Working with Interpreters

This list provides early childhood educators and administrators resources on collaborating with interpreters in order to communicate with families who speak a language other than English.
Web Resources
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6 Strategies for Partnering with Families of English Language Learners
Source: Understood
This article highlights six strategies that teachers can use to partner with families who speak languages other than English.
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Communicating with ELL Families: 10 Strategies for Schools
Source: Colorin Colorado
Learn how to stay in contact with English learners and their families and how administrators can support that outreach. This article also includes multiple tools, resources, and tips for collaboration.
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Equity Through Language Access: Best Practices for Collaborating with Interpreters
Source: Colorin Colorado
This article provides information on how teachers, administrators, bilingual staff, and families can collaborate with interpreters in order to ensure students have equitable access to their education.
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How to Work Effectively with Interpreters
Source: Edutopia
This article gives tips for educators working with interpreters before, during, and after meetings.
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Meeting Tips
Source: Early Intervention Training Program (EITP)
This one-page handout from the EITP 3-Day System Overview for Bilingual Interpreters/Translators offers meeting tips, including ground rules for communicating with families through the interpreter.
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Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators: Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement
Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
These recommendations for educators include how to team with, communicate with, and develop relationships with diverse families.
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Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences with Bilingual Families
Source: Reading Rockets
This article provides tips to bridge the language gap, take cultural expectations about education into account, and provide your students’ parents with the information they need about their children’s progress in school.
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Tips for Family Visits
Source: Early Intervention Training Program (EITP)
This one-page handout gives educators and therapists practical tips on how to best conduct family meetings and home visits.
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Tips for Working with Interpreters
Source: Early Intervention Training Program (EITP)
This one-page handout for early intervention professionals gives tips about working with interpreters.
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Working With Interpreters
Source: Legal Services NJ
This five-minute video gives basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively through an interpreter with a person who doesn’t speak your language.
About this resource
Setting(s) for which the article is intended:- Family Child Care
- Child Care Center
- Preschool Program
- Kindergarten
Intended audience(s):
- Teachers / Service providers
- Faculty / Trainer
Age Levels (the age of the children to whom the article applies):