Multilingual Resources
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Training Guide: Translating Let'sTalk/LinguistLink
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LAS Poster - Informing families about linguistic services
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Multilingual Resources for Reopening 2021
Here you will find all the materials that resulted from collaborations between the Language Access Services Department and other ½ûÂþÌìÌà departments.
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Menu of Student and Family Supports
Menu of Student and Family Supports
Español | Ti?ng Vi?t | ÖÐÎÄ | §²§å§ã§ã§Ü§Ú§Û | Soomaali
This summer, ½ûÂþÌìÌà educators, central office leaders, public health professionals and community leaders, came together to build a comprehensive plan to ensure that in this time of distance learning our ½ûÂþÌìÌà students and families have the resources and supports they need to learn.
In the pages that follow you will learn more about all of the internal and external resources we are providing to students and families listed by school. This catalog shows what we are currently offering and establishes new ways that our ½ûÂþÌìÌà students and families can access supports during this season of comprehensive distance learning.
To see a snapshot of the current offerings, with descriptions of the services and a school-by-school list of where they are offered, please click on the image to the right. It will be updated regularly to keep students and families up to date on available supports.
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Multilingual Special Education Family Toolkit
is a set of cards that show the Special Education process, eligibility categories, and placement/services options in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. These procedures and concepts are often complex and create barriers for families that prevent their meaningful participation which is critical to positive outcomes for their students.
The Toolkit currently consists of 4 main components: a Special Education overview, A Roadmap for the evaluation/IEP process, Eligibility cards that describe all of the Disability Categories in ½ûÂþÌìÌà and a Placement/Services card.
The cards represent these important ideas in a visual way using universal graphics along with the implementation of language access principles, including: family-friendly terms, plain language and translations.
The cards are available in the six supported languages at ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and Somali.
English/Español | English/Ti?ng Vi?t | ·¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²õ³ó/ÖÐÎÄ | English/Soomaali | §²§å§ã§ã§Ü§Ú§Û
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"We Speak Your Language" - cards for families
Inform your families about their right to Language Access:
"We Speak Your Language" business card size - Five supported languages
"Language Access Services for Families" postcard size - Five supported languages
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Welcoming Students in our schools
Here are some
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Frequently Asked Questions
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UPDATE: Language Access Services Available during COVID-19
UPDATE: Language Access Services Available during COVID-19
April, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
I hope that this email finds you well. We are living in unpresented times that are forcing us to apply innovative, compassionate and equitable approaches to our services.
This is an update regarding our services and when to use them:
On-demand Telephonic interpreters via LionBridge. Here are the and instructions we shared via Admin Connect in the fall. You do not need to submit a request to use on-demand services.
Pre-. Staff will need to submit a request via our scheduling system LinguistLink using. We need 72 hours notice for our supported languages and at least two-weeks notice for languages of lesser diffusion to secure these services.
. Staff will need to submit a request via our scheduling system LinguistLink using. Please note that we need at least 72 hours to secure an interpreter.
For questions about video or pre-scheduled telephonic interpreters, contact Teng Vang at tvang@pps.net
We will continue providing support to ½ûÂþÌìÌà families with our multilingual phone lines, staffed by my team. This service is critical for families. Please do not use these lines to make your phone calls with families as they are dedicated to support families who call in with questions. Please refer to one of the methods above for your direct communication with families.
Translation services will continue without changes. For questions about translations, please contact Marifer at msager@pps.net.
Keep in mind that this is a new way of providing and receiving services for all parties. A trauma-informed and compassionate approach will take you a long way. Remember that the current situation is difficult to assimilate for all and could be triggering for many. Here are some resources to learn more about the.
Please share this information with your teams. We will get through this together!
Stay well,
Marifer Sager,
Language Access Department
Language Access Training is now on Pepper!
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Language Access Training is now on Pepper!
Language Access Training is now on Pepper!
We created two courses (about 15 minutes each) to help you submit requests successfully for (oral communications) interpreters or for (written documents) translation.
Course Name: Submitting interpretation requests
Course Name: Submitting translation requests
Both courses are ready in Pepper. Please use the instructions below.
- Login into ()
- Click on the “Course Library” on the top menu
- Click on the “Subject” filter
- Scroll until you see “Communications” and select
- Click the course title and then "Access Course"
On-Demand Telephonic Interpretation
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How do I request an on-demand telephonic interpreter?
If you are in need of telephonic intrepretation, please call 503-916-3427 or email languageaccess@pps.net.
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Why do I need to make a three-way call to communicate with a family that speaks a language other than English?
Because interpreters are the vehicle of communication, not the source of information. You are a central part of the interpretation process. The role of the over-the-phone language interpreters is that of an impartial participant who interprets the words they hear, passing that information in the appropriate language between two parties to ensure that both parties are provided with the specific information offered by the other party in the appropriate language.
This also offers you the opportunity to engage your classroom families in alignment with the district’s vision. By calling a family directly, you support an increase in their sense of belonging as they seldom interact with their students’ schools.
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When do I use on-demand telephonic interpreters?
Use this method for questions to families or to schedule an appointment for an e-meeting, IEPs, etc.
If needed, discuss preferred mode of accessing interpretation with families (phone interpretation or video interpretation).
Video Interpretation Services
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Big meetings/events - Simultaneous interpreting
Please submit a Simultaneous-interpretation request via LinguistLink.
Here are some instructions to make this process as smooth as possible:
- Your request should include the live streaming link or main meeting link.
- Create six meetings for the support languages via Google Meet or Zoom and name them as following: (Language Access Services needs phone number and pin).
-Spanish Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
-Cantonese Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
-Mandarin Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
-Somali Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
-Russian Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
-Vietnamese Focus Group (needs phone number and pin)
The interpreters will watch the meeting via “Live streaming link or main meeting link” and will call their respective line to do simultaneous interpretation.
Families will call the line pf their language to listen to the interpretation and watch the meeting in English via video.
3. Go to Language Access website (/Page/534) and submit a Simultaneous Interpretation request. On the request be sure to add the "join meeting viaphone" information from the five Google Meets/Hangouts or Zoom (we need the phone number and pin only) and the general ( English ) meeting Link on the "Description". Please select the following language for this request: Chinese Mandarin, Somali, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese. Be sure to add the account code.
4. Include in your request 15 minutes to meet with interpreters before your meeting so that you could go over agenda and expectations with interpreters.
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How to use Google Hangouts and Google meet for Video interpretation services
First, make sure your camera is functional.
Are you able to use/activate the attached camera with a basic app such as Camera (Windows) or Photo Booth (macOS)?
If these OS provided applications cannot activate the attached camera, then a video call will not be possible until the camera issue is resolved. Contact IT helpdesk.
My camera is functional, what is next?
Assuming your test of the camera worked, the following links should be helpful getting either a Google Hangouts or Google Meet video call started.
Google Meet is best for scheduling appointments with larger groups of people, and offers a live captioning service (currently in English only).
Google Hangouts
- (Main page)
Google Meet
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For ASL services
If the interpreter must remain visible, the host may be able to configure the spotlight. Alternatively, the interpreter can act as the host and put themselves in the spotlight.
Note: End users can (inadvertently) set the "Spotlight" on an arbitrary member of their chat/video session. This means that they will see the participant they selected, not the presenter. In this case, the interpreter will not be visible to that specific participant. This is a per user setting, so other participants will not be affected.
Translation of documents
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Special Education Documents
Please note that the Special Education Department is legally required to translate Prior Written Notices. To learn more, refer to the .
If there are other documents that you would like to translate, please connect with Jey Buno, Senior Director Special Education at (503) 916-3152 or jbuno@pps.net.
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Documents
See instructions below to prepare your documents:Word Docs:If the form is in a Word doc format - create a request, attach the Word doc and we will translate it.Instructions to submit Google Forms:If you want the translation in the same format:
- Make five copies of the form and include the links in your request. Name each link as follows: Spanish [name] form, Vietnamese [name] form, etc.
- Make the LAS team (include the email: languageacess@pps.net) owners of the copied forms, this step allows us to give access to the translators.
- Submit a request and imbed the forms in the project description area: SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, etc.
Voice-Over
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Voice-Over
Voice-Over Instructions:
When a requesters ask for a voiceover, they need to follow these steps:
- Email Terry Proctor AND Marifer to discuss the project/timeline.
- Share the video and/or script with Terry.
- Terry will created a numbered script for translation.
- The requester will submit a translation request (example): VOICE-OVER Information night (the title should include the words: VOICEOVER)
- The LAS team will add these instructions: Hi Team, this is a request for a voiceover. Please submit your written translation and the voiceover via LinguistLink.
- The LAS team will add Terry Proctor to the request. He will received directly the translation and the voice-over files.
Scheduling System: LinguistLink
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This is my first time using this system, help!
Please use our .
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Are you providing training to use this system?
Please contact Marifer at msager@pps.net to schedule a virtual training session for your team.
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Do you have quick access to links to submit these requests?
Staff will need to submit a request via our scheduling system LinguistLink using . We need 72 hours notice for our supported languages and at least two-weeks notice for languages of lesser diffusion to secure these services.
Staff will need to submit a request via our scheduling system LinguistLink using Please submit a request with at least one-week notice to allow us to find the right video-interpreter. At this time, we will not have urgent services available.VRI - Video remote interpreters
After submitting a request, you will receive a confirmation in the system with a link to the Gmeet, this will be shared with the family as a link and phone for them to join. Our vendor, Passport to Languages, will provide this service. Their interpreters operate from a HIPPA complaint room to ensure privacy. Services are available for spoken and signed languages. -
I need technical assistance with LinguistLink
Please contact LinguistLink
Phone: 360-254-7711
Email: -
I have questions or changes to my request, what can I do?
Please contact us at languageaccess@pps.net
Cost
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Is there a cost for these services?
We currently have Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali and Russian language access specialists on staff. The services of the language access specialists are free of charge during school hours. However, due to demand, we have contracts in place to support the interpretation and translation needs at the District. These contracts allow ½ûÂþÌìÌà to have access to networks of service providers in hundreds of different languages.
The costs for these services vary depending on who provides the service and the conditions of the request. Schools/departments are responsible for the cost of their requests (if applicable). See our menu of services for more information. -
I want to know my expenses on language access
Please follow the instructions below:
Open Linguistlink ----> dashboard ---->ID number ----->search ----->Click on the request ---->On the target language ----> click on details----> on the bottom --- Est quantity or fixed rate (where you will find payment for project)
Other Questions
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I saw a document that was available to English-speaking families but didn¡¯t include translation. Why didn¡¯t your department translate it?
We are always happy to support language access across the district. However, we are not always aware of all the documents generated at ½ûÂþÌìÌà schools and departments. We need to know the author of the document and receive a request on LinguistLink to translate. You can help us by connecting us over an email with the author and asking them to submit a request for translation. Schools and departments are responsible for any cost associated with their requests (if applicable) and for submitting a request for translation.