Programs
Beyond translation, consulting, education, and training to help your organization communicate across cultures.
Programs
Consulting
40 years of language expertise means we've seen what goes wrong, and how to prevent it. Betmar Languages offers cultural and language consultation to help organizations prepare for successful communication in any language.
Pre-Project Consultation
Before a single word is translated, we consult with you to identify risks and opportunities. We discuss text length and the need for expansion, translated content is often 20–30% longer than the English original, which affects print layouts, screen space, and audio/video timing. For print projects, that means planning white space and font sizing in advance. For video, it means using music or b-roll instead of dense narration wherever possible, so translators have room to work with the timing.
Cultural Review
Colors, images, and symbols carry very different meanings across cultures. We review your materials to flag anything that could be misinterpreted or offensive in your target market, before it goes to print or production.
Idiomatic Accuracy
Idiomatic expressions rarely translate literally. "You can't have your cake and eat it too" becomes "You can't have the barrel full and the wife drunk" in Italian. We ensure your message lands with the same meaning and impact in every language, not just the same words.
Product & Brand Name Review
Does your product name sound right in the target language? Could it mean something unintended? We perform due diligence on brand names, slogans, and product terminology before you launch in a new market.
Translation Methodology
We walk you through how professional translation works, what is preserved, what is adapted, and why. Reading level and writing conventions, like whether bullet points are used, follow the original document. Translators can't lower a document's reading level or restructure it the way another writer might; understanding that boundary up front leads to better briefs, better outcomes, and fewer costly revisions.
Translation Reviews
We evaluate existing translations for accuracy, consistency, cultural appropriateness, and terminology alignment. Two of our most effective tools are back translation, translating the target-language text back into English to confirm the intended meaning survived the round trip, and community review, where members of the target-language community sit down with a facilitator and go through the translation line by line. On one healthcare screening project, an early draft asked whether a child could "move his eyes around" rather than "move their eyes from side to side," a distinction that mattered for accurate screening and was caught before publication. Community review also surfaces regional differences, like Spanish as spoken in Mexico versus Argentina, so we can decide together whether to aim for language that works across a region or tailor it to one audience.
Pre-Project Rewrites
When a project has to fit an existing layout, video, or script, but the target language runs longer, we can rewrite the original document or script before translation begins, simplifying the writing without losing any content or meaning, while following the same order as the original. This keeps your translated materials on time and on budget without cutting corners.
Literal Translation, Explained
A proper translation reflects only what's in the original, no additions, no omissions, even when a phrase feels incomplete or oddly ordered to an English reader. That means a translator can't explain a term the source document doesn't explain itself, and can't restructure a sentence the way another writer might have chosen to. Understanding this boundary up front helps set the right expectations for your project.
Programs
Diversity Education
Diversity programs expand our worldview. A broadened perspective improves communication and creativity, vitalizes your workplace, and energizes your community. Betmar Languages designs and delivers diversity programs customized to your school or organization.
Seminars
Full-day and half-day seminars designed around your organization's goals, audience, and industry context. One popular format spotlights a single country at a time, covering business practices, etiquette, and cultural nuances like color meaning, ideal for teams doing business internationally.
Panel Discussions
Facilitated panel discussions that bring diverse voices to the table and generate meaningful dialogue.
Speakers
Expert speakers who address specific cultural topics for schools, businesses, assemblies, and community events. We've partnered with schools on all-day formats, repeating a presentation and Q&A session up to five times so every teacher can attend during a free period.
Programs
Interpreter Training
Working effectively with interpreters is a skill. Betmar Languages provides training sessions for staff and organizations to increase awareness of best practices, maximize communication quality, and get the most from interpreter services.
Workshop Seminars
Short, practical seminars designed to fit into workshop days and professional development schedules.
Student & Assembly Programs
Engaging speakers for student events and school assemblies that make language and culture come alive.
Cultural Topic Speakers
Specialists who address specific cultural topics relevant to your industry, community, or student population.
Not Sure Which Program Is Right for You?
Every organization is different. Contact us and we'll design a program around your specific needs.