocciola, "Snail."
Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan): Xiao Lao Shu, "little mouse," or Lao Shu Hao, "mouse sign."
Russian: Sobachka, "doggie."
Thai: Ai tua yiukyiu, "wiggling worm."

From “Send : The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home” by David Shipley and Will Schwalbe.

Anyone know other creative terms for "@" in other languages?

We've reached 1,000!

2009-09-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

This morning, we surpassed 1,000 Charter Members, reaching 1,002. Details here.

Six return from Thailand assignment

2009-09-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

Six of our Thai-speaking Charter Members recently returned from Buri Ram, Thailand, where they interpreted and translated for the American and Thai armies. See our news story on the assignment here, and comments about our members from U.S. Army personnel here.

Joe interpreting during First Aid training

Toy interpreting in an outdoor classrooom

Jennifer interpreting for Thai soldiers.

Lori with a U.S. Army soldier.

Aliza with American and Thai soldiers at a local temple.

NLSC team lead Will with members of the U.S. military.

In the Big Apple for the first Asian MBA conference

2009-09-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

We were at the First Annual Asian MBA conference in New York last weekend, and we were very glad to be there.

We found out about this conference by accident: we bumped into the CEO of the conference at the NAAAP conference in Denver last month. We were there to recruit, he was there to get the word out about his new event. He was intrigued with our mission and invited us to come. We took the invitation back to our offices and the team quickly agreed we ought to go.

We haven't heard what the final attendance was, but I'm sure I saw at least 1,000 in the career expo hall. We met a lot of people ... mostly Mandarin speakers but some Thai and Hindi as well. We were also on the lookout for Indonesian and Vietnamese speakers. We even had a Hausa speaker come by; she filled out an application on the spot! Many were students enrolled in MBA programs I think it's safe to say that there will be a second annual conference and it'll be on our list of places to be.

New Vietnamese TV ad

2009-09-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

We've just released our TV ad in Vietnamese.

See our first TV ad, in Hindi, here.

Here is a larger version:

Comments from our most recently-completed assignment

2009-09-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

We commend our Members for doing a great job in Thailand. Here are comments from the assignment's sponsor:

Each (member) had different backgrounds that definitely contributed to the mission

Overall, the team performed well. They provided the proper service and were able to cover down on their individual weaknesses.

(Member) showed outstanding skills. She translated every discussion without being asked to do so.

(Member) was strong to learn and use technical military terms that are not used in everyday conversations

She was very easy to work with, she displayed a high degree of confidence while performing her duties.

(Member) knows the language and knows the culture.

(Member) Displayed Professionalism by always reviewing, researching and rehearsing all classroom material prior to start time. (Member) was very adaptable by being able to work long hours from a classroom to a field Environment. (Member) also displayed a great attitude by providing input to help the students get a better understanding of the subject being presented.

(Member) is an outstanding translator - Clone (him).

(Member's) excellent knowledge in the language and culture led to an overall success in the team’s mission.

(Member) overcame some harsh working environment and remained professional, calm and collected at all times, which led to the team’s overall mission success.

(Member) was a great asset ... His support was instrumental in being able to convey the intent of the exercise.

Fall conferences where you'll find our recruiters

2009-08-31T06:18:00.001-07:00

September 10-12: Our recruiters will be at the first ever Asian MBA (AMBA) leadership Conference & Career Expo is a ground-breaking event with a mission to connect and empower top Asian American MBAs and professionals. Jacob Javits Center, New York City.

October 10: We will be at the APEX (Asian Professional Exchange) Career Symposium, the the largest career development conference dedicated to the Asian Pacific American professionals in the L.A. area. The goal of this event is to provide opportunities for qualified students and professionals at various levels to network with senior executives and recruiters from major corporations. Los Angeles, Wilshire Grand Hotel.

November 20 - 22: This will be our second visit as an exhibitor to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention and World Languages Expo. This event brings together more than 6,000 teachers, administrators, method instructors and students of foreign languages at all levels from across the world. San Diego, San Diego Convention Center.

We're looking into the idea of recruiting former "09-Limas"

2009-08-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

The US Army’s “09 Lima” program recruits native speakers of key languages, sends them to boot camp and then into action with the troops. What happens after they fulfill their military commitment? We have a thought.

Video about 09-Limas.

The NLSC hopes to recruit these individuals as they leave the 09 Lima program. The idea is that when these individuals complete their commitment, they continue their service as NLSC members. They would serve on an occasional, as-needed basis, available in the event there’s a sudden need for their language skills.

When 09 Limas complete their commitment, they go through the DoD’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP was developed to assist military personnel and family members leaving the service in preparing for the return to civilian life. We would like the NLSC to be an option for the departing soldiers. We think it would be a win-win as the former 09 Limas could continue to use their language skills, and the country would continue to benefit from their training and experience.

The 09 Lima program began in February 2003 when the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs was given the task to recruit native speakers to assist U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with interpretations, translations, cultural familiarity and an understanding of the nuances of body language. The three languages most needed were Dari and Pashto, the two most prevalent languages spoken in Afghanistan, and Arabic. When the program began, the Army had both contractor and Army-trained linguists. While contractors are civilians, the 09 Limas are in uniform as Army personnel.

The 51st Translator and Interpreter Company was the the first company of of native linguists-turned-soldiers and was activated by the Army in October 2008.

NLSC members in Thailand!

2009-08-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

The NSLC has joined the U.S. Army in a two-week training exercise with the Royal Thai Army in Buriram Province, Thailand. Six Thai-speaking NLSC Members are serving as translators to convert training materials from English to Thai and Thai to English. They are also serving as interpreters to address questions during classroom training.

The exercise will continue through August 28.

Pictured below: NLSC Members Aliza (front) and Jennifer with members of the U.S. Army in Thailand.

A great NAAAP conference in Denver

2009-08-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

We were exhibitors at the August 13-15 annual conference and job fair of the National Association of Asian-American Professionals (the NAAAP) in Denver, and we had a phenomenal response!

Speakers of Mandarin, Catonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indonesian all came by to learn more about us, and several filled out applications on the spot. Two individuals came by with completed applications already in-hand. They had learned of us before the conference, downloaded applications from our web site, filled them out and brought them to our booth.

We also made contact with several companies at the conference who have affinity programs for their heritage speakers, companies who encourage their employees to engage in voluntary service. We hope to build relationships with these affinity programs and reach potential NLSC members we might not otherwise reach.

So don't be surprised to see us at next year's NAAAP conference in San Francisco!

A good time at Fest Africa

2009-08-12T06:42:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, our recruiters were at the 7th annual FestAfrica, a celebration of African culture and heritage in Baltimore, MD. Over a thousand people were there ... most were from Nigerian-heritage communities in Prince George's and Baltimore counties. We were hoping to make contact with Hausa Somali and Swahili, speakers, and we did!

It was a hot weekend, but we enjoyed meeting folks and being surrounded by musicians (both local and international) who displayed their African pride with Afro-beat, ethnic folk, African hip-hop, Afro-Reggae and traditional drumming. There was also storytelling, arts and crafts, jewelry and African cuisine.

Tip-of-the-hat to the FestAfrica organizers!

We're coming to Baltimore and Denver

2009-08-07T05:05:00.000-07:00

Our recruiters will be at two events coming up soon.

First, we'll be at Fest Africa in Baltimore, MD on August 8 & 9 (this weekend). Event details at www.festafricausa.com. If you speak Somali, Swahili or Hausa, we're especially interested in meeting you!

Second, we will be exhibitors at the annual conference of the National Association of Asian American Professionals in Denver on August 14 & 15 (next Friday and Saturday). The organization web site is www.naaap.org and the conference site is www.naaapconvention.com.

Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily

2009-08-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

From Associated Press via Yahoo!:

WASHINGTON – The best time to learn a foreign language: Between birth and age 7. Missed that window?

New research is showing just how children's brains can become bilingual so easily, findings that scientists hope eventually could help the rest of us learn a new language a bit easier.

For the full story, click here.

Charter Members and staff comment on the NLSC and being involved

2009-07-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

At our meeting with several NLSC Charter Members last month we had a video crew ask those members and staff about the NLSC and their involvement. Here are the highlights.

Here's a larger version:

Feedback from Garuda Shield participants

2009-07-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

Last week we met Densy, one of three of our Indonesian-speaking Charter Members who participated in Garuda Shield, an international peacekeeping training exercise in Indonesia. We sent these members to work with Pacific Command in order to facilitate communication between Americans and their hosts. During Garuda Shield, NLSC Members helped build a baby care clinic and sanitation facility in Bandung, assisted in field training exercises for peacekeeping missions, and participated in Command-Post exercises coordinating the entire operation.

Yesterday, we spoke with Harry and Shanti, the other two Charter Members, by phone.

Densy (left) and Harry

Shanti in the field

Harry did a lot of interpreting among the military units, among construction workers, and between the military and the public. "I was the bridge," he said. Shanti interpreted in meetings and informal gatherings, and translated newspaper articles. She also assisted with cultural issues ranging from economics to Indonesian traffic. "Everybody I worked with was fabulous ... I loved it!"

We also have feedback from Garuda Shield staff:

"We don't wan to give (the member) up!"
"We really need (the member), (the member) is really excellent!
"(The member) is with the Colonel constantly. (The member) is his right-hand man!"
"Maybe (the member) can be the one to come back next year!"

So I think we can mark this one a success!

Garuda Shield participant meets the team

2009-07-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

We had three of our Charter Members recently return from participating in Garuda Shield, an exercise that the NLSC was involved with in Bandung, Indonesia. All three members speak Indonesian, which was essential for this exercise. One of those members, Densy, was in Arlington last week and met the team. She is pictured below receiving a letter of appreciation from the NSLC's Bill Castan.

More on our participation in Garuda Shield in an upcoming post.

Some of Densy's comments regarding her involvement: "(a project like this is) the least I can do for my country. I went expecting to work and provide a service I felt like I did something for the Indonesians and Americans ... I was told I was indispensable and after having been gone for only a few days, I already have e-mails telling me I’m missed!"

Below are pictures of Densy during Garuda Shield. In the first picture, she is in an exercise briefing. In the second, she takes a break from working with Indonesian U.N. Peacekeepers.

New video explains the NLSC

2009-06-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here's the video we've been talking about, which we unveiled at our meeting with several NLSC Charter Members earlier this month. We added a new ending, calling for the viewer to volunteer, which is why we didn't post it immediately after the event ... we pulled together the original on a VERY tight schedule, so we didn't have time to have the alternate ending ready at the same time. So without further adieu, here it is:

Here's a larger version:

Our first TV ad

2009-06-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

We're running our first TV advertisement ... It's in Hindi on Zee TV in the San Franciso Bay area.

Larger view:

NLSC Staff and Charter Members meet in DC

2009-06-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

We became excited as the time came … June 8 and 9 ... forty of our Charter Members were coming to join us in Washington for presentations on where things were and where they were going. It was great to hear their thoughts and enthusiasm about the program (see below for many of those comments). We unveiled the new video about the program, which we’ll post to the nlscorps.org site and YouTube soon.

We also interviewed several members and staff on-camera. We'll be posting that video soon as well. See pictures of the event here.

We plan to have more gatherings like this in the future.

Some comments from our Members:

On being part of the NLSC:

I like it and I encourage it and I became a member of it to serve my community, the United States of America and worldwide … I'm ready to contribute my language skill.
There are a lot of people who would be blessed to be part of it and a lot of people will benefit because of the people who join this organization.
I love languages. I love using languages. I think it [the NLSC] is something whose time is way overdue, so I'm really glad to see it happening.
I find that there is a great need for [the NLSC] … when then said that the government was setting up a program like this, I thoiught it was wonderful.
I thing this program is really important, especially in emergency situations and especially in such a diverse country like the United States.
This is something exciting and new … because now in America we have [multilingual] people and we can make use of it, and America is in the forefront of helping the world. Often we notice because of … language problem[s] that here is mis-communication, so if they have knowledge of [the] local language, that helps.
It's a great program. I love it… the energy and enthusiasm of all the volunteers. And I think that's what we need … people who are willing to help in case of any events, not just in disasters, any kind of assistance … people need to feel that bond, that closeness, and with language we can bring that.
I found the organization by accident actually. One of the recruiters contacted me thru LinkedIn and she explained to me what they're trying to do. I'm always looking for ways to give back to this great country so once I found out the mission of the program, it just seemed to be the right fit.
We're here because the government and school system basically have always been working at cross purposes. The government sees a practical need and the school system sees a rather academic sort of pursuit. And never have we been able to put these two together in any way so that we could get really good people that the government needs in critical situations and the whole society needs in critical situations ... [we're showing that] you can not only learn a language, you can use a language [in a way] that really has an effect.
Not only does this group actually do good, but it sets a model for Americans, because all of our research says that Americans believe that language is too hard to learn, it takes too long to learn. Look around. You are seeing people who didn’t think it was too hard and are really good at language and can really do some good with language.

About the chance to serve

The fact that you can speak to that [a non-English-speaking] community and understand both sides … I find that satisfying.
It's a chance to use my skills for the greater good. If there's a need outhere that I can help meet, that I can help foster intercultural communication be it in a crisis or be it in some other type of mode, then that's very powerful and very appealing.
What's in it for me is working with a really exciting organization that has a great message, a great mission and being a part of something bigger that has great things on the horizon. What's in it for me is the opporutnityh to use my language skills to helkp people. Language is a muscle. if you don't use it, you lose it … so the opportunity to practice my lanaugae and put it to good use is really a rewarding opportunity.
… Hopefully I can be of service and of help when need be for facilitating understanding between Marshallese and English speakers and … I enjoy meeting people.
I hope that I'll be called on and am able to help whatever the circumstances may be, wherever it may be.
I've been given a great opportunity in learning Indonesian at the University of Hawaii but also in Indonesia, and the oppportunity to give back is a heck of a reward.
Not just doing the translation but translation and cultural communication for me is really interesting.

I speak English and Swahili and other tribal languages so it's good to put your talent for languages to bring people together.
Language people get so hooked, not only on the language, but on the culture and the people, and generate so much enthusiasm … for the first time in their careers, they're actually putting it to use. They say "I've spend 30 years studying this language, and now it can do some good", and that's exactly why we're here.
I'm usually looking for people around the office and contacts I have, to say "here's a really great thing to do with your spare time … If you know anyone who is retired or is staying at home and really want to help people in their community with their language skills”, I'll write down the web site and give it to them.

Comments from our staff after spending time with these Members:

We didn't know when we recruited most of the folks we recruited them sight-unseen and we've been very pleased with the quality of the invidiauls, the attitute of the inviduals. Evey one that joins the [NLSC] joins with the perspective of service, and it makes a big difference.T
The enthusiasm of the people in our program is way more than we expected.
I got involved with the NLSC because I was interested in service, and in the past I've volunteered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Make A Wish Foundation and Americorps. And when I came upon the NLSC I thought it would be a great opporunity to be involved with a service program.
[The NLSC] is a realization that we have 45 million people in this country who don't speak english as a primary language in their homes. It’s an acknowledgement that there's a vast reservoir of talent, skill and resources among all cultures … resident in the United States so [the NLSC] is an opportunity for Americans to leverage that resource among ourselves to communicate more effectively throughout the world and amongst ourselves.
It blows me away the willingness of people to volunteer and help each other out. People are just amazing that they're willing to help each other in a time of crisis.

Photos from our June 8/9 event in DC

2009-06-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Scenes from our June 8 & 9 rendezvous in Washington, DC with several Charter Members.

LinkedIn groups for translators and interpreters

2009-06-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

In case you are or want to be a professional translator or interpreter and you are a LinkedIn user, you might find this blog entry about translating/interpreting groups of interest. And don't forget that the NLSC has its own LinkedIn Group that is open to all.

We're making a video

2009-05-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

We've begun making a short video about the NLSC. It'll be less a documentary of detail, more an attempt to capture the tone of what the NLSC is to be. Yesterday we brought in several of our members who live near our Arlington, VA offices to be interviewed on-camera. Here are some pictures from the day.<

NLSC: Driving the definition of standards for language proficiency tests

2009-05-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

We expect that, when we conclude our pilot phase and become a live organization, NLSC membership will grow rapidly, to anywhere between 16,000 and 30,000 volunteers. And we will need to certify every one, to make sure they have sufficient language skills to meet the needs of the agencies we will be serving.

This presents two challenges: language testing capacity and language tests of consistent quality.

If we re-certify a person’s language skills every three years, that would mean we would be conducting at least 5,000 tests per year (assuming only 16,000 members), and that doesn’t include certifying new members who come on board. Challenge #1: Current government and private sector resources cannot handle that additional load, so what are our options?

In addition, the Department of Defense currently has tests for reading, listening and speaking for about 15 languages. According to the U.S. Census, there are over 500 languages spoken in this country. That leaves "only" 460 languages without tests. Challenge #2: Who develops these tests and how can we ensure that they are consistently good tests?

Enter ASTM International. ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, similar to Underwriters Laboratories. Originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, the ASTM was formed over a century ago, when a group of engineers and scientists got together to address the need for standards in the rail industry. It has long since expanded to cover hundreds of product and service standards.

ASTM’s role is to facilitate standards, not enforce them and not to certify anything. Those tasks are left up to the industries that embrace the standards.

We began realizing the need for standards in November 2007, during the organizational phase of the NLSC when we were trying to define our language certification plan. The NLSC worked with the ASTM to launch a subcommittee to specifically address Foreign Language Proficiency. Dr. Bill Rivers, our Chief Linguist, chairs the committee. Our goal is to define standards for language proficiency tests … measurable standards that can be incorporated into contracts awarded to companies to create tests.

The subcommittee got rolling in December 2008. Those involved include 25 to 30 individuals from government agencies that need individuals with language skill, and companies that are involved in language testing. In other words, the people involved have a vested interest in the outcome. Dr. Rivers expects draft standards to be ready by the end of this summer. He noted that the process has been remarkably smooth, compared with another ASTM committee he was involved with that took six years.

Standards will make sure that the NLSC does not create bottlenecks in the existing government agencies that test language skills. Why? Because we will be able to test skills ourselves (or outsource that task) and we will be able to contract out the creation of tests for additional languages to any company willing to commit to those standards.

And standards will not only benefit the NLSC. They will be a great help to the entire language industry. If a test meets the benchmarks, any agency adopting those standards can reliably use that test.

Don't trust those translation programs just yet

2009-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Funny name for a restaurant ... the world obviously still needs people to translate and interpret!

NLSC May events

2009-05-14T07:28:00.001-07:00

Our recruiters will be at the following events in May. If you're in the neighborhood, come on by and visit us!

May 16 - The Asian American Heritage Festival in Washington, DC, on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 6th Streets NW. Event details here.
May 23 - RMI (Marshallese) Constitution Day in Springfield, AR
May 31 - Heritage India Festival at the Dulles Expo & Conference Center, Chantilly, VA
The greater Washington area's premier South Asian festival is back, and the National Language Service Corps will be there! Come join us and thousands of your closest friends at the award-winning Star Heritage India Festival and enjoy the sights, sounds, fragrances and tastes of the best of South Asia, all under one roof! Event details here.

On Training

2009-05-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

We want our Charter Members to succeed when they are sent on a task. We offer on-line training tailored to that task. The first activity was an excercise with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. We send three Members, one Russian speaker, one Mandarin speaker and one Marshallese speaker, to help the CDC with its non-English web pages. Training for this included an intro to the CDC as well as basics like security and proper conduct.

Our next major task is to send three Indonesian speakers to participate in Operation Garuda Shield in Indonesia, a military and humanitarian co-ordination exercise with the US Pacific Command and the United Nations.

Since our civilian Members will be working, eating and housed with military staff, we need to make sure that they become familiar with the military culture. So we're creating a course that will explain military traditions, courtesy and etiquette, how to identify someone's rank, and how to adjust to communal military living. All of this is important as we want our Members to have credibility ... We civilians might not recognize that a soldier and a marine are not the same thing, likewise for a ship and a boat, but if we're going to work alongside members of our armed forces, getting these little things right can make a big difference in our success.

At the National Chinese Language Conference

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, we joined the College Board's National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago. Around 1,000 Mandarin speakers and teachers, as well as school administrators, attended. NLSC recruiter Bridget Baker and I staffed our table, and NLSC Chief Linguist Dr. Bill Rivers spoke in a breakout session.

Our table was a in a great location. It would have been difficult for any attendee to visit the exhibitor's hall and not at least see us. We had neighbors on one side of us, and they couldn't be nicer. It turns out that this is one of the first vendors of Mandarin Chinese educational materials. Both exhibitors - the owner and a freelance writer - filled out application to join us!

One nice feature of the conference was that the exhibit hall closed during major presentations, so exhibitors could attend as well.

Dr. Rivers spoke on the topic "Foreign Language Skills in the 21st Century: What’s Next?" He talked about the importance of foreign language skills and cultural knowledge as we move away from the events of 9/11. The discussion included the potential of the NLSC, new Federal programs, and trends in industry and social services. He must have done well because after he spoke, several visitors to our table mentioned that they came by because of his presentation.

Time well spent at the NCOLCTL/ALTA conference

2009-04-27T05:38:00.001-07:00

Last week, four of us attended the annual conference of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL) and the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) in Madison, Wisconsin. NCOLCTL's membership includes speakers of several of the languages we're recruiting for, including Swahili, Somali, Hausa, Indonesian and Thai.

The conference had about 300 attendees. A nice size ... as the conference progressed, all the faces became familiar and folks we spoke with would stop by to say "hi" and talk with us some more. Our table was directly behind the conference registration table, and we saw many happy reunions ... clearly this is a close group.

NLSC recruiter Bridget Baker and I were at our recruiting table. We met the Executive Director, Antonia Schleicher, a woman who brings a huge smile with her wherever she goes. Another Bill, our Chief Linguist Dr. Bill Rivers, has been involved with NCOLCTL so he already knew her, and was in the perfect position to introduce us to other attendees.

We had the pleasant surprise of meeting three attendees who are also among NLSC's Charter Members. It's nice that we've reached a point where we and Members can bump into each other at events like this. Linda, who works with Bill, speaks Swahili and was thrilled to have a chance to not only speak with others in Swahili, but to attend conference sessions conducted in Swahili.

Bill Rivers spoke in one of the conference sessions on US Language Policy Attitudes: 2000-2008. Despite the policy controversies about the English-only movement, bilingual education, the growing numbers of Americans who speak minimal English, and language and national security, there have been only sporadic studies of the state of representative public opinion on these issues. Bill discussed this study, which compares data from two surveys. (He co-authored the research with John Robinson, University of Maryland and Paul Harwood, University of North Florida.)

This week, it's on to the National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago..

Get your NLSC wallpaper!

2009-04-16T10:31:00.001-07:00

Show your enthusiasm for the NLSC! We're pleased to roll out our new free NLSC wallpapers for your personal computer. We have six different styles. Click here to download one!

Making contacts in Los Angeles

2009-04-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

While we were in LA recently, we made a point to reach out to some local contacts and organizations.

We met with Mobin Khan, a Hindi-speaking NLSC Member. He informed us that there are large Hindi-speaking populations in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, so we should look into Indian community events in those places. He added that he would let us know when he hears about any upcoming Hindi festivals. He mentioned that it would be great to have some Hindi-speaking NLSC Members at those events. So thanks to everyone we met!

We also met with Susan Choi, the Program Manager for PALS for Health, an organization that provides interpreters for healthcare patients with limited English skills. After we explained the NLSC’s mission and objectives, she offered to assist us in a number of ways, including

posting a blurb about the NLSC on the PALS for Health website

publishing an article about the NLSC in the newsletter for the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) and posting a listing on the CHIA jobs website inviting members to apply

sending our recruitment email and/or e-brochures to the PALS for Health listserv

distributing our Mandarin, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian print brochures at the various events that she attends

sending us contacts for other groups that she believes would be willing and able to assist us in our recruitment efforts

Next we met with the board of the South Bay Vietnamese Cultural Center (SBVCC), who were very interested in our cause. They provided some great leads for marketing and outreach, such as the local Vietnamese radio and TV stations that broadcast to the Southern California Vietnamese community. They also recommended that we contact the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California (UVSA). It turns out the UVSA has a big annual event that we just missed this year, but the NLSC should definitely look into attending next year.

In addition to giving us leads, the SBVCC board offered to email their listserv on our behalf, and we provided them with a large amount of our Vietnamese print brochures, which they plan to mail to their members and hand out at their church. We also met with Hamid Khan, Executive Director, and Ranjeeta Chhetry of South Asian Network (SAN). This meeting was very important because we learned about the challenges that we may face in working with some community/non-profit organizations. SAN does a lot of work promoting basic rights (immigration, public health, violence prevention, hate crime / discrimination and civil liberties) for the Indian community in the LA area. Ms. Chhetry said that she would be happy to distribute our Hindi-language brochures at a Town Hall event being held on April 15th. They also provided the names of a couple of newspapers that reach the Southern California Hindi Community (India Journal and India Post).

In Los Angeles for the Thai New Year festival

2009-04-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Four of our team were in Los Angeles to promote the NLSC at the 6th Annual Thai New Year Songkran Festival on Hollywood Boulevard. We set up a booth near one of the stages, spoke with many people, distributed brochures and business cards. At one point, Ben Komenkul, President of the Thai Association of Southern California, and NLSC staff got up on one of the stages to announce the NLSC and invite everyone to visit our booth, in English AND Thai, which was very cool.

Mr. Komenkul is undoubtedly one of the best connected community leaders in Thai Town, and is very excited about our organizations. He referred us to some Thai newspapers (Asia Pacific, Serechai, Siam Media, Thai LA, Khaosod, and Thai Town) and provided us with some valuable feedback about our application and our Thai print brochure.

As a bonus ... the event was held near LA's Little Armenia, so quite a few Russian speakers came by. Staffer Bonnie surprised them by speaking to them in Russian, and several filled out our contact cards.

CDC Exercise complete

2009-03-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

We've successfully completed our first exercise with some Charter Members. Tanya Clark, a Russian speaker, Carol Curtis, a Marshallese speaker, and John Wu, a Mandarin speaker, each spent a week with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Tanya served from February 23-27, Carol from March 2-6 and John from March 9-13. At the end of each week, they traveled to the NLSC offices in Arlington, VA to give us feedback on their experiences. This was our first exercise, after all. The feedback was all good.

Our three members participated in a pandemic flu exercise, and helped the CDC with the content on the organization's non-English web pages. The CDC was quite happy with the work, particularly because our members went beyond just offering translation assistance to offer cultural insights that will make a difference.

Below, Tanya with the NLSC's Bill Castan, Carol sharing feedback with the NLSC's Wanda Penn, and John (center) with the NLSC team.