Affiliate since: 05/03/2002, Power Rank: 302 | Read Mar's 582 other Ask SC answers

An important aspect of sponsoring new sign ups that come from different parts of the world is establishing connection through communication. SFI designed an excellent communication tool for all affiliates to be instantly connected through SFIM.

Important points to consider, when chatting with your non English speaking PSAs through the SFIM:

- Using Google Translate.

It is a great tool for providing real time translation of foreign language, but it has its limitations, such as inaccuracy of translation by providing general content of the foreign language text.

- When users commit spelling and grammar errors the translation output may sound clunky which results in poor quality translation.

You can’t afford to miss the key opportunity of promoting engagement with your PSAs. How do you overcome the above communication barriers?

There are steps you can do to effectively use Google Translate:

- Simplify your message by using less complex sentence structures and vocabulary.

- Avoid using abbreviations such as SO for Standing Order, VP for VersaPoints, etc. instead, use clear and simple words to define them.

- Always use as much as possible simple, clear and easy-to-understand definition of critical words and acronyms.

- Avoid non-standard abbreviations, such as “U R” for “you are.”

- Be patient and try to follow your PSAs’ ideas and logic, which may be different from yours.

- Ask your PSAs to repeat once, maybe twice, if you do not understand them. If that does not work, ask them to state it in a different manner.

- When your PSA stated something that seems weird and/or wrong, give him/her the benefit of the doubt. Ask yourself: “How else could I interpret these words?”

Conclusion:

Sponsors need to develop multicultural perspective – cultural literacy – to enhance their experience in interacting with their PSAs through SFIM or other SFI communication tools.


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An important aspect of sponsoring new sign ups that come from different parts of the world is establishing connection through communication. SFI designed an excellent communication tool for all affiliates to be instantly connected through SFIM.

Important points to consider, when chatting with your non English speaking PSAs through the SFIM:

- Using Google Translate.

It is a great tool for providing real time translation of foreign language, but it has its limitations,
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Affiliate since: 08/29/2023, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Osaro's 206 other Ask SC answers

There are many translation tools you can use in the internet like Google translate to communicate with your PSA while on the SFIM. There seems to be not much of technicality here but it appears to be straight forward which may need to involve the following:

1. Ascertain the language your PSA understands

2. Open the internet translation tool you want to use in a separate window and select the main and source languages e.g. English To Spanish, with each having its own box ready to insert texts/contents.

3. When you receive a message from your PSA, copy and paste it into the appropriate box. If for example, your PSA communicates in Spanish and you in English, copy and paste his/her content into the English box of the translation tool. You may understand some or all of the English translation, so you will prepare your English language reply and paste it in the Spanish box to translate it from English to Spanish, then copy and paste the translated version into your SFIM chat box to your PSA. In case your PSA has no clue about this, then teach him/her to do the same.

4. You may have a clue as to the effectiveness of the translation tool based on the exchanges between you and your PSA; the more the misunderstanding, the less effective the translation tool will be, so at this stage you need to source for another translation tool online. Some translation tools are more tailored to particular languages, so do an online search like 'best English translation tool for Spanish language' and you will get better results than Google translate, which is not very effective in some languages.

5. Finally, I will also advice that you do a study on how to prepare text for translation purposes because the use and positions of some characters in a text or content may significantly obstruct the translation process and come up with an unintended translation outcome. Some translation tools have help and support centres, so ensure you make use of them.
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There are many translation tools you can use in the internet like Google translate to communicate with your PSA while on the SFIM. There seems to be not much of technicality here but it appears to be straight forward which may need to involve the following:

1. Ascertain the language your PSA understands

2. Open the internet translation tool you want to use in a separate window and select the main and source languages e.g. English To Spanish, with each having its own box ready
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Affiliate since: 11/29/2011, Power Rank: 102 | Read Gliceria's 402 other Ask SC answers

While using the SFIM, check which country your PSA is from whom you wish to converse with, open the Google Translate window, so you can easily use it.

Start the communication with a friendly hello in your PSA’s language.

When your PSA responds, copy and paste the words onto the Google Translate, selecting the language and click the English translate and read the translation.

Highlight the translation then press Ctrl + C, go back to SFIM window and position the arrow into the blank space and press Ctrl + V.

Repeat the process when you get a response and enjoy your conversation with your PSA.

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While using the SFIM, check which country your PSA is from whom you wish to converse with, open the Google Translate window, so you can easily use it.

Start the communication with a friendly hello in your PSA’s language.

When your PSA responds, copy and paste the words onto the Google Translate, selecting the language and click the English translate and read the translation.

Highlight the translation then press Ctrl + C, go back to SFIM window and position the
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Affiliate since: 10/01/2013, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Nimo's 381 other Ask SC answers

Very early in my relationship with all my affiliates, I try to find out what their native language is.

Often affiliates will put down English as their primary language but I often find their level of English cannot cope with the SFI business. A clue to this is the Launchpad lessons. They would often click as having done the lessons but then ask questions about what had just been covered in the lessons indicating that they did not understand it at all.

I strongly encourage you to be patient with them. You do not want to hurt their pride by pointing out that their English is inadequate. Be diplomatic about it. Find out their native tongue and simply communicate with them using their native language.

I write down what I want to say in English then translate it into their language and then translate it back to English. I do this to ensure that whatever is said in their language is as close as possible to what I want to say to them in English. Try to avoid slang and sayings that are particular to English – eg ‘down the gurgler’ is a saying which means wasted, or being flushed down the toilet. It would be meaningless to those who live in countries where there are no flushed toilets!

At the beginning I often send to the affiliates both my English message and the translated message. If they respond to me in their native language then I would know that is their preferred language and would use it from then on. Sure there’s extra work involved in what I do but I am satisfied that its well worth it.

As sponsors we are there to help our team members. Lets help them by giving them the best possible chance of succeeding in SFI.

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Very early in my relationship with all my affiliates, I try to find out what their native language is.

Often affiliates will put down English as their primary language but I often find their level of English cannot cope with the SFI business. A clue to this is the Launchpad lessons. They would often click as having done the lessons but then ask questions about what had just been covered in the lessons indicating that they did not understand it at all.

I strongly encourage
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

The SFI Instant Messaging (SFIM) is a chat tool that gives us the opportunity to communicate, live, with our team members and our a2a friends. It is quick, and easy. It speeds up the delivery of the message.

I have used the SFIM to communicate with new sign-ups, as I find them still online, as soon as I receive a notification of their registration. I also have used it to send instant messages, or reply to my PSAs, my CSAs, and my a2a friends.

As for the "Translate" feature, I also have extensively used it to communicate with my team members, and to help a2a friends who reached out to me seeking advice and guidance. To do so, I made a frequent navigation, back and forth, from my email provider to the "Translate" feature at the bottom of each SFI page, and some of the most popular online translators, such as Google Translate.

Based on the reactions and comments of the recipients, the results were satisfactory. The affiliates followed up on the tips and replied back with appreciation.

However, there is not always a guarantee that the translation was always 100% accurate. At best, it is an indication that the recipient understood the overall meaning of the message and the tips that were being offered to them.

That concern may be mitigated, though. Business documents and texts are, for the most part, free of idioms and metaphors. It is a valuable aspect of "Technical Writing". The writing style gives priority to clarity and ease of understanding. Hence, business documents are less likely to lead to translations that produce a different meaning from the intended message.

The above methodology can be used to combine translation with the SFIM. One needs to keep in mind, though, that the navigation between the translator and the SFIM will very likely slow down the chat. But it may still be highly beneficial, when we have a PSA who does not have a full control of the English Language..

My recommendations are as follows:
1. Identify the affiliate's primary language.
2.Open two screens: one for the SFIIM and one for the text you want to translate or the page to which you want to draw the affiliate's attention.
3. Translate that page into the Affiliate's primary language. Again, you will find the "Translator" at the bottom of each SFI page. Copy and paste the phrases, paragraphs or sections you want the affiliate to read.

If you are not discussing a specific SFI document, policy or text, you can still use translation with the SFIM. You will need to open a highly reliable online translator and follow the same steps outlined here..

Sometimes, you may need to combine both the SFI "Translate" feature and an online translator.
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The SFI Instant Messaging (SFIM) is a chat tool that gives us the opportunity to communicate, live, with our team members and our a2a friends. It is quick, and easy. It speeds up the delivery of the message.

I have used the SFIM to communicate with new sign-ups, as I find them still online, as soon as I receive a notification of their registration. I also have used it to send instant messages, or reply to my PSAs, my CSAs, and my a2a friends.

As for the "Translate"
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Affiliate since: 04/24/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Sameer's 74 other Ask SC answers

Hello Mariama,

The translation to effectively communicate with PSA from other countries should not only be used using SFI InstantMessaging but in all communications if your PSAs or CSAs have difficulty to understand the English Language.

1. First of all, have a look at the profile to ascertain which language PSA or CSA understands.

2. Now write your Welcome Message in English and open “Google Translator”. With the help of this wonderful tool, translate your Welcome Message in the target language for example, Serbian, Spanish or Hungarian as the case may be.

3. Now copy this message and send it to your PSA or CSA through e mail, e-card or PM (Personal Messages). I am sure he/she would be amazed that you know the language of your PSA/CSA.

4. Once the communication gets started up, you will start getting message, replies or doubts in the foreign language. So every time after receiving the message convert it to English. Provide the answer/solution in the target language.

5. This method should work out in most of the cases. Otherwise you can ask your PSA if he/she would like to be placed under another affiliate from her/his country and do the necessary re-assignment.

Hope it helps!
Cheers !!

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Hello Mariama,

The translation to effectively communicate with PSA from other countries should not only be used using SFI InstantMessaging but in all communications if your PSAs or CSAs have difficulty to understand the English Language.

1. First of all, have a look at the profile to ascertain which language PSA or CSA understands.

2. Now write your Welcome Message in English and open “Google Translator”. With the help of this wonderful tool, translate
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Thanks for this question.

For a variety of On line Translation tools available, SFI itself has created a Page with various Tips.

Since all these can not be adequately explained here, I would suggest your visiting the following link:

www.sfimg.com/Support/Solution?catid=26444&id=197251

Once you read it, please download and install the appropriate Translator, free of cost, in your PC.

When you find your PSA from other countries on line and you want to use the SFIM (Provided the person at the other end responds) please type out your short, few liner messages in the Translator Page and have them translated in to the language you desire and then paste it in the SFIM.

If you receive the reply then cut it and paste it in the Translator Page, have it converted, read, understand and then type out your reply, translate it and go back to SFIM and paste it.

This is how you can keep your conversation going on...Its time consuming.

The best thing is, use this technique in the initial days. Understand the PSAs requirement and slowly make him to communicate with you through E-Mails. There you can receive PSA's questions and post your reply in detail duly translated. This will serve the purpose.

Conclusion:

1. Download and install one of the free Translators in to your PC.
2. Use the Translator facility to create good understanding with your PSAs from other countries
in the initial days.
3. Slowly get on to communication through E-Mails.
4. Use the Translator effectively to build relationship and thereby a strong Team and successful
business.
5. Using Translator regularly in SFIM will be quite cumbersome and will not help in the long run.


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Thanks for this question.

For a variety of On line Translation tools available, SFI itself has created a Page with various Tips.

Since all these can not be adequately explained here, I would suggest your visiting the following link:

www.sfimg.com/Support/Solution?catid=26444&id=197251

Once you read it, please download and install the appropriate Translator, free of cost, in your PC.

When you find your PSA from other countries on line and
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Affiliate since: 07/24/2012, Power Rank: 312 | Read Beverly's 79 other Ask SC answers

Great question for how to communicate effectively with PSAs from other countries while using SFIM (SFI Instant Messaging.)

I use www.google.com/translate which is what SFI uses on their pages.

Of course, ask if they can speak some English or another language, and you can send messages using both, English and their native language.

If you send messages in English, or your own language, notice what language they use when they message you. Google Translate can detect languages. I find that a great help, especially when receiving emails, team mails or instant messaging.

You can send them an eCard when they are new to ask what language they speak. I always include www.google.com/translate at the top of the page.


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Great question for how to communicate effectively with PSAs from other countries while using SFIM (SFI Instant Messaging.)

I use www.google.com/translate which is what SFI uses on their pages.

Of course, ask if they can speak some English or another language, and you can send messages using both, English and their native language.

If you send messages in English, or your own language, notice what language they use when they message you. Google Translate can detect
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

When you communicate, the message communicated is not what you actually say, but what the other person hears (or reads). It is 'message received and understood' rather than 'message sent'.

Translation always introduces a risk that the message they receive may not be the same as what you say. And while automatic translators are a great tool to help communicate with others who speak different languages, they are not always 100% accurate.

How I get around this is to use Google Translate open in a second window. I type my message in Notepad, copy it into the left panel of Google Translate, and have it translated to the target language. I then copy the translation onto my clipboard and paste it in to the left hand panel, and have the program translate it back into English.

If the intended message is still correct, I then copy my original message into the email or messaging window. If the message has lost something in translation, I change the original and repeat the process until I come up with a wording that does translate correctly.

If the response I receive is not I English, I use Google Translate to translate it, and if the meaning is not clear I will ask for clarification before responding.

Hope this helps.


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When you communicate, the message communicated is not what you actually say, but what the other person hears (or reads). It is 'message received and understood' rather than 'message sent'.

Translation always introduces a risk that the message they receive may not be the same as what you say. And while automatic translators are a great tool to help communicate with others who speak different languages, they are not always 100% accurate.

How I get around this is to use Google
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Google Translate is a great tool to use when communicating with team members from other countries as a quick on-line translation tool. Another translation online tool that I have used from time to time is Babelfish. URL is http://www.babelfish.com/

I appreciate the question being focused on "effective communication". For the team I am working with, I have found translation to be helpful but also do ask team members for their feed back to be sure that what is being sent is helpful to them. I make sure that I ask PSA's and even CSA's that are from specific language user-groups to be sure that what I send is meeting their needs as how I may think a message is being portrayed may not necessarily match how the message is being received by the receiver (audience member).

Feed-back is the best way to know if your translation is effective and beneficial for fellow PSA's.

As a great team builder opportunity, ask for support from a few key down line members who are from respective countries to become your Down Line Translation Team - as a Translation Team, you may want to schedule weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss the up-coming communication notes that you want to share with the team and have Translation Team members come up with ideas which will help your message to be clear as well as be Culturally Adaptive to more than 1 language group. Language - the message you say, in addition to being Culturally Sensitive equals effective, respectful communication.

Words (Message) + Cultural Sensitivity = Effective Communication

Solicit among down line team members their interest to be part of a Translation Team that you can co-ordinate and possibly have language representation for what your whole down line composition is made up of eg: Italian, Urdu, Japanese, Chinese (remember various dialects), Russian, German et al. In return for their time to participate in the Translation Team, be sure to recognize these individuals by way of a Stream Post, Team Mailer or even personally with an e-card or membership in a Co-Op Manager that you may be operating or a Re-Assignment of a PSA/CSA.

Remember Translation is only language level but also the other component for effective communication is Cultural Sensitivity - when both of these elements are synchronized, your down line PSA's will appreciate your consideration and interest in their SFI activity.
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Google Translate is a great tool to use when communicating with team members from other countries as a quick on-line translation tool. Another translation online tool that I have used from time to time is Babelfish. URL is http://www.babelfish.com/

I appreciate the question being focused on "effective communication". For the team I am working with, I have found translation to be helpful but also do ask team members for their feed back to be sure that what is being sent is helpful
...more