Important dates for your diary - May
1, Beltane, Wicca and Pagan
Beltane is the ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of summer and the rebirth of life – an important event in the agrarian year! The first mention of it is in a glossary thought to have been written by a bishop named Cormac, who died in 908 AD. This described cattle being led between two bonfires, to protect them from disease before they were sent out to pasture. This tradition was still being observed in Ireland as late as the 19th century, and today Beltane is still celebrated with the lighting of fires.
5-11, Deaf Awareness Week
Deaf Awareness Week was created by the UK Council on Deafness to make deafness and the barriers Deaf and hard of hearing people face more visible to hearing people. The theme for Deaf Awareness Week 2025 is Beyond Silence, encouraging better understanding of diverse communication methods, such as sign language, lip reading and assistive technology. It also aims to raise awareness of the barriers faced by Deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.
May’s dates at a glance:
Religious/cultural
1 – Beltane, Wicca and Pagan
1 – Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Judaism
1 – Twelfth Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
3 – Feast of Saints Philip and James, Catholic Christian
11 – Guru Amar Das Jayanti, Sikh
12 – Vesak, Buddhist
14 – Feast of Saint Matthias, Catholic Christian
16 – Lag Baomer, Judaism
23 – Declaration of the Báb, Baha’i
26 – Yom Yerushalayim, Judaism
28 – Ascension of Baha‘U’llah, Baha’i
29 – Feast of the Ascension, Orthodox Christian
31 – Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic Christian
Awareness and Events
1 – International Workers’ Day
4 – International Family Equality Day
5-11 – Deaf Awareness Week
8 – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
12-18 – Coeliac UK Awareness Week
Language fact file - Dutch
Language fact file: Dutch
Dutch is spoken as a native language in: The Netherlands, northern Belgium and Suriname.
Number of native speakers: 25 million
Learn some: English is very widely spoken in the Netherlands, but if you want to be polite, you can ask ‘spreek je Engels?’, which means ‘do you speak English?’
Fast facts:
Dutch is said to be halfway between German and English, making it easy - in theory - for English speakers to learn. However, pronunciation is notoriously difficult!
Like German, Dutch uses a lot of compound nouns – words that are created by lumping lots of nouns together! The longest one in the official Dutch dictionary is said to be meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornissen, which means multiple personality disorders. However in 2007, a Dutch TV show called Lingo held a competition to see who could come up with the longest word and the winning entry was kindercarnavalsoptochtvoorbereidingswerkzaamhedencomitéleden, meaning ‘children’s carnival parade preparation work committee members’! Useful.
Dutch people call their language Nederlands and the German language Duits. The words Dutch, Duits and Deutsch (the German word for German) all come from an old Germanic word meaning the language of the people.
The TLS Employee’s Story (April)
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month however, we are introducing one of our TLS team: Lydia Smith, product manager.
How long have you been working for TLS?
I’ve been working at TLS for five and a half years, having joined as a graduate in late 2019. It’s been a varied and rewarding journey so far.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I’m currently a product manager, focused on improving and developing our systems and app to enhance the user experience. My role involves gathering feedback from users and internal teams, shaping that into new features or optimisations, and working with our developers to deliver them.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across different areas of the business. I started in the MOJ team, then moved into tenders and commercial work, and later became delivery manager in the Language Examinations Team. That role sparked my interest in using technology to solve problems, which ultimately led me to product management.
What’s been your favourite project at TLS?
Working on the assessment management system for the Exams Team. It’s been a great opportunity to combine my current role with the experience I gained in that team previously. The project covers the full assessment lifecycle, from candidates submitting their responses through to assessor marking and feedback, which makes it both complex and rewarding to work on.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Supporting the transition to our new platform and app, as well as supporting all our users through the change. It was the first time TLS had developed an app, and the project involved many moving parts across different teams. It’s been a significant piece of work, but also a really rewarding one; seeing the positive impact on the user experience and how much easier it’s made managing bookings for customers, interpreters, and our team has made it all worthwhile. I’m continuing to enjoy building on it and making further improvements.
Tell us something interesting about you
I’ve got a real soft spot for animals. I love them to bits (except maybe snakes and wasps… they’re just a bit too unpredictable for my liking!). I’ve been surrounded by animals my whole life. My family have always had dogs, and we currently have a very spoilt Golden Retriever and Spaniel.
I’m also a huge Swiftie and a massive foodie. I love trying new dishes and exploring food from different cultures—especially when travelling.
Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation shows we are keeping data safe
We’re proud to announce that TLS has achieved Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to data security and best practices in cybersecurity.
Cyber Essentials Plus is a government-backed certification that goes beyond the basic requirements by including a rigorous hands-on technical verification. It demonstrates that our systems and processes not only meet but exceed industry standards for safeguarding against the most common cyber threats.
For our clients and partners, this accreditation offers added reassurance: your data is protected by robust, independently verified security measures. It reflects our proactive approach to risk management and our dedication to maintaining the highest levels of trust and compliance.
If you have any questions about Cyber Essentials Plus, please speak to your account manager.
your month ahead - April
14, Vaisakhi, Sikh
Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates of the calendar for Sikhs, marking the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. Sikhs observe the day by visiting their gurdwara and singing devotional hymns. Vaisakhi is also a spring harvest festival; this aspect is celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus, particularly in Punjab and the north of India. These festivities take the form of village fairs with music and decorated floats.
18-21, Easter Weekend, Christian
Easter weekend is a very significant holiday for Christians, remembering the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It covers four days: Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and is a sombre day of reflection; Holy Saturday is another day of reflection and preparation for the following day; Easter Sunday marks Jesus’s resurrection and is celebrated with long church services and family meals; Easter Monday is a public holiday without any specific religious significance, other than to relax and reflect. Easter is also celebrated by non-Christians as a festival of spring, with chocolate eggs representing new life.
April dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
April dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
4 – Navpad Oli begins, Jain
6 – Rama Navami, Hindu
10 – Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, Jain
12 – Hanuman Jayanti, Hindu
12 – Lazarus Saturday, Orthodox Christian
13 – Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christian
13 – Songkran (Thai New Year), Buddhism
13-15 – Theravada New Year, Buddhism
13-20 – Passover, Judaism
14 – Puthandu, Hindu
14 – Vaisakhi, Hindu and Sikh
17 – Maundy Thursday, Christian
18 – Holy Friday, Orthodox Christian
18 – Guru Tegh Bahadur Jayanti, Sikh
18 – Good Friday, Christian
20 – Easter Sunday, Christian
20 – Pascha (Easter), Orthodox Christian
20 – First Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
20 – Guru Arjun Dev Jayanti, Sikh
21 – Easter Monday, Christian
21 – Grounation Day, Rastafari
23 – Saint George’s Day, Christian
24 – Yom Hashoah, Judaism
25 – Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Catholic Christian
28 – Ninth Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
28 – Guru Angad Dev Jayanti, Sikh
30 – Saint James the Great’s Day, Orthodox Christian
30 – Akshaya Tritiya, Hindu and Jain
30 – Yom Hazikaron, Judaism
Awareness and Events
1 – Fools’ Day
2 – World Autism Awareness Day
6 – International Asexuality Day
7 – World Health Day
8 – International Romani Day
11-13 – TUC's Black Workers' Conference
22 – Earth Day
25 – World Malaria Day
26 – Lesbian Visibility Day
28 – World Day for Health and Safety At Work
Language fact file: Mandarin
Mandarin is spoken in: Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore
Number of native speakers: 918 million
Learn some: In Mandarin, the standard way to ask ‘how are you?’ is ‘ni hao ma?’ (你好吗?) But a more colloquial and Chinese way to ask is ‘ni chi le ma?’ (你吃了吗?), which literally means ‘have you eaten?’ and shows the importance of food to Chinese culture!
Fast facts:
Mandarin is tonal, which means the way you express a sound (high, rising, dip and falling) affects its meaning. There are four tones, plus a neutral one, so for learners there is a lot of potential for (sometimes embarrassing) mistakes!
Mandarin has lots of different names, which have various meanings. One of these is Putonghua, which means ‘common tongue’. This is used to highlight the existence of the many other Chinese languages and dialects, besides the standard.
We have several expressions taken directly from the Mandarin, such as ‘long time no see’ and ‘no can do’. These show how succinct and concise the language is; expressing yourself in Mandarin takes far fewer words than in English!
linguist's story - March '25
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, meet Qiufu Wang, an interpreter and examiner, working in Mandarin.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I work for TLS as a Mandarin interpreter, Mandarin examiner, and do exam paper creation and piloting for the examination team.
What's been your favourite project?
My favourite project has been exam paper creation. It involved lots of research, creative thinking and creative approaches to achieve tasks. I've learned a lot and developed new skills.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge is probably when I was interpreting some mental health sessions, when clients talked about the unbelievable and horrible things that happened to them when they were young. As a mother, I usually get very emotional afterwards.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
I'm proud of what I do as a professional interpreter and examiner, because I make a difference to someone's life each day. One typical case is a lady whom I interpreted for with her weekly mental health sessions, face to face. She was very depressed, unhappy and had suicidal thoughts. She was frustrated trying to express herself because of her limited English. She was very worried about being fired at work because she was often misunderstood. Through my professional interpreting, careful wording and accurate interpreting, she began to trust me after the first session. She then asked for me for the rest of her sessions. Eventually after a couple of months' sessions, she was happy and gained confidence. I feel I made a difference to someone's life.
Tell us something interesting about you
I'm a Chinese woman who's been living in the UK for more than 20 years. As a linguist, I'm always fascinated to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. I enjoy travelling around the world, especially small places that are not popular with tourists, to experience the local culture and people.
your month ahead - March
1 Mar - Ramadan begins, Islam
The Holy Month of Ramadan celebrates the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an, being revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. Observant Muslims (excepting children under 14, the elderly and those who are pregnant, menstruating or travelling) will fast from dawn to dusk and engage in more prayer and charitable giving than usual.
3 Mar - World Hearing Day
The World Health Organization’s is an annual event, raising awareness of deafness prevention and promoting ear and hearing care. The theme for 2025 is Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself. This encourages us all to learn about looking after our hearing and reducing harmful behaviours.
March dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – St David’s Day, Christian
1 – Nineteen-Day Fast begins, Baha’i
1 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
1 – Ramadan begins, Islam
2 – Cheesefare Sunday, Orthodox Christian
3 – Great Lent begins, Orthodox Christian
3 – Shrove Monday, Christian
4 – Shrove Tuesday, Christian
5 – Ash Wednesday, Christian
8 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
9 – Feast of Orthodoxy, Orthodox Christian
13 – Holika Dahan, Hindu
14 – Nanakshahi (New Year), Sikh
14 – Purim, Judaism
14 - 16 – Hola Mohalla Sikh
15 – Holi, Hindu
17 – St Patrick’s Day, Christian
19 – Feast of Saint Joseph, Christian
20 – Ostara, Wicca and Pagan
20 – Nowruz (New Year), Persian and Zoroastrian
20 – Naw-Rúz, Bahá’í
25 – Annunciation to the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
25 – Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Christian
26 – Khordad Sal, Zoroastrian
26 – Laylat Al-Qadr, Islam
30 – Chaitra Navratri begins, Hindu
30 – Ugadi (New Year), Hindu
31 – Eid Al-Fitr, Islam
Awareness and Events
1 – Zero Discrimination Day
1 – Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD)
1 – International Wheelchair Day
3 – World Hearing Day
5-7 – TUC's Women's Conference
8 – International Women’s Day
17 - 23 – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
20 – Spring Equinox
20 – International Day of Happiness
21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 – World Down Syndrome Day
24 – World Tuberculosis (TB) Day
25 – International Day of Remembrance of The Victims of Slavery and The Transatlantic Slave Trade
30 – Mother’s Day
30 – World Bipolar Day
31 – International Trans Day of Visibility
31 Mar - 6 Apr – World Autism Acceptance Week
language fact file: Albanian
Albanian is mainly spoken in: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
Number of native speakers: 7.5 million
Learn some: Here’s something we can all master: In Albania, you can express thanks by placing your hand on your chest.
Fast facts:
More Albanian speakers live outside Albania than inside. This is because the country has an uncommonly large diaspora.
The Albanian alphabet is unique. It has 36 letters and words are written exactly as they are pronounced, which is very helpful if you are learning it!
If you are stubborn, in Albania they might say your head is full of garlic. This is an idiom that is thought to derive from the strength and toughness of garlic, which is a deeply rooted theme in Balkan tradition.
Linguist story - February
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, meet Dorina Ndreu, an interpreter working in Albanian.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I interpret for the Albanian community for a variety of services. My role as an interpreter is bridging communication between the professional and the client. Whether is in a medical, social or legal setting, I must ensure people understand and are understood. This could be hospitals, GP practices, schools, workplaces and conferences, which can be face to face but also from the comfort of my own home.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
To be honest it is just interpreting for the Albanian community - it’s difficult to choose which is my favourite project as I love my job very much. It’s seeing my community happy, being able to explain and express what they want despite their difficulties in communication.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge is travelling into the city when having face to face assignments is that sometimes you are stuck in traffic.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
I have made a big difference to a client who is blind and the mother of five children. All the social workers she has had, as well as the current one, try to book me whenever we can arrange the time, especially when she has conferences and parents’ meetings. This makes me feel not only proud of myself but spiritually fulfilled that my everyday job makes such a difference.
Tell us something interesting about you
Since I was a child I have been a very sociable person. I studied grammar and literature in Albania alongside the English language, which I loved more than my French, which I cannot make any sentences in anymore – haha!
I find myself really happy with my job as an interpreter, compared to what I did in my past. In my long-term future I would like to see myself working as a social worker to be able to help my community more.