On the calendar - October
On the calendar
18 – World Menopause Day
Falling every year on 18 October, the International Menopause Society holds World Menopause Day to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. The theme for World Menopause Day 2025 is Lifestyle Medicine, promoting the benefits of healthy living and eating to easing menopausal symptoms.
21 – Diwali, Hindu, Jain and Sikh
Diwali lasts for five days, from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness, and is celebrated all over the world with firework displays, and in India with lighting of diwa lamps and decorations at home, including rangoli patterns.
October’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
2 – Feast of the Guardian Angels, Catholic Christian
Dussehra, Hindu
Yom Kippur, Judaism
4 – Feast of St Francis of Assisi, Christian
7-13 – Sukkot, Judaism
8 – Guru Ram Das Jayanti, Sikh
14 – Shemini Atzeret, Judaism
15 – Simchat Torah, Judaism
18 – Feast of Saint Luke, Christian
20 – Installation of the Guru Granth, Sikh
21 – Bandi Chhor Divas, Sikh
Diwali, Hindu, Sikh and Jain
22 – Birth of the Báb, Baha’i
23 – Birth of Baha’u’llah, Baha’i
27 – Chhath Puja, Hindu
28 – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Christian
31 – All Hallows’ Eve, Christian
Reformation Day, Protestant Christian
Awareness and Events
1 – Anniversary of the Introduction of the Equality Act
International Day of Older Persons
5 – World Teachers’ Day
6 – World Cerebral Palsy Day
9 – World Sight Day
10 – World Mental Health Day
11 – International Day of the Girl Child
National Coming Out Day
15 – International Day of Rural Women
International Pronouns Day
17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Show Racism the Red Card’s Wear Red Day
18 – Anti-Slavery Day
World Menopause Day
26 – Intersex Awareness Day
29 - World Stroke Day
Language fact file: Korean
Korean is spoken as an official language in: North Korea, South Korea
Number of native speakers: 81 million
Learn some: Get someone’s attention politely by saying 실례합니다 (pronounced ‘sillyehamnida’), which means ‘excuse me’. You might need to follow up with: 영어 할 수 있어요? (yeongeo hal su isseoyo?), which means ‘do you speak English?’
Fast facts:
Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is one of the youngest in the world. It was designed in the 15th century to reduce illiteracy; the previous script was based on Chinese characters and was very difficult to learn.
Hangul’s characters are designed in the shape of a tongue and teeth, helping readers to pronounce the words even if they haven’t heard them before.
In contrast with English speakers, Korean speakers tend to use plural pronouns – ie we and us – much more often than the singular – ie I and me. This reflects the more communal and less individualistic culture, where emphasis is on the collective rather than the person.
The Linguist’s Story
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, we introduce you to Kyung Hee Seo, an interpreter working in Korean.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I have been working as an interpreter for The Language Shop since 2019, and it has been a wonderful experience to spend my time doing something I truly love. Being able to use my skills gives me a genuine sense of purpose.
I cannot believe that it has been 6 years now.
Now being interviewed for the newsletter is an immense privilege.
Looking back, from the timid person that I was, to now growing into someone that I had never imagined makes me want to keep reaching higher.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
The long sessions I had in Tooting St George's hospital, interpreting for an hour and a half regularly for months for a refugee client, left an indelible mark on my perception of mental health treatment. It was then I realised the beauty of talking therapy.
What has been your biggest challenge?
I would say that initially maintaining the motivation to work independently, having the responsibility to improve linguistic skills, service users cancelling or not turning up, and irregularity of work times, are real challenges.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I volunteer my time to teach and help people improve their lives by becoming more spiritually aware. These services are provided through an organisation to which I devote a large part of my free time. I have also expanded my interests into therapeutic courses in recent years.
In my spare time, I listen to some Korean music, like Day6 and Woodz, and do exercises with it. I also give myself positive affirmations and mention at least five things to be grateful for each day.
TLS now Cyber Essentials Plus certified to keep us all safer
Cyber attacks are an ever-growing risk to businesses and individuals, threatening data security and business continuity. At TLS we work hard to ensure that our defences are robust and up to date, and have previously achieved Cyber Essentials accreditation.
We are delighted to have now received Cyber Essentials Plus, an enhanced UK government-backed certification, demonstrating that we are protecting ourselves against common online threats.
What does this mean for you?
- Data security and confidentiality for your client information (such as translations, transcripts, or interpreting records).
- Trust and reassurance that we are adhering to the high standards needed to keep content and personal data safe.
- Reduced risk of disruption to our day to day functions from cyber interference.
TLS Intro – an A-Z to our services
Hot off the presses this month is our brand new info pack for our customers; a one stop guide that will take you through who we are, what we do and how you can get the best from our services.
Whether you’re new to TLS or you’ve been with us for a while, it can be an induction or a handy reference, walking you through every step of the booking process, from deciding whether you need an interpreter right through to a how-to on our booking system.
For your copy, please contact your account manager.
Language fact file: Pashto
Pashto is spoken as a native language in: Afghanistan, Pakistan
Number of native speakers: 45-55 million (according to UNESCO – official statistics can vary)
Learn some: Impress native speakers you are introduced to by saying ‘خوښال شوم په ليدو دی’ (khushala shum pa li do di), which means ‘pleased to meet you’.
Fast facts:
Pashto has a very rich tradition of oral folk poetry, going back thousands of years. This includes a type of poem called a landay, which is a short, spoken poem created by Pashtun women. These now serve as a record of Afghan women’s everyday lives, passed down through generations.
Although Pashto uses the Arabic script, it is very different and has added some of its own characters. To a non-speaker of either language, they look identical!
The language’s vocabulary and grammatical structures tell the story of the Pashtun people’s contact with other cultures and nations of the ancient world, including varieties of ancient Greek, Saka, Parthian, Persian and some northwestern Indian languages, especially the Prakrits, Balochi, and Sindhi.
Your Month Ahead - September
22 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
Mabon (pronounced ‘may-bun’) marks the Autumn Equinox, when days and nights are of equal length. It is the height of the harvest season, and for Pagans and Wiccans, signifies the start of the God’s slow decline and (symbolic) death at the festival of Samhain. Mabon is celebrated by gathering seasonal produce for a feast, decorating in autumn colours and taking time to pause and prepare for the coming dark months.
27 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
This major festival in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church marks the discovery of what its followers believe was the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is celebrated with the lighting of a large bonfire, processions accompanied by traditional Ethiopian music and decorations, particularly featuring Meskel daisies, which are in flower. During these celebrations, people dress up in colourful clothing, which represents their own church.
September’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – Ecclesiastical Year begins, Orthodox Christian
5 – Mawlid Al-Nabi, Islam
6 – Anant Chaturdashi, Hindu
8 – Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Christian
8 – Nativity of the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
14 – Feast of the Cross, Christian
21 – Feast of Saint Matthew, Christian
22 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
22 – Sharada Navaratri begins, Hindu
23-24 – Rosh Hashanah, Judaism
25 – Fast of Gedaliah, Judaism
27 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
29 – Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Christian
Awareness and Events
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
15 – World Afro Day’s ‘Big Hair Assembly’
18 – International Equal Pay Day
21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
22 – Autumn Equinox
22-28 – UK National Inclusion Week
23 – Bi Visibility Day
23 – International Day of Sign Languages
The Linguist's Story - August
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, we introduce you to Wazhma Naveed, an interpreter working in Pashto.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I work as an interpreter at The Language Shop, where I provide interpreting services for clients in various settings such as medical appointments and business meetings. My role is crucial in facilitating effective communication between individuals who speak different languages.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
My favourite project was interpreting for a social worker who was helping a refugee family navigate the complex process of resettlement in a new country. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to assist in such a meaningful and impactful way, bridging the language barrier and ensuring they received the support they needed.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge is interpreting during crises. During these situations, emotions run high and the pressure to accurately convey information is intense. For example, I had to interpret for a family facing eviction due to a misunderstanding with their landlord. It was challenging to remain calm and focused while translating such sensitive and urgent information. However, I was able to successfully help them negotiate a resolution with their landlord and avoid being displaced from their home. It requires quick thinking and a strong ability to remain calm under stress.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
One particular instance that stands out is when I assisted a non-English-speaking patient at a hospital navigate through their treatment options and understand their diagnosis. It was rewarding to see the relief on their faces when they were able to fully comprehend the information being shared with them. My work not only helped alleviate their anxiety but also empowered them to make informed decisions about their health.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I love gardening and planting flowers. My garden is a display of my creativity and love for nature, and I find it to be a therapeutic escape from the stresses of everyday life. In my garden, I grow a variety of flowers and herbs, experimenting with different colours and scents to create a peaceful and beautiful space. Gardening allows me to connect with nature and unwind after a long day, bringing me a sense of joy and fulfilment.
Do you know about Easy Read translation?
What does this mean? Accessibility covers so many different areas, but at its heart just means considering your entire audience and the various barriers they may face in communicating with you.
Easy Read is a method of taking complex information and re-working it into an accessible, easy-to-understand format. This can help learning disabled service users to live more independently and have more agency in decisions about their lives.
The basic guidelines of Easy Read are:
- Text should be broken down into short sentences
- Images should be selected to represent each sentence of text where possible
- Language should be simplified wherever possible, and any necessary complicated words or terms should be explained
- Text should be in a large font size, minimum 14pt
- Text should be presented on A4 pages where possible, as A5 or smaller are not as accessible
- Text should always be aligned on the right hand side of the page, and images should be aligned on the left-hand side of the page
- Complex or ornate fonts or formatting should be avoided
- Design elements should be kept to a minimum so as not to distract from the information.
TLS awarded Customer Service Excellence Standard certificate
We are delighted to report that we have once again been awarded Customer Service Excellence (CSE) certification.
The CSE standard is an evidence-based accreditation, with particular focus on delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude. The audit also scored us on how we manage customer insight, understand the user’s experience and measure service satisfaction.
Of course, the assessor did not just rely on what we said, but also interviewed some of our customers. This gave real insight to the assessors, and to us.
At TLS we ensure to continue to meet the Customer Service Excellence Standard, and we send warm thanks to all customers who provided feedback on our behalf.