Educators know parent-teacher conferences are important, but they can be stressful if you’re scrambling to find an interpreter last minute because a family’s language needs weren’t known, or local interpreters are already booked. And, if a parent cancels at the last minute or runs late—the school gets stuck with the bill for unused time. On-demand consecutive interpretation comes in clutch when an educator needs a reliable, affordable option.
Why Use On-Demand Consecutive Interpretation?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 5 million students in the US are English language learners. And, even when students speak English fluently, their parents might not.
As discussed in our IEP translation post, involved parents make a big difference in student success. Moreover, public schools are legally required to provide an interpreter for Limited English Proficient parents.
Unfortunately, issues arise when parents don’t show up or one party is running late when an interpreter is standing by. Aside from frustration, this also leads to unnecessary time and money spent. That’s where on-demand consecutive interpretation comes in.
- It’s affordable. You only pay for the time you need. Plus, you don’t need to pay for an interpreter to travel to your school. With an on-demand service, you won’t be stuck with a hefty bill if a meeting runs late or is canceled.
- It’s convenient. On-demand interpretation is available by phone, the web, or an app. You don’t have to plan in advance because it is available almost instantly. An educator can dial a toll-free number, or use a website or app, request a specific language, and begin the meeting.
- It’s reliable and available. On-demand interpretation services have a network of interpreters available 24/7. With interpreters located across the country and, in some cases, around the world, districts and schools aren’t dependent on who is available in their local communities.
- It’s effective. Some schools rely on English-speaking students to interpret for their parents. This is risky as students don’t always have the vocabulary they need in either language and may choose to convey only select messages or modify the details. Professional interpreters are unbiased linguists so they can completely and accurately convey information.
While this process is straightforward, you should follow some general guidelines for a successful meeting.
Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences with an Interpreter
- Let parents know ahead of time that an interpreter is available. This will encourage them to sign up for (and also attend) the meeting.
- Leave extra time for the conference. Consecutive interpretation takes double the time as the conversation must be repeated in both languages.
- Break down comments into short segments. This will give the interpreter time to interpret everything accurately and give parents an opportunity to ask questions.
- Have written materials translated, which will help the parent to understand key information about the classroom and how their student is doing. Likewise, you should also translate any conference sign up forms or reminders.
Alboum’s On-Demand Consecutive Interpretation Service
Alboum supports hundreds districts and thousands of public, charter and independent schools nationwide, so we’re well-versed in the needs of educators supporting ELL families.
Alboum offers convenient, affordable on-demand consecutive interpretation that is perfect for:
- Parent-teacher conferences
- IEP meetings
- Enrollment and registration
- Unexpected calls home for medical or disciplinary reasons
- General conversations between families and educators
Alboum can connect you with an interpreter in under a minute for dozens of languages.
Contact Alboum today to learn more about our on-demand consecutive interpretation service.
