Employee's Story - July
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, for a change, we introduce you to one of the TLS team, Peta Moore.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
At TLS I am part of the Ops team who manage the bookings for both spoken languages and non-spoken languages. We also deal with queries over the phone and via email from customers and interpreters. I oversee a lot of the queries and investigate the more complex questions to help maintain great customer service.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge throughout my time at TLS was during COVID: facing the unknown, going through lockdown, battling my own health anxieties whilst making sure service users still had their appointments with their interpreters. It was definitely an eye opener and made me appreciate everything in my personal life and my professional life so much more.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
I see all booking types day in and day out with this job, however the bookings that pull at my humanity the most are the appointments where bad news is being broken. I have gone through that process with my mum when she was battling cancer. Having that appointment in a language you are not too familiar with can be daunting, so knowing that I have helped someone get that devastating information in a language they feel most comfortable in warms my heart.
Tell us something interesting about you.
After learning French and Spanish at school, I did my BSL level 1 through TLS just before COVID. During lockdown I tried my hand at Polish but it didn’t stick. During a difficult time with my mental health I needed an outlet to distract my brain. I’d recently discovered a Finnish rapper Käärijä whose lyrics were all in Finnish. I loved the music but wanted to understand the lyrics, so I started to learn Finnish and fell in love with it. I researched Finnish culture and travelled to Finland last year and ventured round Helsinki. Since then I have also picked Dutch back up (I spoke it vaguely as a child) and this year I threw Korean into the mix.
My band are playing in Holland later this year and I hope to visit South Korea in the next year or two! Three very different languages – but I love every second of learning them!
TLS interpreters received specialist child protection training
In partnership with Hackney Children’s Services Safeguarding and Reviewing Team, we are now facilitating specialist child protection training for interpreters working in this important area. The training, delivered by Hackney’s team, helps interpreters build a clear understanding of the policies and procedures surrounding Initial Child Protection Conferences, Review Child Protection Conferences, and Core Group meetings.
At the end of the training, participants:
- Understand the reason for Child Protection Conferences
- Better understand the processes involved, including referrals/timescales/invites/report deadlines
- To understand the importance of sensitive language and full interpreting during meetings
- Know what happens at an ICPC/RCPC
- Are provided with tips for presenting information (eg subtext-specific language/acronyms that professionals use).
dates for your diary - July
8 Jul-17 Aug, South Asian Heritage Month
This annual event honours and celebrates the impact of South Asian communities and their heritage on life in the UK. This year’s theme is Roots to Routes, looking at each person of South Asian heritage’s personal or family journey to the UK, asking everyone of this heritage to look at how this shapes their identity and seeking to find connections through this shared experience of uprooting. Find out more and see what’s happening near you: South Asian Heritage Month.
15, Saint Vladimir the Great Day, Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic
St Vladimir the Great (aka St Volodymyr) is one of the most important figures in the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches, because he brought Christianity to Kievan Rus in the 1st century, replacing the Slavic paganism as the state religion. This transition had a huge and lasting impact on the entire region and its identity. The day is celebrated with church services and processions.
July’s dates at a glance
Religious/Cultural
3 – Feast of the Saint Thomas the Apostle, Christian
6 – Ashura, Islam
9 – Martyrdom of the Báb, Baha’i
10 – Asalha Puja (Dharma Day), Buddhist
15 – Saint Vladimir the Great Day, Orthodox Christian
19 – Guru Har Krishan Jayanti, Sikh
22 – Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Christian
23 – Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie, Rastafari
25 – Saint James the Great’s Day, Christian
Awareness and Events
14 – International Non-Binary People’s Day
18 – Nelson Mandela International Day
18 Jul-17 Aug – South Asian Heritage Month
28 – World Hepatitis Day
language fact file: Nepali
Nepali is spoken as a native language in: Nepal, Bhutan, India
Number of native speakers: 19 million
Learn some: ‘Namaste’ is probably quite a familiar word for lots of people, and it is just used to mean ‘hello’. If you would like to get someone’s attention, it’s ‘maaf garnuhos’.
Fast facts:
Nepal is a very diverse country with a variety of languages and dialects. While Nepali is often a shared second language, uniting Nepalis who have different mother tongues, some argue that, with more than 50% of the population unable to speak it, Nepali should not be considered a national language.
Nepali is a tonal language, which means that a word’s pitch varies its meaning. It also has 12 vowels and 36 consonants (compared to English’s 5 vowels and 21 consonants)!
There are three distinct geographical divisions of the Nepali language: the eastern, the western and the focal. In addition to this, there is a dialect that is spoken by the upper classes, which has its own vocabulary and honorific system. This is increasingly being adopted by the educated middle class and newly wealthy.
The linguist’s story - June '25
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month we meet Rita Gurung, an interpreter working in Nepali.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I am a Nepali interpreter with almost 12 years of professional interpreting experience in the UK. At TLS I do face to face, telephone and video interpreting.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
Video interpreting has been my favourite project with TLS. TLS uses video calls for many of their NHS bookings. I find it an efficient way to work because it creates a similar face to face environment for both the clients and interpreters. In addition, it increases my availability as an interpreter so I can help many people in the community from the comfort and safety of my home.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me is not having the time to take all the bookings that are offered, I would take more on if I could!
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
When it comes to making a difference to someone’s life, I truly believe that I am the one on the receiving end. The sense of joy and reward I feel each time I have helped people communicate between the two different languages, Nepali and English, is immense. What seems ordinary externally is in fact so complex internally. Different spoken languages can be a barrier of communication between people. As an interpreter I get the opportunity to break that barrier each time I turn up for a job so the people in need can be helped.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I was born in Hong Kong in a Nepali household and grew up speaking Nepali since birth, while learning English in school. I remember using both my mother tongue, which is Nepali, and English since my primary school years. Growing up, not only was I a speaker of two languages but I was also my mother’s interpreter by default, because my mother did not speak English and many in our community only spoke English. Translating letters in English, accompanying her for shopping, hospital appointments, attending school meetings etc were also my “extracurricular activities” outside of school. With maturity, proper education and expertise in the field of interpreting, coupled with ongoing day to day life and work experience, I have gained so much from my vocation I cannot be thankful enough. I am grateful now that I am with TLS and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with them.
New TLS partnership helps to provide mental health support for migrants
We are delighted to announce a new partnership with charity The Magic Stork.
Founded by Chartered Psychologist Dr Valeria Giannuzzi, The Magic Stork offers culturally sensitive mental health support to people who are migrants of any kind: “students, families reuniting, seasonal workers, asylum seekers and refugees, expats…”
Through the partnership, TLS will provide linguists to the charity at a subsidised cost, allowing The Magic Stork to offer more support to more people.
Dr Giannuzzi said: "I came across TLS while supporting an Albanian client who understood some English but couldn’t speak it. Being able to just call a number, choose a language, and have a professional interpreter ready to go, felt like having a trusted teammate in my corner, a calm and reliable presence on the other end.
“For a small organisation like ours, this kind of support is invaluable. It means we can focus on reaching more people without constantly searching for interpreters or volunteers. Working on the frontline, having strong partners by your side is what makes our mission not only possible, but more enjoyable and impactful. The Language Shop shares the same vision with us, and it helps us build the kind of bridges our communities need."
Find out more about The Magic Stork’s brilliant work here.
TLS a Crown Commercial Service supplier
TLS is delighted to announce that we have been appointed as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) new Language Services Framework – RM6302. A trusted route for the procurement of high quality and cost-effective interpreting and translation services.
Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring goods and services. In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8 billion - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.
TLS will now be able to serve a wide variety of public sector bodies with our high calibre linguists and excellent customer support.
TLS to supply North East London ICB area pharmacies
We are delighted to announce that through our partnership with North-East London Integrated Care Board (ICB), TLS is now the approved language services supplier to all pharmacies in its area.
As pharmacies take on an increased role in care provision to relieve pressure on GP surgeries, there is a corresponding increased need to offer communication support for patients. That is where TLS will step in, supplying interpreters to cover spoken language communication needs.
The area includes more than 360 pharmacies, all of which can now benefit from the same high-quality services and competitive rates as the ICB itself.
Important dates for your diary - June
4-9 (dependent on moon sighting), Hajj, Islam
Hajj is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It always takes place during the 12th month of the Islamic year, Dhu’al-Hijjah. Every practising Muslim is expected to make the journey at least once, as long as they are able. Once at the Masjid al-Haram, the Great Mosque of Mecca, pilgrims must perform a series of rituals. The pilgrimage is physically and emotionally demanding and a chance to cleanse oneself spiritually.
18, Autistic Pride Day
Autistic Pride Day is held annually on 18 June. The day aims to bring together autistic people and celebrate their unique identities. It promotes awareness and understanding of autism and other forms of neurodiversity as ways of being, rather than conditions that need to be cured. Originally based on the gay Pride model, it uses the rainbow infinity symbol as its logo. Organisers make resources available closer to the day so that anyone can get involved, hosting an event or celebration to mark it. Go to www.autisticprideday.org for more information.
June’s dates at a glance
Religious/Cultural
2-3 – Shavuot, Judaism
5-9 – Hajj, Islam
6 – Waqf Al Arafa, Islam
7 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
7-10 – Eid Al-Adha, Islam
8 – Pentecost, Christian
12 – Guru Hargobind Jayanti, Sikh
15 – Eid Al-Ghadir, Islam
15 – Trinity Sunday, Christian
16 – The Apostles’ Fast begins, Orthodox Christian
16 – Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, Sikh
19 – The Feast of Corpus Christi, Catholic Christian
20 – Litha, Wicca and Pagan
24 – Nativity of Saint John The Baptist, Christian
26 – Islamic New Year, Islam
27 – Feast of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Catholic Christian
29 – Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Christian
Awareness and Events
4 – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
8 – Race Unity Day
9-15 – Men’s Health Week
12 – World Day Against Child Labour
14 – Global Wellness Day
15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
15 – Father’s Day
15-21 – Refugee Week
18 – Autistic Pride Day
20 – World Refugee Day
21 – Summer Solstice
22 – UK Windrush Day
23-27 – School Diversity Week
Language Fact File - Ukrainian
Ukrainian is spoken as a native language in: Ukraine
Number of native speakers: 33 million
Learn some: Greet someone at any time of day with the casual ‘pryvit’, which means hello or hi. If you want to go one further and ask how they are, it’s ‘yak spravy?’
Fast facts:
It’s easy to make your writing more interesting in Ukrainian, as there are so many synonyms – words that have approximately the same meaning. Even a very specific word like ‘horizon’ has 12 synonyms!
Ukrainian is a very old language, though exactly how old is the subject of debate. It evolved from Old East Slavic, which diverged into several modern Eastern European languages.
Ukrainian is known for its widespread use of diminutive forms (making the subject little, eg the diminutive of ‘book’ in English is ‘booklet’), which is made by changing the word ending. This is often applied to names to express affection, eg Oksana would be Oksanchik or Oksanochka. Like Spanish, Ukrainian uses these a lot!