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English as a Second Language
Staff Resources
Using Interpreters
School personnel should use interpreters when communicating with parents and/or community members whose primary language is other than English. Interpreters should also be used in situations where meetings are conducted with groups from diverse language backgrounds. Occasions where it may be appropriate to use an interpreter include: enrollment of students, reporting on student progress, parent/teacher information sessions, school council or PTA/PTO meetings, career education or subject choice meetings, matters concerning student behavior, welfare or attendance interviews with the school counselor, principal or advisor. Accessing Interpreters
The requesting staff should fill out an Interpreter Request Form (scroll down to Forms) and Email it to their building’s administrative assistant. The administrative assistant will get approval from the principal and contact the agency on the staff’s behalf. Once the appointment has been made, the requesting staff must confirm the date and time with the family by phone or letter (Language Line or TransACT may help in this situation.) Using TransACT TransACT would be used if a staff member needs to communicate with a parent/guardian via a paper document. Accessing TransACT
Contact the building’s administrative assistant. They have access to all the documents already translated for you. One side will be the translated version; the backside will have the English version. www.transact.com Using Language Line
Language Line could be accessed if an individual or family arrives in the building and speaks limited English. It could also be used if a staff member needed to contact a parent/guardian after school. The phone call can last for no longer than 20 minutes. View the tutorial at http://www.languageline.com/training/tutorial.swf. Accessing Language Line
Contact the building’s administrative assistant. They will make the call for you. Using a speakerphone would be ideal. Consider using a conference room with a speakerphone to ensure privacy. If a speakerphone is unavailable, you can hand the receiver back and forth. http://www.languageline.com/ |
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