This blog post includes contributions from Laura Gardner of Immigrant Connections.
In the shift to virtual services, including home-based learning, many clients are learning how to use videoconferencing platforms like Zoom for the first time. School districts are using a wide range of these programs to communicate with students and families, while refugee service providers are leveraging them in the course of virtual case management, English language classes, job readiness training, etc.
It can be difficult to find multilingual tutorials on using these platforms. The following videos and other materials may be helpful. More general resources on Zoom, Google Classroom, and Chromebooks are listed first, followed by more organization-specific resources that may serve as models for creating your own materials. Important note: be sure to review all materials carefully before sharing with clients, to confirm the processes referenced are fully relevant for your particular implementation of these platforms.
Zoom
- Video: How to Use Zoom
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
This video, which covers the basics of joining a Zoom call, is part of a video series on Digital Literacy. Both the video and full series are available in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Spanish, and Swahili. - Downloadable Document: Virtual Communication Guide
HIAS
This document uses screenshots to describe how to use Zoom. Another section of the guide describes how to use WhatsApp. Available in Arabic, English, Farsi, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, and Urdu. To download, login or register for a free Switchboard account. - Video Playlist: How To Zoom
Zoom
These YouTube playlists made available by Zoom include varying in-language videos on setting up Zoom Meetings and using different features within the platform. Available in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. - Video: Accessing Zoom
The IRC in Abilene
This two-minute screenrecorded video explains how to download Zoom to a smartphone, access a meeting link shared by a caseworker over text or email, click the link and enter your name to join the meeting, and turn audio and video on and off once in the meeting. Available in French, Kirundi, Spanish, and Swahili. - Video: How to Use Zoom
Grossmont College, CALWorks.
This short screenrecorded video explains how to log into Zoom via a web browser. It is aimed at students and references counselors sending students meeting links via email. Available in Arabic, English, Farsi, Kurdish, Spanish, and Swahili. - Video: Using Zoom by Families in Austin Independent School District (ISD)
Austin Independent School District (ISD)
This short screenrecorded video explains how to log into Zoom via a web browser. It is aimed at students and parents. It references processes Austin ISD has adopted that may not be relevant for all providers, such as the use of Zoom waiting rooms. Available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Dari, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Spanish, and Swahili. - Video: Zoom Meetings 101
Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, IN
This video explains how to join a zoom meeting without a link. Available in English, Karenni and Karen, and slides with no audio are available in Arabic. - Video: Use Zoom without making an account
Eunice Dominique, Rise2English
This video, with screenrecording and video of the speaker, explains how to download Zoom to a phone, or tablet, and access a meeting using a Meeting ID and meeting password shared by a teacher. Available in Haitian Creole.
Google Classroom
- Downloadable Document: Google Classroom Guide for Parents
Tanya Bratton
This simple visual guide explains how parents can get started with Google Classroom and navigate the platform. Additional translations, shared by Westbury Union Free School District, are available in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Korean, and Urdu. - Video: Families’ Guide to Google Classroom
Mukilteo School District
This 10-minute video, accompanied by in-language transcripts, explains how to help students login and navigate Google Classroom. The video references logging in using a Mukilteo School District email address (see transcript), but the majority of the content is general. Available in Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. - Multiple Videos: How to Use Google Classroom | How to Turn in Handwritten Work from A Chromebook | How to Turn in Handwritten Work from a Smartphone
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
These short informational videos are for students, parents, and guardians, with step-by-step instructions for using Google Classroom for online learning, and instructions on how to take a picture of handwritten work with a Chromebook and Smartphone and turn in through Google Classroom. Available in Arabic, English, and Spanish. - Multiple Videos: How to Use Google Classroom | How to Join Google Classroom | Joining Google Meet and Its Etiquette
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)
These instructional videos are aimed at parents, guardians, and students. Available in Arabic, with similar videos available in English. - Video: How to Use Google Classroom
Haitian Tutors
This nine-minute screenrecorded video explains how to access or find Google Classroom in your Google Suite, how to accept an emailed invitation to a class/input a class code, and how to submit work. Available in Haitian Creole. - Video: Google Classroom in Somali
Said Aw-Musse Sharmarke
This seven-minute screenrecorded video explains how to navigate Google Classroom using a web browser. Available in Somali. - Video: Learn How to Use Google Classroom
Talosame Technology
This seven-minute screenrecorded video explains how to navigate Google Classroom using a smartphone. Available in Somali.
Chromebooks and Basic Computer Usage
- Videos: Multilingual Technology Help
Burlington, VT School District
These videos provide instruction on basic computer functions for Chromebooks including logging on, sharing documents, adding bookmarks, and clearing cache. They are available in English, French, Karen, Kirundi, Maay Maay, Nepali, Somali, and Swahili. - Guide: How to Use a Chromebook
USCCB
USCCB created this guide in collaboration with an affiliate in Fort Worth, Texas. The guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to use a Chromebook and is translated into Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Karen, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, and Tigrinya. - New! Videos: Chromebook Orientation
HIAS
This video series includes 11 short videos in 7 languages that cover topics such as how to navigate Chromebook settings, use the keyboard and trackpad, how to conduct Google searches, use Gmail, find Chromebook apps, changing the computer language, and more. They are available in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, and Tigrinya.
Do you know of other multilingual resources on using online platforms? Email them to Switchboard@Rescue.org!
For Inspiration: School- and Organization-Specific Videos
Many organizations and school districts have developed resources specific to their internal needs. These are highly individualized and not likely to be useful in their current form to providers in other districts or organizations; however, they may serve as starting points for creating similar videos:
- Digital Literacy – IRC in Sacramento Digital Literacy Lessons: Dari and English (bilingual). Includes computer basics, browsing the internet, Google Maps and other apps, email, safety and security online, and more.
- Google Classroom – NYS TESOL: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Urdu
- Google Classroom – Koondoola Primary School in Australia: Arabic, English, Karen, Vietnamese, Burmese, Farsi
- Google Classroom – Akron, OH Public Schools & Indrawoti Creations: Nepali
- Google Classroom – Oak Harbor Public Schools, WA: English, Spanish, Tagalog
- Canvas – Austin Independent School District, TX: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Swahili, and Vietnamese
- Seesaw – Koondoola Primary School in Australia: Arabic, Burmese, English, Farsi, Karen, Vietnamese
- ClassDojo – Punchbowl Public School in Australia: Bengali and Arabic
2 thoughts on “Resource List: Multilingual Tutorials on Zoom and Other Online Platforms”
These are great! Do you know of any multilingual tutorials/information on how to use a Chromebook (or similar basic computer tutorials)?
Hi Marguerite! You may be interested in these videos from the Burlington, VT School District, available in English, French, Karen, Kirundi, Maay Maay, Nepali, Somali, and Swahili: https://sites.google.com/bsdvt.org/bsd-multilingual-tech-help/home. If others have suggestions, please feel free to comment!