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May 2 - Washington D.C. - AAITE Language Advocacy Day
May 3, 2024 - Hyattsville, MD - College Park Marriot Hotel & Conference Center
May 4, 2024 - Adelphi, MD - Sonia Sotomayor Middle School
Edu-Con 2024 is set to showcase a stimulating roster of speakers hailing from various regions of the country. Attendees can look forward to engaging presentations, specialized pre-conference sessions, ample opportunities to explore our Sponsors & Exhibitors, and an opening reception on Friday evening.
Friday, May 3, 2024 - Main Conference Sessions
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Time |
Speaker |
Title |
Description |
| A** |
2:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m. |
Andrew Dafoe, Silvia Gómez-Juárez
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Mastering the Code of Ethics: Advocating for Self and Profession |
In this dynamic presentation, we will embark on an insightful exploration of the newly released code of ethics, tailored specifically for educational interpreters. Our journey begins with a concise review of the code, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of its principles and applications. Participants will engage in interactive scenario reviews and case study applications in small groups. These activities are designed to highlight the unique ethical challenges faced by educational interpreters, such as blended roles/wearing multiple "hats", and lack of available trainings and resources for both interpreters and other staff/instructors. A significant focus will be on the difficulties arising from a lack of awareness among administrators and parents about language access protocols and standards. Through these discussions, attendees will learn to navigate these challenges and connect their experiences back to the code of ethics. |
| B |
2:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m. |
Leslie Padilla-Williams |
What Every K-12 Administrator Should Know About Translation and Interpretation Services |
It is essential to understand the role of educators and administrators in providing language access so that we can give parents who don't speak English the same access to their children's education as everyone else. Typically, bilingual paraeducators provide interpretation and translation services for language access. If you're interested in experiencing and learning more about language interpreting and how you can help provide LEP parents with meaningful communication, join us for a dynamic session. We will discuss the responsibilities of interpreters according to State Offices of Education and the challenges of finding and assessing competent interpreters for educational settings. You will also learn how meaningful communication with LEP parents is a team effort. |
| C |
2:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m. |
Regina Galasso, Isabella Craft |
Pioneering Language Access Education: From Provider Workshops to High-School Classes |
In the school setting, the responsibilities and successes of language access services extend beyond service providers and recipients. Everyone in the school community has a role to play in supporting their provision. Moreover, providers not only make language accessible but also present multiple learning opportunities. This presentation covers how the lessons learned from provider workshops for school interpreters and translators inspired the concept of an academic course to introduce high school students to the foundations of translation, interpreting, and language access. This cutting-edge educational initiative, being piloted at Revere Public Schools in spring 2024, elevates the language profession among members of the school community and empowers young people to embrace opportunities to further learn languages and use them to promote social, educational, and professional advancement. Participants are invited to share their responses to specific questions, and to work in pairs and groups on short activities throughout the presentation. |
Saturday, May 4, 2024 - Main Conference Sessions
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Time |
Speaker |
Title |
Description |
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A**
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10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Gabriela Siebach |
Deliberate Practice for Consecutive Interpreting: Practical Tools for Increasing Accuracy |
Interpreters provide a service that is mentally taxing and requires constant upkeep. Aside from terminology research and preparation, interpreters must regularly practice their consecutive interpreting techniques to maintain and improve the quality of their renditions. Reflexive practice is a common technique used to enhance any interpreting skills, however, a rubric to evaluate our own performance and a path towards improving deficiencies is essential to level up one's interpreting. This course will apply deliberate practice principles to enhancing consecutive interpreting skills and will provide a rubric and skill enhancement exercise suggestions. |
| B |
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Bill Rivers, Giovanna Carriero-Contreras |
Insights from the Interpreting SAFE-AI Task Force |
We present the latest findings of the Interpreting Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical AI in Interpreting (Interpreting SAFE-AI) Task Force (TF). We provide an overview of TF objectives, initiatives, initial outcomes, and next steps based on an extensive multi-language perception survey and a qualitative study on ASL and AI led by an independent Deaf Advisory Group. SAFE-AI was established in June 2023 in response to the burgeoning implementation of generative AI in interpreting. The TF’s goal is to formulate, disseminate, and promote guidelines for AI's ethical and responsible application in interpreting. The TF has sparked a multi-faceted dialogue among a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including technology vendors, requesters and purchasers of interpreting, interpreters, end-users, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and others. We report on the December 2023 two-track, comprehensive, multi-language perception study, combining 1) a survey including more than 2000 spoken language interpreters, language services companies, technology vendors, and others, conducted by CSA Research, and 2) a qualitative study on criteria for creating Deaf-Safe AI for sign language interpreting. These two analyses lay the foundation for deep, reflective dialogue across the profession and inform the development of one or more future surveys to delve into policy solutions regarding AI's profound implications and influence across the interpreting landscape. |
C
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10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Tory Baldwin |
Transformative Language Access: Engineering Stronger Bridges in K-12 Education Networks |
We always hear, “Translators and interpreters create bridges between families and schools.” To extend this metaphor, district T&I coordinators are the bridge’s structural engineers. A bridge derives its strength from its design, materials, foundation, and structural integrity, and ensuring its strength requires regular inspections and maintenance. In terms of a T&I team, these correspond to organizational structure, resources, mission/vision, team building, feedback gathering, and problem-solving. This session delves into the art of "engineering a stronger bridge" by attending to each of these areas of focus. Successful practices from a geographically and demographically district will be shared. |
| D** |
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Mario García |
Lobbyists or Ambassadors? Translators and Interpreters as Practical Advocates for Language Access
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One significant challenge faced by translators and interpreters in the field of education is the limited opportunities for meaningful engagement with administrators and decision-makers who shape and promote language access within their institutions. Presenting a list of requests and well-intentioned proposals, which may sometimes come with a substantial cost, is often perceived as mere complaints and can potentially impede progress on important projects and improvements in our profession. It often seems as if translators and interpreters are given the least consideration, as if our specific concerns are not as significant or aligned with the broader vision of the institution. In this process, we lose sight of the tremendous potential that lies in recognizing, identifying, and effectively communicating the overlapping issues between the micro-level concerns of translators and interpreters and the macro-level goals of the administration and decision makers. |
| E |
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Eva Vargas |
Navigating Emergency Situations: A Guide for Interpreters and Translators in Educational Settings |
This presentation serves as a forum for exchanging ideas and dialogue regarding essential emergency procedures relevant to interpreters operating in educational environments, with a particular emphasis on independent contractors. While staff interpreters may undergo formal training, independent contractors often lack access to such resources. The focus is clarifying roles and addressing dilemmas surrounding interpretation continuity versus prioritizing safety interventions. Participants will gain insight into essential protocols for handling fires, lockdowns, medical emergencies, and evacuations, along with understanding key terminology such as "shelter in place" and "controlled release." Join us for an interactive discussion aimed at enhancing preparedness in educational settings. |
| F |
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Manar Kodamah |
Enhancing Educational Inclusivity: Language Services for McKinney- Vento Law and Foster Care Students
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In this presentation, we will address the unique educational needs of McKinney-Vento Law and foster care students by focusing on the significance of language services. Beginning with an introduction to McKinney-Vento Law and foster care, the attendees will explore the distinctions between the two and emphasize the crucial role of language services in bridging communication and learning gaps for vulnerable students. By the end of the presentation, we will be able to create awareness, build supportive environments, and understand the legal frameworks surrounding the language services of these special populations—delve into challenges in interpretation, the importance of culturally competent interpreters, and effective communication strategies. |
| G** |
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Luis Martínez |
Parts of Speech and the Transposition Technique in Translation |
Many times in translation, the translator tries to be loyal to the source text, which can sometimes lead to a literal and unnatural translation to the target text. If in the source language they're using an adjective for a particular word, then they'll try to find the same adjective for that word in the target language. This does not always translate naturally. Sometimes a different part of speech is a better choice when translating. The purpose of this workshop is to give a hands-on refresher lesson on the parts of speech of a sentence in both English and Spanish, and how to apply this knowledge when having to use transposition as a translation technique. |
| H |
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Maria Peruch |
OKCPS: A Journey to Bridging Gaps in Family Involvement by Providing Comprehensive Interpretation and Translation Services. |
For many years, language barriers have played a huge role in the way families from marginalized communities have been involved in the public education of their children. Families across the country understand the importance of educational attainment. Families have a strong desire to be involved in their students’ educations, yet feel intimidated by their lack of knowledge on the United States education system, language barriers and oftentimes by their negative experiences navigating their own educational journeys. Increasing parental involvement in their children’s education is one of the most important things that can be done to achieve higher rates of educational success. “Across all grade levels, a wealth of studies specifically links parental involvement in education with higher grade point averages, achievement in reading and mathematics, academic motivation, and school engagement” (Ceballo et al., 2014, p. 116)Being one of the largest school districts in the state, Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) is working diligently to ensure the language services provided to its students and their families are accessible and comprehensible. 16,500 of the district’s students are bilingual and 13,000 are English Language Learners. Students and their families represent many different languages; top two being English with 59% and Spanish with 39%. With these statistics in mind, we challenge the belief that simply providing families with materials in their home languages will impact overall levels of family engagement. Through translation and interpretation services, the district’s Communications team is committed to the inclusion and training of bilingual staff, providing families with comprehensible materials in their language of choice and written using language that matches their levels of reading comprehension. This opens doors for more opportunities for schools to have meaningful, two way communication with families. |
I
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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Betsy Winston |
Essential Discourse Analysis for Interpreters: Discourse Cues, Structures, and Strategies |
Teachers and learners choose different cues, structures and strategies, based on the goals of every specific interaction, to communicate effectively. We interpreters, likewise, must be able to make parallel choices in our use of each of our working languages to build meaning, and we need to accomplish that using language and communicative norms appropriate for communication in each educational setting. There are several cues, structures, and strategies for accomplishing each goal, and each and any might be very similar or very different between two languages. These can include: •Informing people: we might use topics and topic shifting structures, comparisons, constructed action, or time markings•Involving people: we might use pronouns to show our alignment with others•Influencing people: we might use louder volume or larger signsAnalysis of complete discourse interactions, looking beyond simple vocabulary choices to the many structures, cues and strategies people use to communicate both in and out of the classroom, is essential to achieve effective interaction and communication in educational settings, amongst and between learners and teachers |
** Virtual Attendee Track
Please note: Conference speakers and sessions are subject to change. If you'd like ti learn more about the cost, venue or any additional information, you can return to our main conference page or, if you're ready to proceed with registration, you can click below to register. Registration is non-refundable. We look forward to seeing you in Denver!
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