Every year, CSOFT hosts an annual Summit in which we invite our global team of linguists, business development managers, operational experts, clients, and fellow industry experts from around the world to CSOFT’s World Headquarters for a week of learning, sharing, discussion and team-building. It’s an exciting, action-packed week of discussions, presentations, and not a whole lot of sleep!

For CSOFT employees and extended team members, the summit serves two purposes: the first being to further strengthen our bonds as CSOFT members and to remain united in our goals and vision; the second is to better align ourselves with the most recent developments within the industry, in terms of technology, best practices and standards.

As a multinational organization specializing in localization, the effects and importance of understanding different cultural practices during business exchanges hits us twofold! For today’s Straight from the Source, we asked a few members of the CSOFT team to share some insight into cultural differences when doing business in their home country or in a country they have previously worked before.

What are some cultural differences to remember when doing business in another country?

Companies localize their products to make them usable in other markets, and to convey a message to those who would have otherwise had no exposure to it, whether because of a language, cultural, or location-related barrier. In a sense, communication is one of the main reasons why localization is necessary, and why it drives revenue in foreign markets.

At CSOFT, we believe that solid strategies, calculated decisions, and a vision of the future are necessary to securing the maximum return on your localization investment. So for today’s Straight from the Source, we asked four CSOFT team members for insight on strategic communication.

What does strategic communication mean to you, and why is it important?

Guest blog entry by Sophie, Sales Assistant at CSOFT

As members of the localization industry, we talk about translation every day. But how much thought do we really give to languages and the cultures they hail from? I have to admit I’m a bid of a language junky—I already speak three languages and will have started on my fourth one by the time this is posted—but what I find even more interesting than languages is culture. The best way to learn about a culture, other than studying the language, is to immerse oneself in it. I first realized this when I studied in Bahrain last summer.

Last Friday, we announced the expansion of CSOFT’s World Headquarters.  Today’s Straight from the Source will provide you with more details on what various members of the CSOFT family think about the new space. Make sure you read all the way through for some great pictures at the end!

What are your impressions of the new office?

The CSOFT family has some BIG news to share with you all: just last Friday we expanded our headquarters into the Central Business District (CBD), right in the heart of Beijing! Bustling with raw, productive energy, dynamic individuals, and reputable businesses committed to progress, the CBD was the next natural step for CSOFT’s next-generation approach to localization services and cutting-edge language technology.

Powered by a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure, our team is fully equipped to provide our valued clientele with faster and better customer service than ever before. In an effort to share our feelings of excitement, festivity, and exhilaration, here are some photos from the big move posted below for your viewing pleasure:

1. Excitement in the air as work finished for the day. 2. People gathering their belongings into boxes. 3. Taking extra care. 4. Workers outside, ready to begin the process. 5. Boxes. 6. More boxes. 7. Boxes galore. 8. A quiet moment, saying farewell.

Hi everyone! If you were around last week, today’s post is the English translation of Carmen’s response to studying and working in the translation and interpretation sector.  We’re expanding the discussion to give all of our English readers a chance to participate, so don’t forget to let us know what you think!

As I read the article that Eugenia recommended to us last week, it was almost like going back in time. Coincidentally, I also started a degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies in autumn 2005 and could have been one of the students surveyed in Professor Calvo’s study, in which she asked various first year students from different universities in Spain about their choice to study translation and interpretation.

Guest blog entry by Carmen, Translator for EU Spanish at CSOFT

Last week, when we congratulated the Juvenes Translatores winners, commenter and Translation Studies teacher, Eugenia, kindly shared an article about why students in Spain are choosing Translation Studies over others areas of study. Word got around, and the article was passed to Carmen, our fabulous in-house Spanish-English translating fashionista. Realizing how relevant the article was to her own experiences, Carmen decided to share her thoughts on the situation:

Leer el artículo que Eugenia nos recomendó la semana pasada ha sido casi como hacer un viaje en el tiempo. Casualmente, yo también empecé la carrera de Traducción e Interpretación en otoño de 2005 y podría haber sido una de las estudiantes encuestadas en el estudio de la profesora Calvo. Seis años después, ya no me acordaba de lo que era una nota de corte y prácticamente había olvidado también los motivos que me llevaron a escoger la carrera de Traducción e Interpretación en primer lugar. Conforme iba leyendo, todos estos recuerdos han vuelto de golpe. Me identifico por completo con esos estudiantes de primer año que no sabían muy bien lo que querían, pero que se sentían atraídos por la perspectiva de viajar al extranjero, conocer gente de todo el mundo, y que tenían siempre la palabra “ONU” rondándoles la cabeza.

Hi everyone! For those who didn’t know, last Tuesday was China’s official kick-off to the new year, closing up the Year of the Tiger and welcoming the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese New Year period is also known as Spring Festival, which is an interesting and firecrackin’-fantastic time of the year to see family, travel, and relax.

In today’s Straight from the Source we’ll share some stories from various members of the CSOFT family, providing insight into Chinese New Year and different ways to celebrate.

How did you celebrate Chinese New Year?

For today’s Straight from the Source, we went around and asked our colleagues:

What is the hardest part of your job?

We hope you enjoy their answers! Also, feel free to share with everyone else the things that you struggle the most with from nine to five!