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The Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center (GTC) has recently been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to offer the Interpreters in the Education Setting courses, expanding the commonwealth’s ability to support multilingual families and ensures that school districts utilize well-trained professionals who can provide clear, accurate and culturally responsive communication.

Designed by DESE specifically for interpreters working in K-12 settings, the two courses prepare participants to navigate the multilingual communication needs of public schools, from parent-teacher conferences to specialized meetings. The GTC now offers Tier 2 (Trained Interpreter) and Tier 3 (Advanced Trained Interpreter) DESE-designed courses, along with an abbreviated Tier 2 option for those individuals who have previously completed the GTC-designed and delivered “Interpreter and Translator in Education” (ITE) workshop series. The GTC has offered its ITE series to public school districts and individuals in Massachusetts and beyond since 2020, providing instruction to approximately 820 individuals, and will continue to update and offer these workshop series as they differ from the DESE-designed courses and can be customized.

DESE’s Tier 2 course provides a broad foundation in consecutive interpretation, with an emphasis on how schools function and the interpreter’s role within the education system. The GTC’s ITE builds on a basic interpreting skills foundation with more in-depth training on interpreting skills, practice, and professional decision-making in school settings. DESE’s Tier 3 course provides a broad consecutive interpretation, with some sight and simultaneous interpretation, and delves into how Special Education functions in schools. The GTC’s Interpreting for Special Education Workshop Series (ISE) builds on advanced consecutive interpreting skills, including simultaneous and sight translation, again with more in-depth training on interpreting skills, practice and professional decision-making in school settings.

Overall, the courses provide the tools and training needed for equitable access and to foster stronger family engagement, with the shared goal of student success. The GTC’s approval as a provider of these courses represents an important investment in inclusive communication, educational equity statewide, and deeper public engagement, and adds to the center’s portfolio of educational programming and services for public schools throughout the state.

The GTC welcomes participants with skills in any language to the DESE courses, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity of Massachusetts communities and the GTC network of professionals given the center’s over 40-year history. Prospective participants must take a language assessment before admission to the courses. The center assigns experienced interpretation professionals and educators to teach the DESE courses upon completion of the DESE provider training. 

For more information about the DESE courses or the GTC’s own school interpreter and translator programming, please visit the GTC website or email [email protected].