Interpreter Services for Education

Schools, districts, and universities can use Jeenie in a variety of ways to support students and communicate with families. In K-12 schools, one of the most common uses is for parent-teacher conferences or meetings. If a parent isn’t fluent in English, the teacher or school counselor can use Jeenie to get an interpreter (on speakerphone or via a tablet) so the conversation can happen smoothly in the parent’s language. This is much easier than trying to schedule an in-person interpreter for every meeting. Schools also use Jeenie for things like IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings, disciplinary discussions, enrollment and registration days, or even impromptu conversations when a parent shows up unexpectedly and needs assistance. For students, schools can use Jeenie if a newly arrived student needs help communicating until they pick up more English – e.g., a nurse’s office call to a parent in another language, or helping a student in counseling sessions. In higher education (colleges/universities), international student offices might use Jeenie to assist students or parents during orientation, financial aid discussions, or campus services. Universities hosting events or workshops for visiting scholars could provide interpretation via Jeenie in multiple languages. Also, adult education or community education programs can use Jeenie to include non-English speakers in classes by providing interpretation for lectures or instructions. Essentially, Jeenie can be integrated anywhere in education where language barriers arise – it ensures that language is never a reason a student or parent is left behind. And since it’s on-demand, educators can focus on teaching and supporting, knowing language help is a tap away when needed.

Yes. Jeenie covers all the major languages that schools in multilingual communities frequently encounter. For instance, in many U.S. school districts, the most common needs are Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Tagalog, French/Haitian Creole, and Portuguese – Jeenie has interpreters ready in all of those and many more. Additionally, as school populations diversify, languages like Swahili, Somali, Urdu, Nepali, Hmong, Pashto, etc., are increasingly in demand; those are all within Jeenie’s language roster. The platform even supports less common dialects that might be present in a student population (for example, indigenous languages of Central America spoken by some students’ families – Mam, Mixteco, etc. – which Jeenie can provide interpreters for). Importantly, American Sign Language (ASL) is also available through Jeenie, which is crucial for schools meeting obligations to Deaf or hard-of-hearing students and parents. By having such a wide range, a school or college can rely on one service (Jeenie) for virtually any language that comes through its doors, rather than juggling multiple agencies or hoping bilingual staff can cover. Jeenie’s availability of these languages is 24/7, so even if a parent calls a teacher in the evening with a question, the teacher could loop in an interpreter then and there. In summary, Jeenie absolutely has the languages schools need regularly, and likely any language a school might occasionally need as well. This comprehensive coverage helps educational institutions ensure “no student (or parent) is left behind” due to language, fulfilling the promise of equal access to education.

Yes, Jeenie can provide qualified ASL interpreters on demand for educational settings. If a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing student needs interpretation in a meeting or a class (for remote/virtual settings), or if a Deaf parent needs an interpreter for a school event, Jeenie can supply one via video. All Jeenie ASL interpreters follow the NAD/RID Code of Professional Conduct, ensuring they meet the standards required in educational environments. For instance, a school could use Jeenie’s ASL service during a parent-teacher conference by setting up a laptop or tablet so the parent can see the interpreter signing. In cases of remote learning or webinars, an ASL interpreter from Jeenie can be pinned or spotlighted on the screen for Deaf participants. While in-person ASL interpreters are often used in schools, there are times when one might not be available (say, a last-minute meeting or a rural district with limited local interpreter access) – Jeenie is an excellent fallback or supplement in those cases. It’s also useful for extracurricular events: maybe a Deaf family wants to attend a school webinar on college prep; the organizers can have a Jeenie ASL interpreter on the call. Keep in mind, for lengthy classroom interpretation or one-on-one instruction, consistent scheduling might be ideal (and Jeenie can help schedule the same interpreter if needed). But for on-demand or surprise needs, Jeenie’s ASL support is a game-changer. It allows schools to be inclusive and compliant with accessibility laws without a lot of advanced logistics, thereby supporting Deaf students and families seamlessly.