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Facilitating Communication, Connecting People

Putting Your Message to the Test

Focus Groups - Different coloured chairs in a circle

Focus groups test your message before its put out to your clients, and before any miscommunications end up costing you time and money. Focus group testing is really about testing that what you think you are saying is actually what is being heard – across both language and culture.

We’ve all heard about cross-cultural blunders in translations, like the case of the American Dairy Association replicating its "Got Milk?" campaign in Spanish-speaking countries into "Are You Lactating?" While perhaps technically correct, the meaning was definitely not the intended one. And translations don’t have to go overseas for the message to get lost. It can happen here, with your own clients.

Transferring meaning from one language to another is not always that straightforward. Communicating the message of some English words, phrases, and concepts can be a big challenge, especially if they have no direct equivalent in the target language. At times, words and concepts can be translated in different ways, each of which might mean something just slightly different. Figures of speech, colloquialisms and other expressions that are often used as shortcuts to meaning in our materials can also pose challenges.

Our multicultural/ multilingual focus group testing process will help you determine whether your materials are effectively communicating your message.

Present your documents to a focus group and gain valuable feedback on your materials.

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Excellent interpretation. Always calm – accurate – demonstrates insight.”

Anita (Abbotsford Regional Hospital)

Excellent services provided, graciously, last minute by your interpreter. Thank you!”

Abbotsford Regional Hospital

Communication was smooth with the mother and foster parent."

Michelle (BC Children’s Hospital)

Great job. Thank you so much for coming on short notice. We appreciate it!”

Lisa (Glen Mountain Physio)

Great interpreter, very attentive and compassionate.”

Clinton (Vancouver General Hospital)

Very good style, speaking smoothly and integrating with the OT and social worker – allowing smooth conversation.”

Terrance (Chilliwack Home Health)

Excellent interpreter. Having her return to work with the same client has been very positive for everyone, I love working with her.”

Dr. Bubber (Abbotsford)

Excellent rapport with the client and family; excellent facilitation and interpretation of the conversation."

Grant (Burnaby Mental Health)

Thank you for all your help with respect to the transcription requests and the professional manner in which you handled them."

Bill (Surrey RCMP)

Thank you for this essential service. Your interpreter was very good and made the client feel calm.”

Jean (Fraser Valley Physiotherapy and Rehab)

Excellent Interpreter. Well done with new, complex information.”

Teresa (Abbotsford Regional Hospital)

Very supportive, positive and a pleasure to work together with. Client and family were pleased with her service. Many thanks!”

Dr. Khurana (Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre)

The interpreter was extremely helpful with our elderly client who has hearing difficulties, our client relied on the interpreter throughout the appointment”

Theresa (Orion Health)

Always on time and very professional and enthusiastic.”

Sharon (Burnaby Community Health)

Excellent work in a very difficult situation of death of a daughter and mother.”

Joanne (Chilliwack General Hospital)

I can’t praise this interpreter enough! I would like to book her every time.”

Bonnie (Child Development Centre)