Language Access

<<<Back to Language & Access Main Page

“Language access can be defined as the use of language assistance to facilitate the ability of an individual who does not speak, read, write or understand the language of service well to obtain meaningful access to that service” Bancroft et al., 2015.

The ultimate goal of our project is to establish a self-sustaining network of professionally trained interpreters, capable of delivering culturally competent services across the community.  To achieve this goal, the Talbot Language and Cultural Competence Project engaged key partners: Chesapeake College, our catalyst for regional economic development, sustainability, and personal enrichment; and Cross Cultural Communications a global leader in the field of Community Interpreting.

Since June, 2018, we made locally available the most up-to-date and prestigious program in the field: The Community Interpreter® International.  This  is an interactive, skills based program that covers topics such as ethics and conduct, basic skills (from pre-session to post session), positioning, terminology, modes of interpreting, steps for sight translation, intervention strategies, cultural mediation, and other vital skills and protocols.

To date, more than 50 talented individuals have been recognized as bilingual interpreters through this certificate program. See list of professionally trained interpreters here.