How Tsondue Samphel of Emory University Uses Translation to Teach Compassion Across Cultures with The Dalai Lama - a podcast by Presented by Smartling

Emory University’s Program Coordinator, Tsondue Samphel, joins this week’s The Loc Show to share how translation is helping him run an international (and free!) educational program, SEE Learning. 

This is a stand out episode not only because Tsondue discloses what meeting His Holiness has been like (on several occasions), but the conversation elevates to touch upon creating real meaning in life for future generations: something we can all get behind during these divisive times. 

SEE Learning is an academic collaboration between Emory University and His Holiness the Dalai Lama that aims to give students (K-12) the necessary tools to develop emotionally, socially, and ethically. SEE provides programming that helps children cultivate the skills necessary to have a meaningful life and to help young people flourish and improve their overall well being.

Join us as Tsondue shares the vision of SEE, his experiences coming to the U.S., and how he uses translation to knit cultures together by serving over 30 countries.  

On this episode you’ll learn:

• Tsondue’s tale of arriving at Emory University’s Center of Contemplative Sciences and Compassion-based Ethics, experiencing culture shock as the only Tibetan person, and earning his BS in Physics


• How Tsondue settled into his role as an International Program Coordinator for the SEE Learning division


• How the Emory University community softened Tsondue’s landing in the U.S. from India


• About the Dalai Lama’s role in the curriculum and the goals of the program as a whole


• About the free SEE 101 Online training course available on Emory’s site that is accessible in over 145 countries  

Jump into the hot topics!

[3:08] Tsondue on his role at Emory as an International Program Coordinator for SEE Learning

[5:07] The challenges Tsondue faced when he moved from India to the U.S. for his schooling and how he managed the massive cultural and emotional shifts

[7:33] Background on the SEE Learning program and how translation plays a part of (social and emotional ethical learning is the program name)

[10:58] Tsondue on his numerous run-ins with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a proponent for pushing the need for holistic education

[15:55] What responsibilities Tsondue had on his plate when he first joined the program about two years ago

[17:36] Landscape of the content that requires translation to over 30 locales 

[21:55] How Tsondue and Smartling began working together 

[22:35] Different types of content within the SEE program 

[28:50] The translation process for the site and for SEE 101 program materials

[30:54] Challenges Tsondue has had to overcome when translating content into different languages 

[34:48] How the team manages elements of localization 

[44:23] What Tsondue is most excited for

Keep Up with Tsondue, Emory, and Smartling!

Tsondue on LinkedIn

Emory University on LinkedIn

Global launch of SEE Learning 

Smartling’s site 

Further episodes of The Loc Show

Further podcasts by Presented by Smartling

Website of Presented by Smartling