General Education Requests
Interpretation
The Office of Translation and Interpretation provides interpreters for approved school activities to ensure that families who are not primary speakers of English or who are deaf or hard (DHH) of hearing can fully participate in their children’s education. Interpreters can assist with family/teacher conferences, PTA-Title 1 schools, meetings, family workshops, back-to-school nights, administrative conferences, suspension conferences, expulsion hearings, and other meetings or school events. We also offer DHH services to our Austin ISD Staff. Please provide at least 5 days to program your event; some lower-incidence languages may require more time to arrange.
NOTE: Services need to be requested by an Austin ISD employee. If you are an Austin ISD family needing services, please contact your school so they may request services on your behalf. Please email an Austin ISD staff member or contact your campus via Let’s Talk (go to the bottom and click on Contact Campus by Text and select the school your child attends).
Document Translation
Document Interpretation Request Form
The Office of Translation and Interpretation facilitates document translation for family communication. Please provide at least 10 days for translations. Turn-around time will depend on the size and priority of the documents. Languages other than Spanish may require more time to arrange. Please plan ahead. We only accept final drafts. For copyrighted materials, we need the owner's permission.
NOTE: Services need to be requested by an Austin ISD employee. If you are an Austin ISD family needing services, please contact your school so they may request services on your behalf. Please email an Austin ISD staff member or contact your campus via Let’s Talk (go to the bottom and click on Contact Campus by Text and select the school your child attends).
Tips for Interpretations
We aim to relay your message clearly and bridge the communication gap. The following are tips for Austin ISD Staff to prepare for the use an interpreter to have a better communication with our families.
Select a link below to learn more about how you can ensure the session runs smoothly with your interpreter.
- Interpretation for small meetings is typically consecutive so, build extra time into the session.
- If possible, one or two days before the meeting, send the interpreter any materials that may help them prepare (documents to be read to the family, agenda, summary, presentations, etc.)
- Make sure the seating arrangement is comfortable and appropriate for all involved. The interpreter should ideally be seated next to the person using services.
- Speak directly to the family in the first person. Don’t focus on the interpreter — this may be seen as a sign of disrespect — especially when using an ASL interpreter.
- Speak in a loud and clear tone of voice.
- Use short, concise sentences. Speak normally but pause frequently (every two sentences) to allow the interpreter to speak after you.
- Take turns speaking. Avoid side conversations. Wait for the interpreter to finish reiterating what the previous person said before you start talking again.
- Be aware that metaphors (e.g. he’s a night owl), colloquialisms (e.g. pull yourself up by your bootstraps), euphemisms (e.g. running behind), and idioms (e.g. beating around the bush), as well as some humor, may not have an exact translation.
- If someone does not understand, it is your responsibility (not the interpreter’s) to explain more simply.
- Do not say anything that you do not want the interpreter to repeat. The interpreters’ code of ethics requires them to interpret everything that is said in the room.
- Be aware that the interpreter may ask for clarification if they do not understand the intent of a statement.
- Remember to set up a table with two chairs at least 15 minutes before the event starts. This way the interpreters can display and pass out their equipment to your guests and families that need the interpretation services.
- If you anticipate a large number of attendees, designate a staff member as an interpreter helper. The helper will be able to assist with signing in guests that need services and handing out equipment.
- In some languages, it takes many more words to deliver a message when compared to English. We ask you to please speak clearly, project your voice and slow down a little.
- Ensure that each presenter uses a microphone.
- Typically we will interpret simultaneously for large groups. We ask you to incorporate natural pauses into your speaking, as if you were reading a story to a child. Remember to pause in between phrases and after sentences.
- Your interpreters may try to communicate with you using hand signals and eye contact if they need you to slow down a little or speak more loudly. When in doubt, speak more slowly.
- If there is time allotted for comments and questions from your audience, please call on one person at a time and have each person take turns speaking using a microphone, if available. When only one person speaks at a time, your interpreter is able to hear, understand and relay the message accurately. This is very important, particularly in events that include panels or group interaction.
- It is helpful to the interpreters to have material provided to them (handouts, speeches, agendas, presentations) before the event. This gives context and understanding.