Translation: man vs. the machine
Aug 20
New technologies, particularly the internet, have been both a blessing and curse for the translator. On the up side, translators can now work with clients all over the world, communicating with them using email and mobile devices to deliver quality translations fast.
On the other hand, and especially in a time of economic recession, potential clients might think, “What do I need a translator for? I can just run my text through an online machine translator, right?”
Not really.
Machine translation software can be useful if you need to get a quick overview of the meaning of something written in another language. However, a translation made by a machine will always appear to be what it is – a translation. Native speakers of the target language (the language the original text, or “source text”, is translated into) will always be able to tell that what they’re reading or listening to was originally in another language, if they can understand it at all.
If you really want to speak to your audience in their language and ensure that they fully understand your message, then using a qualified, experienced and human translator is currently the only solution.
Route 66 Idiomas takes advantage of the best of new technologies in providing its translation services, communicating with the client in the way that is the most convenient for them, whether that be by phone, email or messenger. Route 66 Language School works with a network of professional translators to supply clients with high quality translations of all kinds of texts and projects for many language combinations (including sworn translations or “traducciones juradas”).
Communication and collaboration with the client is also important to ensure that their input contributes towards making the final translation as accurate as possible, faithfully reproducing the original meaning of the source text in the target language.
Welcome Erasmus and Socrates students!
Aug 16
Are you coming to Valencia soon to start an Erasmus or Socrates placement in September?
Like all successful Erasmus / Socrates students, we’re sure you’re looking forward to immersing yourself in local culture.
It’s a good idea to come to Valencia a little before University classes start so you have time to explore and make yourself feel at home. This is also the perfect time to focus on improving your Spanish.
Route 66 Idiomas Language School offers intensive Spanish courses with native-speaking teachers that will improve or refresh your Spanish quickly. This will give you an invaluable head-start before you’re busy with timetables, book lists and lectures.
Improving your language skills before your first lectures in Spanish will also help take the stress out of your first few weeks in a new city and University.
The right place for you!
Route 66 Idiomas Language School is located right in the centre of Valencia, within easy reach of all the Valencia University campuses. We’re also fully accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.
Make sure you get the most out of your Erasmus or Socrates placement in Valencia. Contact the friendly team at Route 66 Idiomas today to find out more about how we can help you.
La Tomatina, 25 August
Aug 16
The Tomatina is one of the Valencia region’s most well-known events.
Every last Wednesday in August, many thousands of people come from all over Spain (and increasingly from all over the world) to the town of Buñol for this huge tomato fight.
The battle commences at high noon and lasts for an hour. During this time tens of tonnes of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the town’s streets, where canny shop and home owners protect the fronts of their buildings with huge sheets of plastic.
The history of the Tomatina goes back to 1945, when a random fight between local festival goers happened to involve tomatoes. Over the years this confrontation became organised and now it is the main event of Buñol’s annual festivities.
You can travel from Valencia to the Tomatina by train. Make sure you wear clothes you’ll probably never be able to wear again. Swimming goggles and earplugs are good idea too. Route 66 Idiomas language school are organising a group trip. If you’d like to go, sign up in the office!
Parlem en valencià, naturalment!
Aug 9
Bo, no és tan natural per a molts de vosaltres, però amb una mica d’interés i molt de gust, pot ser una altra llengua que fer servir o, fins i tot, amb la qual omplir encara més una de les categories del vostre currículum.
En valencià la paella té més gust, l’all-i-pebre també, i alguns pobles de la regió són encara més bonics. I amb un diploma de la Junta Qualificadora de Coneixements de Valencià, un treball públic està més a prop, perquè cal estar en possessió d’un nivell C1 (el mitjà) per a optar-hi. I sobretot si vole exercir com a mestres o professors del sistema educatiu públic: cal haver superat aqueix examen.
No és tan difícil, ni tan horrible, com molts pensen. Si ho fóra, què faria un càntabre com jo contant-vos tot açò, tan orgullós de saber parlar valencià, de fer-lo contínuament, cada dia, i de fins i tot fer classe en aquesta llengua? Si jo he pogut, ningú no hauria de defensar-se dient que “No es para mí, es que yo soy de fuera y…”.
A més a més, saber valencià m’ha ajudat a llegir les novel·les del Ferran Torrent, del Quim Monzó, de l’Empar Moliner o la Rodoreda en versió original, a entendre les cançons dels Sopa de Cabra o dels Antònia Font, de la Maria del Mar Bonet o del Serrat.
Traure el mitjà (o l’elemental, o el nivell oral, o el superior) és qüestió de bona cosa d’interés i, per què no, d’un curset de valencià. A Route 66 Idiomas en fem molts, d’intensius i de durant tot l’any. Els intensius que comencen a setembre poden ajudar-vos a fer amb molt d’èxit els exàmens del novembre per a l’obtenció dels títols. Us hi atreviu? Doncs poseu fil a l’agulla i endavant les atxes!
Consulteu-nos! El setembre ja arriba!
