Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for Apr 14 to Apr 28

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information

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New Study Shows English-Only Laws Increase Drop-out Rates for Latinos:

A new study published by the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the Center for Collaborative Education shows the damning effects of English-Only laws on our nation’s schoolchildren. 

The report, which studies the academic achievement rates of Boston students since the school district began forcing immersion into English-only classrooms, shows that students with limited-English proficiency (LEP) have floundered, not surprisingly.

In just six years, the high school dropout rates have doubled for students still learning to speak and write in English, a terrifying prospect for the 56,000 LEPs that make up 38% of the district’s students.  As states across the country continue to flirt with English-only regulations, this report is yet another reminder of the price that is paid for their symbolism. 

A representative from Language Line Services is available to discuss the human cost of these English-Only laws, and the importance of governments and organizations communicating with limited-English speakers in their native languages.  For more information or to schedule interviews, contact John Prieur at 305.448.2930 or john.prieur@rbbpr.com.
 

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May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: 

May was declared Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month by a joint session of Congress in 1978.  As of 2007, there were over 15.2 million Asian Americans and over 1 million Pacific Americans living in the U.S., with populations estimated to increase by 153% to over 40.6 million by 2050. 

Language Line Services, provider of the demographics tracking service LanguageTrak™, works with local businesses to identify language surges in their area and respond to the changing community needs that follow those fluctuating demographics. 

A representative from Language Line is available to speak about the changing needs of Asian and Pacific American communities, and the importance of local businesses communicating in their native languages.  For more information or to schedule interviews, contact John Prieur at 305.448.2930 or john.prieur@rbbpr.com.
 

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April is National 9-1-1 Education Month:

In an effort to increase awareness and continue the effective use of the emergency communications system, nine organizations including the United States Congress have recognized April as National 9-1-1 Education Month.

While many people are aware of the importance of calling 9-1-1 in emergencies, limited English speakers still struggle to make that important call out of fear that they won’t be understood. 

Language Line Services, the leading provider of interpretation services, works with 9-1-1 call centers across the country to ensure that dispatchers have the necessary tools available to take calls in over 175 languages. 

A company representative is available to discuss the importance of letting LEPs know that their local 9-1-1 speaks their language, and how 9-1-1 agencies can meet the language needs of their communities.  For more information contact Julie Jimenez at 305-461-5794 or julie.jimenez@rbbpr.com. 
 

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American Jobs Come in Many Languages: 

While many companies throughout the United States are going through major employee layoffs, leading interpretation provider Language Line Services continues to look for new interpreters with U.S. residency to work in its U.S. call centers or in one of its at-home interpreter positions.

As America’s population of limited-English speakers grows, so too does the demand for Language Line Services over-the-phone/video interpretation, document translation and face-to-face interpretation services, used by more than 90% of the nation’s 911 centers and police departments, more than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies and tens of thousands of hospitals.

Similarly, in an increasingly globalized world, demand for interpretation services provided by U.S. residents has become crucial for many federal agencies dealing with sensitive or classified information.

A Language Line Services representative is available to speak about interpretation as a career, as well as the company’s ongoing interpreter recruitment push for U.S.-based interpreters to keep up with the continuing demand for language services in the U.S. For more information, contact Jeanine Karp at 305-785-0424 or Jeanine.Karp@rbbpr.com.

 

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ABOUT LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers. The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning translation, transcription, phone and video interpretation, interpreter certification, localization and localized software and devices, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language. Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services provides support for more than 170 languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including health care, financial services, government, telecom, manufacturing, insurance, entertainment, travel, and more. For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multicultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, call 1-800-752-6096.