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In 2019, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) in Hyattsville, MD, launched its Community Interpreter Program to expand its language services capacity, improve staff operations, and reduce administrative costs. LSSNCA recruits, trains, and contracts with former clients to begin working as paid community interpreters for the agency.
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Hosted on July 18, 2023 the training was delivered by Rob Callus, Training Officer; Switchboard. In resettlement services, multilingual community members often serve as interpreters and translators. However, community members working in these roles sometimes lack the necessary skills and training. Paid certification programs can often be out of reach, leaving refugee service providers with…
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For newcomers to equitably receive the vital integration services they are eligible for, language access is essential. As service providers know, working with a professional in-person or telephonic interpreter from the same cultural and linguistic background as the client is always ideal. But live interpretation is not always possible given the demands of newcomer services.…
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Switchboard has compiled a list of mobile apps to support refugee service providers in navigating challenges of interpretation, translation, and resource-sharing in linguistically and culturally supportive ways. Please note, however, that these apps should be considered for things like short, simple conversations, appointment reminders, straightforward information-sharing, and initial inquiries to get a baseline understanding of…
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This module is intended for providers who are new to working with interpreters. It is the first of two Switchboard e-learning modules on this topic. After completing this module, we recommend you complete Overcoming Challenges in Interpretation. After completing this 20-minute module, you will be able to: Define key terms related to interpretation; Describe the interpreter’s…
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This toolkit provides guidance on the process of cultural validation and translation review. Cultural validation is the process of reviewing and providing feedback on content prior to translation, to make sure materials have the best possible framing and approach for the intended audience. Materials can include print, audio, video, web content, imagery, graphics, and more.…
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Hosted on April 5, 2022, this training was delivered by delivered by Tigest Coleman, Training Officer, Strengths-Based Services, Switchboard; Jess Dalpe, Senior Technical Advisor: Safety and Wellness, IRC; and Loan Mai, Technical Advisor, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, IRC. Webinar transcript coming soon! Do you want to improve your knowledge of case management? Do you want…
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Tarjimly is a mobile phone app that connects multilingual speakers, who can remotely volunteer their language skills as translators and interpreters, with people who need interpretation. Tarjimly supports connecting to translators in 120+ languages. The interpreters on Tarjimly are volunteers and there are two options for using the app: free access and premium (paid) access.…
Self-advocacy is an essential skill among bilingual families. In education, professional interpreters/translators support families with communication to ensure that they can protect their own rights and lift their own voices. This tip sheet (available in 13 languages) describe the basic knowledge and skills that families should expect from professional interpreters/translators in education, and a list…
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For many providers continuing to serve non-English-speaking clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, language access is a significant challenge. Videoconferencing technology, although far from perfect, can help us provide services without losing all of the human-to-human contact that typically facilitates communication. Below are a few tips for getting started with video remote interpreting (VRI). Choosing the…
