EdCircuit Staff 
Paul Malmquist 
Table of Contents
Equity is a major investment and focus of today’s K12 and edtech industry. District leaders nationwide are attempting to increase the number of equity initiatives in their schools. One area of expansion is services and support for English language learners. Students from across the world who move to the US struggle to adapt to modern schools because of many factors. From cultural to language barriers, these students need dedicated assistance. As school districts move to increase equity in their schools, how can we support English language learners to thrive and succeed?
In this episode of Conference Connections, an interview series with K20 thought leaders, we chat with Paul Malmquist, Director Of Business Development for Sourcenext. The edCircuit team caught up with Paul at FETC 2023. The topic of this discussion was equity, translation, and Sourcenext’s new device- Pocketalk.
“Pocketalk gives us the ability to have 84 languages in the palm of your hand. [Offering] instant translations for the students coming into your schools.”
Using Translation as a Tool for Equity and Inclusion
At the beginning of this conversation, Paul explores PocketTalk and the digital equity capabilities it offers schools to support ELL students. With 84 languages set and programmed for instant translation, it gives schools the opportunity to welcome new learners from diverse backgrounds into their learning environment with ease.
Pauls shares that language barriers are often a key driver for new members of the community who don’t speak English to feel excluded from a learning environment. The goals of Pocketalk are twofold. Firstly, schools want to provide valuable instruction across the curriculum for ELL students. In order to do this, every teacher and administrator in the school that interacts with that particular child needs to have the ability to effectively communicate with them. From parent-teacher conferences to student transportation and food distribution, this product has the opportunity to effectively revolutionize how schools interact with English language learners.
Secondly, Pocketalk seeks to create more opportunities for the inclusion and engagement of families who don’t speak English. In previous discussions on this podcast, we have discussed how schools that properly engage their community increase student achievement. If schools are unable to effectively communicate with families of English language learners, they are introducing an unnecessary impediment to a child’s learning outcomes.
Addressing the Need For Translation Services in Diverse Communities
In the second half of this episode, Paul highlights some success stories in school districts across the country. Although the tool is new to the education sector, they are having a great amount of success nationwide.
Many of the schools that are investing are in areas with increasing populations of multilingual learners. As populations change and communities welcome people from diverse backgrounds, it is essential for school districts to implement translation services.
Language is a Gateway to Communication, Engagement, and Learning
Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of supporting multilingual learners and how language is a key to communication, engagement, and learning. To learn more about Sourcenext-Pocketalk, visit their website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
For more episodes on Conference Connections, visit edCircuit.
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