School administrators, superintendents, and boards of education know that ELL families are more engaged with their students’ success when they can clearly understand:
- school policies
- academic expectations
- resources available for their children
- district improvement and strategic plans
That’s why it’s so important to make sure all parents have access to the information in student handbooks, codes of conduct, and district (and campus) strategic plans in their preferred language.
Unfortunately, the length of these documents can make translating them a daunting and expensive project. But before you assume it won’t fit into your budget, let’s look at some of the ways you can control costs when translating school handbooks.
Are you updating a previously translated document?
Student handbooks and codes of conduct are often pretty consistent, with only minor updates or new sections added each school year. We can control costs by only translating what’s new or changed.
As long as both the English source and previously translated files are available, using tools like track changes or document comparison in Microsoft Word we can identify the new material requiring translation . For PDFs (as long as they’re not scanned), this process is still feasible but requires additional steps.
Do you have multiple versions of similar documents?
Many schools have district-wide pieces with campus-specific elements. By translating the main document first, and then focusing on what’s different in each version, we avoid re-translating the same text multiple times.
How do we do it? At Alboum, we utilize Trados, a translation memory tool that allows us to identify already-translated content and incorporate it into new translations. Our translators then review the full document to confirm the context is consistent across each handbook and the translation remains accurate and appropriate.
We also store translation glossaries from your previous projects. This ensures consistency across your translations and use of your preferred translation of key terms without adding any extra time or cost to the project.
Added together we may be able to significantly reduce the number of words to be translated, and save you money.
Machine Translation Post Editing
Machine Translation Post EditingMany districts find themselves in a last-minute scramble to translate their materials by the start of the school year, which can make Machine Translation Post Editing (MTPE) a good option.
MTPE pairs machine translation tools with a professional translator. The hybrid approach yields a quicker turnaround time than human only translation while providing for accuracy, style, and nuances that’s impossible with computer-generated output alone.
It also allows us to lower costs while maintaining quality standards – especially on large volumes of content like a school handbook.
Alboum proudly supports schools and districts across the country with our professional translation and on-demand interpreter services.
From our responsiveness and dedicated teams to our experienced translators and interpreters—we speak the language of education.
Our clients appreciate that Alboum understands the unique needs of schools and districts, and also that our professional translators and interpreters are familiar with the terminology of special education, local accountability plans, and academic standards.
Alboum focuses on making language access easy and affordable—offering translation and interpretation services without rush fees, annual commitments, monthly minimums, or complicated procurement processes.
Reach out today if we can help your school or district communicate so you can be on the path to greater engagement with the ELL families in your community.
