Translation of
Instructional Materials
Jack Shepherd
10 January 2004
________________________________________________________________
To All Interested,
With thanks to all who responded, following is a compilation of responses to my
earlier query about translation policies.
Thanks,
Jack
--
Jack F. Shepherd Jr.
Director
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Casablanca American School (CAS)
Route de la Mecque
20150 Casablanca
MOROCCO
Tel: 212-22-21-41-15
Fax: 212-22-21-24-88
E-mail: jfshepherd@cas.ac.ma
(If undeliverable, try jfshepherd@stanfordalumni.org
)
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Responses to Query About Translation Policies
Number of replies: 15
Number indicating a formal language policy: 1
Number indicating no formal language policy: 6
Number indicating publications by school only in English: 5
Number indicating some or all publications translated by school into a second
language: 9
Composition of schools indicating no translation:
20% local/30 nationalities
70% local
48 nationalities
66% non-American
Composition of schools indicating some translation:
60% local (2)
65-70% local
94% local
Translation
practices for print media mentioned by at least one school:
1. Translation of
newsletter into two languages.(1)
2. Statement in newsletter:
"English is the language used by the ____ community. If you have questions
about anything you see in the newsletter, please call the office." (1)
3. Group comprising 40% of population translate publications for themselves. (1)
4. School
publications in English. PTA asked to translate as requested by parents. (1)
5. Parent volunteer translates
publications for group comprising 32% of population. (1)
6. PTO country-coordinators help translate
materials. (1)
7. Translation of
materials into five different languages by parent volunteers. (1)
8. Daily faculty bulletin translated at
school with small percentage of non-English speakers. (1)
Translation
practices for electronic media mentioned by at least one school:
1. Communication
via two e-mail lists. Parents opt for one language or another. (1)
2. Web site
material intended for community available in two languages. (1)
3. Web site with translation links for
admission information. (1)
Translation practices for meetings mentioned by at least one school:
1. Parents encouraged to bring
translator to Parent/Teacher conferences. School provides translator if
necessary. (1)
2. NHS students
translate at Parent/Teacher conferences and Open House. (1)
3. Translation provided by school at
major meetings. (3)
Admission
policies related to language mentioned by at least one school:
1. At least one parent able to speak
and read English. (1)
2. One parent MUST
be fluent in English. (1)
(Numbers in parentheses represent numbers of schools reporting practice.)