Bilingual Staff Scope of Position
The article is intended to help clarify the scope of role that bilingual staff play in developing content in target languages (ie. Spanish & HMoob). In general, creating content in your target language should directly relate to your position and scope of duties and responsibilities.
Creating and Utilizing Multilingual Content: Guidance for Bilingual Staff Positions
Self-Directed Efforts
As a bilingual staff person, you are authorized to …
- Develop bilingual content for outreach purposes, such as:
- Flyers
- Press releases
- Letters to families
- Registration forms
- Social media posts
- Videos
- Create PowerPoint slides and content in your target languages for program delivery
- Deliver your educational programming in your target languages
- “Localize” existing content in the target language in a way that supports accessibility of materials
- For example, altering a term or verb on a document because it facilitates participants’ improved accessibility and understanding of the content
- Serve as a public point of program contact for non-English dominant (i.e. LEP) participants
Supported Efforts
In consultation with Area or program leadership, bilingual staff should consult OAIC for any needs concerning the…
- Translation of critical/vital documents (e.g. permission slips, health release forms, waivers, etc.)
- Translation of entire program curricula
- Translating handbooks
- Translating website content
- Creating reusable, multilingual templates for registration forms
- Interpretation services to aid program delivery
As a bilingual staff person, you are never expected to…
- Act as a translator or an interpreter in a manner that falls outside the scope of your role. This may include requests to:
- Translate PowerPoints slides for other project collaborators, speakers, presenters, etc.
- Translate content for fellow Extension colleagues (please direct them to OAIC)
- Interpret during programming for fellow colleagues (please direct them to OAIC)