Language Line Services’ "Cross-Cultural" Update for Tues, August 19 to Mon, September 1, 2008

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information

For a list of June 2008's top language requests for all states, visit http://languageline.com/page/topten

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Airports Focus on Improving Customer Service to International Travelers:

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) recently launched an ad campaign in seven languages in an effort to speak to the local and traveling population.  The campaign grew out of a focus group on the most stressful aspects of international flights in which customer service was a main concern.

The ad messages aim to highlight SFO's superior performance in that area as well as the services and amenities that make traveling through the SFO faster, easier and more enjoyable.

A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss how innovative airports are using advanced language access programs to improve customer service for international travelers by speaking to them in their native language. Please contact tracy.belcher@rbbpr.com or 305-445-7043 for more information.

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Interpreters Wanted -- Greater Language Education in Schools Needed:

According to the Web site for the Federal Department of Education, President Bush has pushed a 'National Security Language Initiative' to 'dramatically increase the number of Americans learning, speaking and teaching critical-need foreign languages.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has also commented on the importance of improving foreign language education programs in public schools. Why is the U.S. so far behind other world powers when it comes to language education? Has backlash over immigration policy and the recent wave of English-only laws heightened this problem? 

As a leading interpretation provider, Language Line Services is constantly recruiting/looking for interpreters that have strong foreign language skills so that the company can service corporations and organizations that need this resource to compete globally. 

A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss their interpreter recruitment programs, where only one of every 12 applicants becomes an employee, and how the lack of strong language programs in America’s schools has impacted this process.

For more information, contact Jeanine Karp at Jeanine.Karp@rbbpr.com or 305-785-0424.

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HMOs required to translate in all languages:

Starting Jan. 1, 2009, HMOs in California will be required to provide written or verbal language assistance to any member who needs it in whatever language and form it's needed. In a state as large and diverse as California, that's a lot of languages. And a lot of translating and interpreting.

Language Line Services is available to discuss the innovative language access tools available and how smaller plans, in particular, can meet this requirement.

For more information, contact Tracy Belcher at tracy.belcher@rbbpr.com or 305-445-7043. 

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Cultural Sensitivity Improves Health Outcomes:

According to a report from the Cochrane Collaboration, culturally tailored diabetes education may help ethnic minorities with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar.

The report in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews indicates that language and cultural barriers may hinder the delivery of quality diabetes health education to ethnic minorities.

In an analysis of 11 published research articles that compared culturally tailored diabetes education versus the "usual" care, researchers found "clinically significant improvements" in blood sugar control among patients educated in their mother tongue using culturally specific methods. These patients also showed improved knowledge of diabetes and healthy lifestyles.

A representative from Language Line Services is available to discuss the important role qualified medical interpreters play in helping improve patient education and health outcomes among ethnic minorities.

For more information, please contact Shawn Yanan at shawn.yanan@rbbpr.com.

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Top Ten Foreign Languages Spoken In… North Carolina, North Dakota and Nebraska

The information below is provided by LanguageTrak™, a demographics tracking service provided by Language Line Services. The data reflects the languages most requested by emergency services, government agencies, health care facilities and businesses in June 2008. For a list of this month’s top language requests for all states visit http://languageline.com/page/topten.

Quick Facts:

• North Carolina was the only state with requests for Jarwana.

• North Carolina had the fifth most requests for Portuguese.

• Nebraska is one of only two states with Karen in the top ten. The other is Ohio.

• North Dakota was one of only three states with requests for Farsi.

Top Ten Foreign Languages Spoken In… North Carolina, North Dakota and Nebraska

North Carolina 

1. Spanish
2. Portuguese
3. Vietnamese
4. Mandarin
5. Russian
6. Korean
7. Cantonese
8. French
9. Burmese
10. Arabic

North Dakota 

1. Spanish
2. Bosnian
3. Somali
4. Arabic
5. Swahili
6. Albanian
7. Vietnamese
8. Mandarin
9. Cantonese
10. Polish

Nebraska 

1. Spanish
2. Vietnamese
3. Arabic
4. Somali
5. Russian
6. Karen
7. Burmese
8. Mandarin
9. Nuer
10. Kurdish

ABOUT LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers.

The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning translation, transcription, phone and video interpretation, interpreter certification, localization and localized software and devices, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language.

Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services provides support for more than 170 languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including health care, financial services, government, telecom, manufacturing, insurance, entertainment, travel, and more.

For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, call 1-800-752-6096.

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