- WCASD
- Interpretalk Services
Translation and Interpreting
Page Navigation
How to Access Interpretalk Services
-
To Access a Qualified Interpreter, call 866-937-7325
- When greeted by a Coordinator, please give your Account Code (contact your building administrator or Nancy Kelly ext 1201 for billing code number) and any other information requested:
- Caller’s Last Name, First Name
- Request the language needed, or ask for assistance in identifying the language.
- Hold momentarily while your interpreter is connected.
- The Coordinator will inform you that the interpreter is now “on the line” and provide you with the interpreter’s ID number.
- Explain the objective of the call to the interpreter. Then proceed by speaking directly to the Limited English Proficient speaker in the first person. Example: “What is your name?” NOT “Ask her what her name is.”
- Upon completion of the call, all parties should simply hang up. Your time will be automatically recorded.
- To make a reservation with the Interpretalk Services to work with an interpreter for languages excluding Spanish, please call 866-937-7325. Be ready to provide the Account #, the date, the time and the language you require for the interpretation. Obtain the Request #, which you will need to provide at the time of your scheduled call.
TIPS FOR WORKING WITH LSA’S TELEPHONE INTERPRETERS
Please see below for helpful tips on how to effectively work with LSA’s telephone interpreters. Following these best practices will help ensure accurate communication always occurs between all parties.
- Speak at a reasonable pace (not too fast) and enunciate clearly.
- Speak in short phrases (complete thoughts) and pause frequently so that the interpreter can convey the information quickly and accurately. If you go on for too long, you run the risk that the interpreter will forget important details and may have to ask you to repeat something.
- Address the Limited English Proficient (LEP) person directly (i.e., “What is your name” not “Please ask him what his name is”).
- Speak “plain English” and avoid jargon or “shop talk” that may be specific to your work or industry.
- It is common for interpreters to occasionally require clarification of unfamiliar terms. If your interpreter asks you to define a term, try to rephrase it in other words. The interpreter may have to ask the LEP person to clarify terms as well, but will let you know before addressing your client in the other language. An interpreter may also consult a language dictionary to ensure a completely accurate interpretation.
- Your interpreter will let you know if he/she has problems hearing you or the other party, who may be calling on a cell phone or in a room with background noise.
- Remember that interpreted communication typically takes twice as long as communication in the same language. Please be patient.
Our goal is to ensure proper communication always occurs between you and your LEP clients. We appreciate your cooperation and encourage you to contact LSA’s Client Services department at 800.305.9673 (option #7) or via email at clientservices@lsaweb.com with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
Download and print the above Interpretalk instructions
- When greeted by a Coordinator, please give your Account Code (contact your building administrator or Nancy Kelly ext 1201 for billing code number) and any other information requested: