Brand the Interpreter
What if La Malinche—the Indigenous woman who famously served as interpreter and advisor to Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of Mexico—could share her stories? Imagine the insights and experiences she could offer about the power of language and navigating the complexities of two worlds. That’s the spirit behind the Brand the Interpreter Podcast!
Hosted by Mireya Pérez, an interpreter and personal brand advocate, this podcast gives today’s interpreters a platform to share their own fascinating stories, challenges, and triumphs. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the world of interpreting, from navigating high-stakes conversations to facilitating cross-cultural understanding, offering listeners a glimpse into the lives of the professionals who bring meaning across languages.
Whether you’re an interpreter, a bilingual professional, or simply curious about the magic that happens behind the scenes, Brand the Interpreter immerses you in the stories of language professionals making an impact every day. It’s more than just a podcast—it’s a celebration of language, connection, and the vital human element that makes communication possible.
Join us to explore how the power of language, driven by human connection, shapes understanding, opens new worlds, and transforms perspectives, revealing the deeper truths that unite us all.
Brand the Interpreter
The Reflection Room: Transforming Schools for Multilingual Success
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Welcome Back to the Reflection Room!
This bite-sized episode offers a quick and engaging glimpse into the key highlights, thought-provoking moments, and valuable takeaways from Transforming Schools for Multilingual Success with Mark Byrne. Designed for listeners on the go, The Reflection Room condenses the conversation into a brief, impactful reflection, perfect for sparking curiosity or revisiting the main ideas.
Tune in for an insightful recap and then dive into the full episode for the complete story!
Disclaimer: The audio in this episode has been enhanced using AI-generated elements. While every effort has been made to maintain the authenticity and quality of the content, some of the voices are not human-produced. Thank you for embracing this creative approach as we continue to innovate and explore new storytelling techniques.
Relevant Resources:
Illinois State Board of Education: Special Education Qualified IEP Interpreters
Share your thoughts about this episode!
Thanks for tuning in, till next time! 👋
Connect with Mireya Pérez, Host
www.brandtheinterpreter.com
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
Hey everyone and welcome back for another deep dive with us. Today we're going to be tackling something that's super important in education and really just in our society as a whole, and that's language access. And particularly, we're going to be focusing on language access in schools, and I think this could be really fascinating for anyone listening, whether you're a school leader, maybe you're a decision maker or even a professional interpreter, because we're going to be pulling some really insightful information from an interview with Mark Byrne, who is like a total champion in this field.
Speaker 3We'll be drawing from his interview on the Brand the Interpreter podcast.
Speaker 2Yes, which you should all check out, by the way.
Speaker 3Great podcast.
Speaker 2But yeah, so Mark's story in and of itself is super fascinating.
Speaker 1Oh yeah.
Speaker 2He actually dropped out of high school and then went on this incredible journey to become this leading expert and advocate for language access leading expert and advocate for language access and you know, one of the things that really stood out to me when I was reading about him was how his time in Peru really kind of shaped his perspective on things.
Speaker 3It's amazing how those experiences abroad and those different cultures and languages can shift your worldview, isn't it?
Speaker 2Totally and he even talks about like seeing you know different levels of poverty and you know just different ways of life, and that really made him kind of wake up to how much we take for granted here and a theoretical standpoint. He's really connecting with the families and understanding their struggles because he's, you know, seen it firsthand For sure, for sure. So let's kind of get into the meat of this, like what is it about language access that is so crucial in schools?
Speaker 3Okay.
Speaker 2I mean beyond, just like understanding each other. You know what I mean, yeah.
Speaker 3Yeah, that's a good question and I think you hit the nail on the head there, because so often we get stuck on that very surface level, right. Just thinking about oh, we need to translate this document or we need an interpreter for this meeting, right, and we kind of miss the bigger picture, which is the impact that language access has on trust, engagement and, ultimately, student success.
Speaker 2So yeah, paint that picture for me a little bit more. Yeah, what does that impact actually look like?
Speaker 3Sure. So Mark uses this really interesting analogy. He compares it to how businesses invest in understanding their target audience, right Like if a business wants to be successful, they need to know their customers' needs, their preferences, and they tailor their approach to kind of maximize that impact.
Speaker 2Right, so it's like they really need to understand who they're serving.
Speaker 3Exactly, and that's the same lens we need to apply to language access in schools.
Speaker 2Got it.
Speaker 3It's an investment in building those relationships with families, fostering genuine connection. It's about creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels seen and heard.
Speaker 2I love that, yeah. So how do we get there? How do you go from seeing it as like just another line item in the budget?
Speaker 3Right.
Speaker 2To this essential investment.
Speaker 3Yeah, that's the million dollar question, and one of the key strategies that Mark talks about is this idea of identifying and empowering language champions in each school building.
Speaker 2OK, I've heard that term before, but what does that actually look like in practice?
Speaker 3So think of them as kind of ambassadors for language access within their schools. They're the go to people, for both staff and families. They make sure that everyone knows what resources are available and how to access them.
Speaker 2So they're also like a bridge between the school and the community, in a way. Exactly, and they're crucial for creating that system-wide change that we're talking about, but I imagine that even with like the most passionate staff and even if you have these language champions in place, achieving like district-wide language access is still a huge challenge.
Speaker 3Oh, absolutely. There are definitely roadblocks along the way and it requires a lot of coordination and planning. Even with the most enthusiastic staff, you know it's not a quick fix.
Speaker 2Not a quick fix at all. It's definitely a journey.
Speaker 3Right. So what are some practical steps that schools can take to start making this happen?
Speaker 2Well, the first step is really about identifying those individuals who are already passionate about this issue. Right, you know, maybe they're bilingual staff members or teachers who have experience working with multilingual learners, or even parents who have been really active advocates.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2You tap into that existing enthusiasm and then you give them the support and training they need to become those effective language champions.
Speaker 3So yeah, Build on the strengths that you already have.
Speaker 2Exactly. And then it's about providing that ongoing support Okay, making sure they have access to professional development opportunities, information about interpretation and translation services, right, cultural sensitivity training, all of that.
Speaker 3So equip them to really make a difference.
Speaker 2Exactly Now. On top of all that, we also have to remember that the landscape of language access itself is constantly evolving. Oh yeah, for sure, there are new challenges, new trends and new technologies emerging all the time. What are some of the things that are kind of on the horizon now that you're seeing?
Speaker 3Well, Mark was a little hesitant to talk too much about what's happening at the federal level.
Speaker 2Yeah, it makes sense with the election coming up.
Speaker 3Right, exactly, but he did highlight some really encouraging developments at the state level.
Speaker 2Okay, so tell me more about that. What's happening at the state level?
Speaker 3Well, illinois, for example, has implemented some really impressive legislation that, honestly, should be the gold standard everywhere.
Speaker 1Oh, wow.
Speaker 3They've actually mandated interpreter rights for IEP meetings, which means that districts are required to inform families of their right to have an interpreter present and those interpreters are paid for by the district.
Speaker 2Wow, that's huge because I know those IEP meetings can be so crucial and complicated.
Speaker 3Absolutely, and if you understand what's being said, you know you can't really advocate for your child effectively.
Speaker 2Right right.
Speaker 3So this is a huge step towards ensuring that families can meaningfully participate in those meetings.
Implementing Equitable Language Access in Schools
Speaker 2That's fantastic. So what else are they doing in Illinois?
Speaker 3They've also mandated that pre-translated IEP documents have to be provided to families three days before the meeting.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3So this gives them time to digest the information, understand it fully and prepare any questions they might have.
Speaker 2I mean, that just seems like common sense to me.
Speaker 3Right.
Speaker 2But I'm sure that's not happening everywhere.
Speaker 3Unfortunately not, but it makes such a difference. You know. Imagine trying to process all that information in a language you're not fluent in. Right during the meeting itself. It's just not setting families up for success.
Speaker 2No, it's so important to give them the time and the resources to really understand what's going on.
Speaker 3Absolutely, and they're also tackling the whole world of machine translation in Illinois.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3How so they're requiring human post-editing for IEP documents to ensure accuracy and nuance?
Speaker 2That's smart.
Speaker 3Yeah, so you get that efficiency of technology combined with the precision and cultural sensitivity of a human touch.
Speaker 2Which is so important when you're dealing with. You know these really like sensitive and technical documents.
Speaker 3Absolutely, and the great thing is that this momentum is not limited to Illinois.
Speaker 2Oh, that's good to hear.
Speaker 3Other states, like Colorado and New Jersey, are implementing similar measures, so there's definitely this growing awareness of just how important language access is in education.
Speaker 2And that's where you know platforms like Brand the Interpreter really come in, because they're giving a voice to experts like Mark.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Who are out there on the front lines advocating for these changes and sharing these developments and inspiring others.
Speaker 3They really are helping to move the needle and showcase the real world impact of language access.
Speaker 2For sure, for sure. And it all kind of circles back to this concept of lost time that Mark talks about.
Speaker 3Yes, that's such a powerful way to frame it.
Speaker 2Because if schools don't have clear processes and trained personnel in place to handle language access, then everyone suffers.
Speaker 3Exactly. Teachers struggle to communicate effectively with parents, families feel frustrated and unheard and, ultimately, students miss out on valuable learning opportunities.
Speaker 2And, as Mark pointed out, that lost time it accumulates, it becomes a bottleneck for the entire school district.
Speaker 3Exactly, and it hinders progress and prevents everyone from reaching their full potential.
Speaker 2So for our listeners out there, especially those who are maybe in leadership roles, what are some key takeaways from this part of our deep dive?
Speaker 3Well, I think the biggest takeaway is that language access is not just a nice to have. It's an essential investment in student success and equity, and it requires a multifaceted approach. You know, we need to be collecting data, we need to be identifying and empowering language champions, and we need to be creating a school culture that truly values and embraces linguistic diversity.
Speaker 2So it's about more than just, you know, checking boxes or meeting some kind of legal requirement.
Speaker 3Exactly. It's about creating a learning environment where every student and every family feels welcomed, respected and supported.
Speaker 2Awesome. Well, we're going to take a quick break and then, when we come back, we'll continue our deep dive into language access in schools. So stay tuned.
Speaker 3Okay, so we've talked about how important language access is and the impact it has, but let's get practical.
Speaker 2How do we actually make this happen in schools?
Speaker 3So one of the first things that Mark emphasizes is the importance of data, like really understanding the language demographics of your school community.
Speaker 2Makes it. You got to know who you're serving before you can effectively meet their needs right.
Speaker 3Exactly, and he made this really interesting point about how just counting the number of students who are currently classified as English learners doesn't actually give you the full picture.
Speaker 2Oh, interesting, because a student might not need language support services anymore, but their family still might.
Speaker 3Precisely, you need to take a more holistic view.
Speaker 2Yeah, look at the whole school community.
Speaker 3Exactly, and that data can inform everything from your communication strategies to professional development for your staff.
Speaker 2So it's really about being proactive.
Speaker 3Yes, anticipating needs and building systems that work for everyone.
Speaker 2And that brings us back to those language champions we were talking about. It does those individuals in each school who are kind of like the point people for language access?
Speaker 3Yes, think of them as problem solvers, advocates, connectors. They're there for both staff and families when language barriers come up.
Speaker 2So let's say I'm a school leader listening to this and I'm like, ok, I'm on board, I want to do this.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2How do I actually find and empower these language champions?
Speaker 3Well, first you've got to look for those who are already demonstrating that passion. Ok look for those who are already demonstrating that passion. Maybe they're bilingual staff members or teachers who have experience working with multilingual learners, or even parents who've been really actively involved in advocating for language access.
Speaker 2So you're tapping into that existing enthusiasm and expertise.
Speaker 3Exactly, and then you provide them with the training and resources they need to really excel in this role.
Speaker 2Like. What kind of training are we talking about?
Speaker 3Well, it could be professional development on language access best practices.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3Information about interpretation and translation services, cultural sensitivity, training, all of that.
Speaker 2So really equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to make a difference.
Speaker 3And don't forget about visibility, making sure everyone in the school community knows who these language champions are and how to reach them.
Speaker 2Yeah, so like putting their information on this school website?
Speaker 3Exactly, having it in newsletters, posting it in prominent locations around the school.
Speaker 2It's about making it easy for people to access that support.
Speaker 3And it's also about creating a culture where language differences are seen as assets, not barriers.
Speaker 2It's that whole shift in mindset.
Speaker 3Yes, exactly, and that goes back to what Mark said about focusing on impact over output.
Speaker 2I really like that concept.
Speaker 3Right, it's not just like that concept Right. It's not just about checking boxes.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 3It's about making sure that every interaction with families is respectful, clear and meaningful.
Speaker 2It's about building those genuine connections.
Speaker 3Exactly so. For those of you out there who are school leaders or decision makers, what are some concrete actions you can take right now to make language access a priority in your schools?
Speaker 2Yeah, give us the to-do list.
Speaker 3Okay, so first start by collecting that data.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3Understand the language demographics of your community and identify any gaps in your current services.
Speaker 2Seems like a pretty manageable first step.
Speaker 3Then identify and empower your language champions. Provide them with the training and resources they need.
Speaker 2Check gang. Check what's next.
Speaker 3Make language access part of your school's overall strategic plan.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 3Integrate it into your budget, your professional development offerings.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3And your communication strategies.
Speaker 2So it's not just like this separate thing that you do off to the side.
Speaker 3It's woven into the fabric of the school.
Speaker 2It's part of the mission.
Speaker 3And remember this is an ongoing process.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 3It's about continuous improvement, staying informed about best practices, legislative changes.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 3And always striving to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment.
Speaker 2So we know this is a lot to take in, right, but we've put together some helpful resources for you.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Including a link to Mark Byrne's full interview on the Brand the Interpreter podcast.
Speaker 3Definitely check that out. You can find all of that in the show notes for this episode. And for those of you who are professional interpreters, listening, think about how you can be a resource for your local schools.
Speaker 2Share your expertise, offer training or even advocate for policies that promote language access and equity.
Speaker 3It takes a village right.
Speaker 2It really does, we all have a role to play in making sure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Speaker 3Absolutely. And as we wrap up this part of our deep dive, we want to leave you with a few questions to ponder.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3What can you do within your own role to make language access everyone's responsibility?
Speaker 2Good question.
Speaker 3How can you make sure that families feel welcomed, respected and empowered to participate in their children's education?
Speaker 2And what resources are out there to support you in this work.
Speaker 3We'll be back in just a moment to explore some more inspiring examples and practical tips for making language access a reality in your school. Welcome back to the Deep Dive. I'm feeling really inspired by all these amazing changes that are happening.
Speaker 2It's incredible to see how states are stepping up and really taking the lead on language, access and equity.
Speaker 3Yeah, for sure. So we've covered the what and the why, but now I want to know the how. How do schools actually put these ideas into action? Well, let's think about that first impression. You know, imagine a family, maybe new to the country, walking into a school for the very first time. What can we do to make them feel welcome and comfortable?
Speaker 2I mean having clear signage in multiple languages would be a good start, right.
Speaker 3Absolutely. That sends a strong message that this is a place where all families are valued.
Speaker 2Yeah, and it's not just the main entrance, right.
Speaker 3Right.
Speaker 2You got to think about the front office, the nurses station, even the restrooms.
Speaker 3Exactly.
Speaker 2All the key areas.
Speaker 3Make it easy for families to navigate the building.
Speaker 2And having staff members who can greet them in their native language, oh yeah, can make such a difference.
Speaker 3Even if it's just a simple hello or welcome.
Speaker 2It shows you've made that effort to connect with them.
Speaker 3And then, of course, there are all those school forms and documents.
Speaker 2Oh yeah.
Speaker 3Which can be so overwhelming if you're not fluent in English.
Speaker 2Right, like registration forms, permission slips, the school handbook. All of that needs to be translated.
Speaker 3Yeah, and remember what Mark said about pre-translating IEP documents. Yes, that's crucial.
Speaker 2So families can actually understand what's being discussed in those meetings.
Speaker 3It's about removing those language barriers and empowering families to be active participants.
Speaker 2And it's not just official documents.
Speaker 3Right.
Speaker 2It's also about those day-to-day communications.
Speaker 3Exactly. Schools can use things like multilingual messaging apps, translation software to communicate with families about all sorts of things.
Speaker 2Yeah, like school events, homework assignments, even just checking in.
Speaker 3Keeping those lines of communication open and accessible.
Speaker 2But you know, in the midst of all this technology, we can't forget about that personal connection.
Speaker 3Absolutely. Sometimes, a simple phone call or a home visit can be the most effective way to build rapport.
Speaker 2Yeah, and involving bilingual staff members or interpreters in those interactions can really help bridge the gap.
Speaker 3It shows families that you're invested in their well-being and that you're there to support them.
Speaker 2So, as we wrap up this deep dive, I want to leave our listeners with one final question to think about. How can you, within your own sphere of influence, advocate for language access and equity in your community, because we all have a role to play.
Speaker 1We do.
Speaker 2Whether you're a teacher, a parent, a community member, we can all contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for everyone.
Speaker 3Language access is a human right.
Speaker 2It is.
Language Access Advocacy Through Podcasts
Speaker 3And it's essential for unlocking the potential of every child.
Speaker 2And if you want to learn more about this topic, be sure to check out the full interview with Mark Byrne on the Brand, the Interpreter podcast.
Speaker 3Great podcast.
Speaker 2You can find a link in the show notes.
Speaker 3Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
Speaker 2We hope you learned a lot and feel inspired to make a difference.
Speaker 3Until next time, keep learning, keep advocating and keep pushing for a world where language is never a barrier to success hi there.
Speaker 1If you're enjoying these short reflection room episodes, please remember to share them on your social media platforms or with your network. That would appreciate to hear the Brand the Interpreter. Episodes in a bite-sized format, as always. Thanks for tuning in, till next time.
