Society of English-language professionals in the Netherlands

We’re trying out a new venue for this freestyle meeting at which we’ll discuss topics you’ve suggested. It’s an excellent opportunity to swap ideas and tips, seek advice on aspects of your work and share your triumphs and insights. Email your topic suggestions asap to me, Joy (unclogged.english@gmail.com).

Last-minute Utrecht SIG fun!

From 10 July 2019 19:30 until 10 July 2019 21:30

At Metro City Kitchen Categories: SIG meetings

The next Utrecht SIG meeting is Wednesday 10 July. Sorry for the delay in getting the annoucement up on the website, but better late than never! Because of uncertain availability of a room at the Park Plaza, we will meet at one of the cafés at Utrecht Central Station again. Starting at 19:30 and ending around 21:30. (I'm going to scope out the other cafés upstairs this week to see if they can accommodate us. They have more generous opening hours than Bistrot Centraal. I will email everyone who registers to let you know what it ends up being.) If you’d like to come, please reserve a spot using the register button at the top of this page. I am still thinking of a text (which will also depend on how many people are joining), and there will also be time to discuss other topics about language, translation, clients (both good and bad), etc. Hope to see you then!

FINLEGSIG meeting: The largest amount of feathers with the least amount of hissing, Rob Bradley

From 20 June 2019 19:00 until 20 June 2019 21:30

At Minervalaan 42/2, 1077 PB Amsterdam Categories: SIG meetings

Of course, you’ve spotted where Rob’s title comes from: our good friend Jean Baptiste Colbert, a French finance minister under Louis XIV, “the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least amount of hissing.” Worry not, Rob won’t be reviewing the salt tax or other delights of seventeenth century French taxation. Rob will begin with a hypothetical company and how it is taxed by itself. Then he’ll describe what happens as it grows and starts to form a group, first domestically then internationally, what facilities and arrangements it can use to optimise its tax situation, and how it interacts with the tax authorities. No need to hiss when Rob does the talking. Or to lose feathers. Rob spent three years working as an in-house translator for Meijburg & Co, where the translators and legal editors were part of the Vaktechniek department and worked closely with its tax lawyers. As a freelancer, he’s translated hundreds of tax texts for firms such as Meijburg, DLA Piper and Houthoff.

Copywriting SIG

From 11 June 2019 19:00 until 11 June 2019 21:30

At Park Plaza, Utrecht Categories: SIG meetings

On infographics …. and writing ‘Due to popular demand’ the evening will be dedicated to infographics. How they have invaded our writing lives, what we should know about them and what we can do with them. We are happy to announce that guest speaker Joost Bakker will be revealing how he fulfills his promise to clients that they: “Can be sure [their] complex messages are translated into compelling and clear visuals of the highest standard that are understood by [their] audience.”

Eastern SIG: Levels of Editing

From 11 June 2019 10:00 until 11 June 2019 12:30

At Cafe de Beurs, Zwolle Categories: SIG meetings

The topic of the meeting is "Levels of Editing”. Having known each other for some time - and passed on clients to one another - freelance editors Kumar Jamdagni and Sally Hill are well aware that they do not always change the same things. But they are also aware that clear communication with the client is essential so that the client knows what to expect in terms of the level of editing provided. Before the meeting, Kumar and Sally will edit a 300-word text. At the meeting they will compare their edits and hear from other SENSE members whether or not they agree (e.g. why would you (not) change something? are the changes justified?). The text will of course also be made available to anyone else who wants to have a go beforehand, but preparation is not compulsory. Attendance is free of charge to SENSE members and includes coffee and tea. If you wish to attend, please register above.

SENSE Ed: Teaching Pronunciation and Phonetics: Panel Discussion

From 25 May 2019 13:30 until 25 May 2019 17:00

At Park Plaza, Utrecht Categories: SIG meetings

Teaching students how to speak a language properly, as opposed to writing it, can be quite challenging. To begin with, there are so many approaches to the subject that it can be difficult to make the right choice. Additionally, speaking is a very public matter, and the teacher often has to deal with students’ embarrassment and insecurities. There are foreign university students who have a better grasp of writing than of speaking, and they require extra support in learning to communicate their ideas verbally. This is especially true of students from some Asian countries. At this SENSE Ed meeting, we are pleased to be able, for the first time, to present our topic in the form of a panel discussion. Michelle Mellion, Iris Maher and Tom Johnston will be on hand to talk about their experiences and offer tips and advice. All of them are long-time members of SENSE with wide experience in teaching spoken English in a variety of educational settings, so it should be an instructive and entertaining afternoon. Please register directly for the event on the SENSE website if you plan to attend. I look forward to seeing many of you on 25 May.

Zuid Holland SIG

From 14 May 2019 20:00 until 14 May 2019 22:00

At Badhuisweg 240 2597 JS The Hague Categories: SIG meetings

Zuid Holland SIG

Utrecht SIG

From 08 May 2019 19:30 until 08 May 2019 21:30

At Park Plaza, Utrecht Categories: SIG meetings

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 May, at the Park Plaza again for a change! Apparently, the renovations are finally done. The meeting will start at 19:30 and end around 21:30. The text we will be discussing is one from my personal files. (Something that won't happen too often, since I spend most of my time not doing translation.) There is something about it that I have noticed before in Dutch texts, and I am looking forward to seeing how other translators tackle that. Of course, there will also be time to discuss other topics about language, translation, clients (both good and bad), etc. If you’d like to come, please register. I will send the text to all who registered in the week before the meeting. Hope to see you then! Maartje Gorte Convener

UniSIG Meeting

From 12 April 2019 18:30 until 12 April 2019 20:30

At Park Plaza, Utrecht Categories: SIG meetings

Online editing services: do they have a place in your client portfolio?

Eastern SIG Meeting

From 12 April 2019 15:30 until 12 April 2019 18:30

At Cafe de Beurs, Zwolle Categories: SIG meetings

Borrel on 12 April

Copywriting SIG Meeting

From 09 April 2019 19:00 until 09 April 2019 21:00

At Park Plaza, Utrecht Categories: SIG meetings

Utrecht Translation SIG Meeting