ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) - The Allentown School District is using new devices to help parents and families understand what's being said at events by translating to their native language.
"It’s really important for families to feel comfortable to come in and be able to understand what’s being said," said Allentown School District Parent Liaison, Karim Brown.
Brown served as the translator for the Jefferson Elementary School Moving-Up Ceremony for kindergarten students on Thursday. Parents stopped at the door before the ceremony to pick up a device with headphones, so they could hear the real-time translation of the ceremony.
"With the devices, I think our families feel a little more engaging and willing to want to come in and participate," said Brown. "What we have had our parents report back - from the ones that used it - is they feel more comfortable in being able to listen to what is being said.”
All 24 buildings in the school district have 25 devices each. Brown said it is similar to having a person translate in sign-language for people who are deaf. Some people have expressed that Google Translate would be a better option; however, Brown said it is not accurate for real-time translation. "Having a live person being able, and an effective person, who is qualified to translate or interpret is more effective," said Brown.
"Many times Google Translate does not translate things in the native language that we need here in the Lehigh Valley. For the most part, in Allentown, we have Puerto Rican families, Dominican families, some families from Mexico, and Google Translate is mostly based in Latin, so those words might not effectively be understood by the families we have here in the Lehigh Valley and in Allentown," said Brown.
The devices can also be used for parent-teacher meetings to make sure the families can be more involved with their children at school. "Being able to understand what’s being said, so then they can be an advocate for their family and their child," said Brown.
The district purchased the devices for a total of $54,000, and the money was already set aside in the ESOL budget to do so. They have already been delivered to the schools, and the principals will receive training on how to use, clean, and maintain the new devices. In the future, the district hopes to expand how they communicate, and possibly use apps for your smartphone to allow more people to follow along. If you ever need a device at any event, ceremony, or meeting, or you know someone who does, ask an administrator.
