Monthly News & Updates for Educators, Interpreters and Translators

Happy (almost) End of the School Year!


SeSo, Inc, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our team of interpreters and translators who have been busy this school year! Their dedication fills the gaps in communication, strengthens family engagement, and builds trust between educators and the communities we serve. Their work is the bridge that makes a true connection possible. Here are some of the comments we receive each day about our amazing team:

RESOURCE CORNER

Practice Makes Perfect!


Have you visited our YouTube Channel lately? Did you know we have short videos you can use to practice consecutive interpretation? They are free and available in Vietnamese, Arabic, and Spanish. Stay tuned as we release the Korean, French, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean versions. Record yourself and practice taking notes!

Interpreter Training Resources


The Interpreter Training Resources’ website provides a wide range of resources for interpreters, covering key areas such as consecutive interpreting, note-taking techniques, and simultaneous interpreting.


It includes practical guidance on effective note-taking, strategies for language acquisition, and curated videos for interpreting practice.


The site also offers preparation tips, recommended reading materials, and links to other valuable websites tailored specifically for student interpreters.

Glossaries for ELLs/MLLs

This website provides bilingual glossaries and cognates to support English Language Learners (ELLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLLs). These resources are for educators, students, and families and can be used for instruction and testing accommodations.

Key Features:

  • Testing Support: Glossaries are approved accommodations for NYS exams in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
  • Languages: Resources are available in 45+ languages, so far.ith updates based on student demographics.

Glossaries Available:

  • Math: Covers all grade levels (ES to HS)
  • ELA: Glossaries in 40+ languages, plus Common Core Regents glossaries (Chinese, Spanish).
  • Science: Includes Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics glossaries.
  • Social Studies: From Elementary to High School (Global and US History).
  • Cognates: English–French, English–Haitian, English–Spanish.
  • Literary Terms: Guides in 20+ languages.
  • ELL Terminology: English/Spanish glossary of key education terms.

The Translation of Proper Nouns


Proper nouns are nouns or noun phrases that designate and refer to unique beings, either animate (people, animals) or inanimate (geographical locations, institutions, creative works, events, etc.). They do not have lexical meaning, which means they do not have synonyms or antonyms.


There is no single rule that applies in all cases regarding the translation of proper nouns. Pragmatic aspects of the translation must be taken into account; namely:

  • The genre of the text (technical, literary, etc.)
  • The type of text (form, informed consent, IEP, brochure, etc.)
  • The characteristics of the audience
  • The purpose of the translation
  • The place of publication (especially important for the translation of deictic elements)
  • Any client style guidelines, if available


What are the different strategies for the translation of proper nouns?

  1. Use the official translation, if available. Some recommended reference websites for this purpose include USA.gov, the U.S. Department of Education, Colorín Colorado; and the European Union database (for example, for country names, regions, etc.).
  2. Do not translate the proper name; leave in English.
  3. Describe. Translate the name through an explanation.
  4. Expand. Translate the name through an explanation, but also leave the name in English (or some reference, such as an acronym).


When translating a proper noun, it is also important to follow the appropriate typographic and orthographic rules (capitalization, italics, quotation marks, etc.) of the target language.



Want to discuss a specific translation challenge? Email us at sesoincga@gmail.com

READING CORNER

How Schools Build Dual-Language Programs for Less Commonly Taught Languages


Read about the innovative programs that benefit students’ sense of belonging in school, which translates to academic and linguistic success.

New York State Launches Language Dashboard to Enhance Language Access and Inclusion

Learn more about this new digital tool that aims to provide detailed insights into the linguistic diversity of New Yorkers who speak languages other than English. The dashboard offers seven interactive views—including top languages, county-level data, and demographic characteristics—to support data-driven decisions in government and community services.

Officials highlight the dashboard as a significant step in promoting language equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive outreach.

COURSES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Upcoming NAETISL Regional Conferences

We look forward to making new friends at the regional conferences hosted by the National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages (NAETISL)! These events promise to bring together interpreters, translators, and educators from across the nation for a day of learning, networking, and professional growth. We hope to see you there!


NAETISL Mid-South Regional Chapter Conference (Virtual)

July 19, 2025

 Register: bit.ly/NAETISLmidsouthV


NAETISL West Regional Chapter Conference (Hybrid)

August 2, 2025

 Virtual Registration: bit.ly/NAETISLwest

In-Person Registration: bit.ly/NAETISLwest

Harry Butler Board Room

455B N. 22nd Street

Grand Junction, CO 81501


Northeast Regional Chapter Conference (Hybrid)

October 18, 2025

Virtual Registration: bit.ly/NAETISLnortheast

 In-Person Registration: bit.ly/NAETISLnortheast

 Schrafft's City Center, 529 Main St #1M3

Boston, MA 02129 

Interpretation and Translation Courses

Check out these beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses tailored for educational interpreters and translators in early childhood and K–12 settings! Click on the flyer for more info!

To have your professional development opportunity featured in our next newsletter, email us at sesoincga@gmail.com

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