Language Services

Orange County Department of Education's Language Services, under the Educational and Student Services Division, has been established to ensure language access to all students, parents, and community members within the county.

Language Services coordinates all interpretation, translation, multicultural trainings, and services for OCDE and public agencies, such as county offices, school districts, and community organizations.

In addition, customized professional development is available through our annual professional development offerings, such as The Community Interpreter International® Training, a 40-hour intensive workshop for bilingual staff working in education. This training aims to enhance the skills of bilingual staff and equip them with the tools, confidence, and knowledge to provide the best language services to all the students, families, and communities they serve. To learn more about scheduling a training for your school, district, and/or bilingual staff, visit our Professional Learning and Development tab.

Our services are available to all school districts, charter schools, and learning centers in Orange County and the surrounding areas.

Interpreters and Translators Conference

Natalia Abarca
Coordinator
nabarca@ocde.us | 714-966-4437

Jorge Ibarra
Project Assistant
jibarra@ocde.us | 714-966-4394

Stephanie Rock
Project Assistant
srock@ocde.us | 714-966-4429

Alicia Welch
Administrative Assistant III
awelch @ocde.us | 714-708-5899

Ranjit Mayadas
Administrator, Student Initiatives, Partnerships & Events
rmayadas@ocde.us | 714-966-4322

Our Services

Interpretation/Translation Request

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INTERPRETATION REQUESTS

The Language Services team uses scheduling software that allows you to request interpreting services, make changes to your requests, and automatically notify all parties involved from anywhere about any last-minute changes.

Learn how to navigate the software, submit your requests, and set up an account by contacting us at Language_Services@ocde.us.

Existing users: Click here to log in to your account

New users: email Language_Services@ocde.us

For questions about interpreting requests, email us at interpreting@ocde.us

A blue %22translate%22 key is surrounded by keyboard keys labeled with different languages and their flags, set against a blurred background.

TRANSLATION REQUESTS

To submit a translation request, please use the intake form below:

Translation Request Form

The form is designed to be simple and user-friendly to help streamline the request process.

For questions about translation requests, email us at translations@ocde.us.

Multilingual Consortium

The Multilingual Consortium is a space that fosters and supports high-quality translation and interpretation services. The Consortium facilitates communication and networking across districts to support effective and consistent translation and interpretation throughout the county, and gathers, develops, and distributes language resources. We encourage you to invite your district’s translators/interpreters to attend Consortium meetings monthly.

Meeting Dates

October 14, 2026

Virtual

Register Here:

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279694

10:00 am - 11:30 am PST

TOPIC: Delivering Community Interpreter Training to High School Students

SPEAKER: Omari Jeremiah, Founding Director

Across the United States, there is a growing demand for trained community interpreters. At the same time, there is also a growing demand for workforce development opportunities for high school students, particularly for immigrant youth and/or English language learners. Delivering community interpreter training to multilingual high school students provides a strong and sustainable solution to both of these national demands. In this workshop, you will learn how your school/district can provide professional interpreter training to your high school students.

Participants will learn how to prepare, deliver, and have access to quality interpreter training for high school students during these workshops. Participants will meet the following objectives during the workshop:
1. Participants will learn best practices in community interpreter curriculum adaptation for the high school student population.
2. Participants will learn best practices in providing employment outcomes for students upon completion of interpreter training.
3. Participants will learn best practices in finding students to participate in interpreter training.

About Omari:

Omari Jeremiah has worked as a freelance Spanish interpreter for over ten years, specializing in educational, mental health, and legal interpreting outside the courtroom. He received his BA in Sociology from Goucher College and his MA in Counseling from the University of Baltimore. Omari is a passionate youth advocate and an advocate for language access in educational systems. He has worked as a resource provider for immigrant students and their families in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools. As a licensed interpreter trainer for over nine years, Omari has trained both high school students and multilingual professionals to become professional community interpreters. In addition to his native language, English, Omari is linguistically competent in Spanish, Swahili, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. Besides his love for languages, Omari is the author of the children’s book series Paperboy.

November 18, 2026

Virtual

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279697

January 13, 2027

In - Person

Register Here:

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279702

In-Person

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM PST

Click to Register: https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279702

Location:

North Orange County SELPA

1021 West Bastanchury Road, Suite 161

Fullerton, CA 92833

TOPIC: Developing Strong Professional Practices for Interpreters

PRESENTER: Carmen Gonzalez, Medical & Court Certified Interpreter

Being a language interpreter is a very demanding job. Besides high-level language proficiency, it requires other skills and abilities that we need to develop and improve as much as we can, depending on the settings in which we perform our work. Like any other profession, interpreting faces various challenges, including high-pressure situations, mental fatigue, and vicarious trauma, amongst others. We must also apply ethical considerations when they are at stake.

We never stop learning after choosing the interpreting profession, especially when we decide to be freelance interpreters. In that case, we will also need to gain knowledge in the administrative and marketing aspects of running our own business.

Another aspect to consider for this profession is the certification process. It can take a long time when we have not developed enough on-the-job practice. It is essential to find the right tools and methods to improve our skills and abilities.
Having a plan is relevant for all of this aspects of the interpreting profession.

This presentation is intended to serve as a guide for new interpreters on how to target different aspects early in their careers. We will identify the aspects of the job that require continuous improvement. It will be a dynamic and interactive discussion, and participants will be invited to share their experiences and perspectives. Real-life situations experienced by seasoned interpreters will be presented to illustrate the challenges we face every day at work.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of the skills and abilities required to become successful interpreters.
Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the various Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice for their daily work activities.
Participants will be encouraged to comment and to share their perspectives and experiences about our interpreting profession with the presenter.
Participants will receive sufficient materials to begin preparing a plan to develop strong professional practices as interpreters.

About Carmen: Carmen L. Gonzalez is a Spanish Certified Court Interpreter in the State of California, an NBCMI Certified Medical Interpreter, an ATA Certified Translator from English into Spanish, and a Licensed Trainer of The Community Interpreter ©, by Cross-Cultural Communications.

Carmen holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Central American University and is also a Business Administrator, graduated from INCAE Business School in Nicaragua, her native country. She completed the Legal/Court Interpreters Program and the Paralegal Program at San Francisco State University, SFSU. She has received continuing education for interpreters from several providers, including MIIS, NCI-Arizona, De la Mora Interpreting, Southern California School of Interpretation, and more.
She has been working as a freelance on-site Spanish Interpreter and Translator in the San Francisco Bay Area for over fifteen years, and as a remote freelance Spanish Interpreter in the past four years. Carmen has been performing assignments in the medical, administrative hearings, educational, community, immigration, and legal areas.
Carmen is also the Webinar Co-coordinator for the Medical Division of the American Translators Association (ATA) and the NewsFlash Coordinator for the California Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators (CAPIT). She has been an active member of professional associations for interpreters and translators, including ATA, CAPIT, IMIA, NAJIT, AAITE, AGIT, and NCIHC.

February 17, 2027

In - Person

Register Here:

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279699

March 17, 2027

In - Person:

Register Here:

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279700

May 19, 2027

In - Person

Register Here:

https://ocde.k12oms.org/2158-279701

Professional Learning

We offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for school and district staff to enhance their on-the-job written translation and interpreting skills. Learn how to use your biliteracy skills to aid parent conferences, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and/or other school-related activities. Speakers of various languages are welcome to register. No prior translation or interpretation experience is required. This service is open to districts, charter schools, and learning centers in and outside of Orange County.
Language Services offers the following training/events:

2026-2027

What Every Interpreter & Translator Should Know About IEPs

October 20, 2026 - Click to register - Virtual

January 26, 2027 - Click to register - Virtual

April 27, 2027 - Click to register - Virtual

In the foreground, a wooden block with %22IEP%22 is placed on a desk with colorful papers and pens, while the background features a blue banner with the title %22What Every Interpreter/Translator Should Know About Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) TRAINING.%22

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), Language Services, offers the training "What Every Interpreter & Translator Should Know About Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)" for school and district staff to enhance their on-the-job written translation and interpreting skills.

8:30 am - 11:30 am PST

October 20, 2026 - Click to register - Virtual

January 26, 2027 - Click to register - Virtual

April 27, 2027 - Click to register - Virtual

Introduction to Educational Interpreting

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), Language Services, offers the Introduction to Educational Interpreting Training to develop your bilingual skills and enable you to interpret or translate at your school or district site. Learn how to use your bi-literacy to aid parent conferences, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and/or other school-related activities.

The Community Interpreter International ®

A flyer for %22The Community Interpreter%22 certificate training program, featuring dates, locations, registration information, and facilitator details, is presented against a light-colored background.

The Community Interpreter® is a comprehensive 40-hour certificate program. The program is taught by OCDE-licensed trainers across 5 days. It is an interactive, skills-based program. It is never boring! It is also the most up-to-date program in the field. The sessions ground you in what you need to know to work as a professional interpreter. Each day will focus on a Module with lessons, activities, resources, and skill development for each topic. The classes will be tailored to participants and will provide helpful tips for successfully implementing the program in their profession.

The Educational Interpreter Workshop

A flyer for %22The Educational Interpreter%22 workshop is displayed with a light green background, featuring text and registration details in the foreground and a subtle wavy pattern in the background.

From the creators of The Community Interpreter International®, the Orange County Department of Education's Language Services is now offering The Educational Interpreter®, a hands-on, 8-hour workshop for bilingual individuals working exclusively in educational settings. This workshop will strengthen your interpreting skills, deepen your understanding of ethics and professional protocols, and help you learn what educational settings require of interpreters and translation services.