GSA Services

The Multicultural Community Service (MCS) is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering effective communication between English and non-English speakers by breaking language barriers.

In the early 1990s, following the devastating May 1991 riots that took place in the Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan neighborhoods of Washington, DC which resulted from tensions between the African American and Latino communities, and between both communities and area law enforcement, several community residents gathered to discuss how they could help empower the residents of these neighborhoods to view diversity as a strength, not a weakness. These community members eventually formed MCS. Your partnership with MCS will not only meet all of your language service needs, but will help MCS further its non-profit work to promote civic participation in our nation's capital among low-income residents and residents with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Language Services Offered:

Interpretation in more than 20 languages including simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation and sight translation. All MCS interpreters have either completed MCS' 70 hour community interpreter training, are federal or state certified court interpreters, or hold a Master's degree in conference interpreting.
Translation in more than 20 languages: MCS provides quick turn around translations for a variety of documents such as: legal briefs, brochurs, transcripts, intakes, and speeches. All translations are proof-read for accuracy and completeness. MCS' translators are members of the American Translators Association (ATA) or have a BA or Master's degree in translation.
Interpretation Training: MCS is a leading provider of Community Interpreter Training that equips bilingual people with all of the tools they need to excel in providing high-quality professional interpretations services. This program is predicated on the belief that bilingual individuals not specifically trained in interpretation skills, while well-intentioned, are not best suited to facilitate bilingual communication. The highly-regarded program teaches standards of professionalism, ethics, and cross cultural communication preparing bilingual individuals to provide impartial, accurate, and culturally competent language services.

Customer Service is our priority

MCS' highly experienced staff is on call to provide you with excellent customer service to facilitate your language service needs.

Language Service Resource:

In order to aid you in selecting a Language Services partner, the following definitions and information may be helpful:

Interpretation

Interpretation is the oral translation of the language. There are three types of interpretation:

Simultaneous interpretation, for small or large scale events, includes conference interpretation service, community meetings, or administrative hearings. This type of interpretation requires minimum of two interpreters per language and interpretation equipment (wireless, portable or interpreter booths). Simultaneous intepretation cuts meeting time in half, allows limited English speaking participants to receive the same information at the same time as their English speaking counterparts and eliminates the need to segregate people of different language groups.

Consecutive interpretation for attorney-client meetings, administrative hearings, also includes escort interpretation. For large scale events, this type of interpretation requires the English presenter to pause while the interpreter relays the message to the participants with limited English proficiency.

Sight Translation is the oral language translation of documents during interpretation sessions.

Translation

Translation is the act or process of translating from one language into another. For example, translating a document from English to Spanish.