Language Services
Update: March, 2021
The resources listed below were last verified and updated in February, 2021. Many of these resources have been added to One Degree, a free interactive resource platform that verifies contact information every 6 months.
Please click HERE to check out our page on One Degree for our compiled list of resources.
Quick links to the corresponding individual resource lists for Language Services on One Degree:
Indigenous people speak more than 4,000 of the world’s languages. These languages are not only methods of communication, but also extensive and complex systems of knowledge that have developed over millennia and are central to the identity of indigenous peoples.1
Why are Interpreters Needed?
Interpretation is important because quality health care, legal care, social services, and advocacy require effective communication. Individuals may have a basic working understanding of Spanish or other national languages, but not enough to communicate the nuances of a legal situation, health condition, or educational requirement. Furthermore, interpretation is a complex skill that requires training and experience2, 3. When we are not culturally competent or ensure appropriate language services there can be 1) unnecessary expenditures in time and resources; 2) unnecessary processes or treatments; 3) a lack of important services (for example medical tests or education); or 4) legal liabilities.2, 3
What Does Language Access Mean? What is the Law Regarding Language Access?
Limited English proficiency refers to individuals whose primary language is not English and who have a limited ability to speak, read, write, or understand English. Language access refers to the ability of individuals who have limited English proficiency to access programs or services.2
Title VI applies to federal agencies and recipients of federal funds. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The 1974 Lau vs. Nichols case ruled that discrimination against individuals with limited English proficiency, for example failing to provide them with the same services as English speakers, was national origin discrimination under Title VI. Executive Order 13166 reinforces Title VI protections for individuals with limited English proficiency and requires federal agencies to have systems in place to ensure limited English proficiency individuals have access to services.2
Article I, Section 14 of the California Constitution prohibits discrimination by the state or state agency on the basis of race, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, color, or disability. The term ethnic group identification includes linguistic groups.2 If an individual has been denied access to services based on language, they may file a complaint with the Department of Justice or agency that provides federal funding. Agencies who do not comply with Title VI may lose funding. If language discrimination is intentional individuals can file a lawsuit.2
Indigenous Languages Are Diverse
There is a great deal of language diversity even within countries and local municipalities, and many individuals may speak a language that is not the majority language in a country. Many indigenous languages are not related to English or Spanish, such as K’iche’, Mam, and Zapotec – there are 129 distinct indigenous language families in Latin America alone.3,4 In addition, there are 68 indigenous groups and 364 languages in Mexico,4,5 and just within the Mexican state of Oaxaca, there are 16 language groups.3 Similarly, in Guatemala 40% of the population is indigenous.3 This means that providers cannot assume all patients that have emigrated from Latin America speak Spanish as their first language.
How Can I Be an Advocate for Language Justice?6
- There are sizable indigenous speaking immigrant communities, especially from Mexico (mostly from Oaxaca) and Guatemala (mostly Mayan speakers).
- Simply stop and ask for the individual to explain back what you have been communicating to them. This can help assess if an interpreter is needed.
- Know who you serve but don’t rely purely on Census data (Latino/a and Hispanic are too broad as terms).
- Identify and train multilingual and multicultural staff or use the interpreter services listed in this toolkit
- Seek trainings and workshops: by language justice local experts
- Dr. Gaspar Rivera Salgado (Ph.D UCLA Labor Studies): grsalgado@irle.ucla.edu
- Expertise: Indigenous Mexican Migration to the US; History & Culture of Indigenous Peoples of Mexico; and Ethnic and Racial Relation in Mexico and the US.
- Antena Los Ángeles: info@antenalosangeles.org
- Antena Los Ángeles is a 6-person collective founded in 2014, dedicated to language justice advocacy and organizing. Antena Los Ángeles works with individuals and groups to develop strategies for equitable communication across languages, using as our primary tools interpreting, translation, consulting, and education to expand the capacity to create spaces where everyone can participate fully.
- Odilia Romero: romeroodilia@gmail.com
- Odilia Romero is a member of the Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) and for more than a decade has worked with indigenous Mexican and binational organizations advocating for human rights and cultural and political education.
- Dr. Gaspar Rivera Salgado (Ph.D UCLA Labor Studies): grsalgado@irle.ucla.edu
- Tips for speaking to someone who seems to speak limited Spanish
- Speak slowly and clearly, not loudly
- Ask them to explain back the information you have given them to help identify if they are comfortable in Spanish
- Ask what their primary language is
- Ask what estado (Mexico) or departamento (Guatemala) they are from
- Ask if they want or need an interpreter
- ¿Podría decirme de dónde es usted? ¿De qué estado? ¿De qué Municipio? ¿De qué Agencia Municipal? ¿Habla una lengua indígena? ¿Conoce a alguien que le pueda interpretar?
- Do not rely on friends or family members to interpret
- Work with communities to help inform people about language services
- Seek feedback from limited English language individuals and their communities on language access
Resources for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Los Angeles:
https://gladinc.org/resources/
Resources for individuals who are low vision or blind and their families:
CRLA Referral List:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kpa0GJXdQ1VxESgd9Ol5reeuTgOberPJ/view?usp=sharing
Cultural Sensitivity PowerPoint:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIFcGNKXkhx40ksEI2z2DjBK_dSwwi8X/view?usp=sharing
References
1.The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. (2018, April). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp- content/uploads/sites/19/2018/04/Indigenous-Languages.pdf
2. Language Access Powerpoint by Maureen Keffer
Keffer, Maureen. (2015). Language Access Rights of Indigenous Language Speakers https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WTkkUQ5IPI1cYGYEZpVjEu0O2Ltv-NAv/view?usp=sharing.
3. Gaspar Rivera Salgado, PhD: Project Director with the UCLA Labor Center
Rivera-Salgado, Gaspar. (2019). Cultural Awareness and indigenous Migrants in California. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIFcGNKXkhx40ksEI2z2DjBK_dSwwi8X/view?usp=sharing.
4. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. (2019, January). Year of Indigenous Languages. https://www.iwgia.org/en/focus/international-year-of-indigenous-languages
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. (2018). Indigenous Navigator. http://nav.indigenousnavigator.com/index.php/en/
5. El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía . (2015). México - Encuesta Intercensal 2015. Retrieved February 2020, from http://www3.inegi.org.mx/rnm/index.php/catalog/214/related_materials?idPro
6. Odilia Romero and Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO)
Resource | Languages | Summary | Eligibility | SPA |
---|---|---|---|---|
Language Line Solutions 1 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Building 2 Monterey CA, 93940 USA 24/7 800-752-6096 | Many | Corporate translation and interpreter services (written, phone, video, in person) | Cost varies | |
Optimal Phone Interpreters 755 Clay Street Winter Park, FL 32789 24/7 877-746-4674 | Many | Corporate translation and interpreter services (written, phone, video, in person) | Cost varies | |
Pals for Health 515 S. Columbia Ave. Suite 320 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Hours vary 213-553-1818 | Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Cantonese, Farsi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Taiwanese, Thai, Vietnamese | Interpreter or translation services for medical contexts, usually in person or written | Cost varies | |
MGI-Maxine Waters Health and Dignity Center
at York Elementary School
11802 York Ave Hawthorne, CA 90250 M-F 8:30-4:29 310-978-4357 | English, Spanish, Portuguese | Interpreter and translation services, case management | Free | |
Pat Cunningham's Health and Dignity Center
at Zela Davis School
13435 S. Yukon Ave Hawthorne, CA 90250 M-F 8:30-4:30 310-978-4357 310-675-9347 | English, Spanish, Portuguese | Interpreter and translation services, case management | Free | |
Legal Aid At Work 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 hotline 24/7 415-864-8848 800-864-1664 | English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Many | Legal services nationwide in the areas of workplace rights and language-based employment discrimination or language access | Free | |
Children's Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd. First floor Anderson Pavillion Los Angeles CA 90027 M-Sun 8:30-5 in person 24/7 by phone 323-660-2450 | Many | Medical interpreters in person, over phone, over video | Free for patients in hospital | |
Access California Services 631 S Brookhurst St. Ste 107 Anaheim, CA 92804 M-F 8am-5pm 714-917-0440 | Arabic, Armenian, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Pashto, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Urdu | Interpreting, translating, citizenship help, case management | Cost varies | |
California Rural Legal Assistance, INC 1430 Franklin St. Ste #103, Oakland CA, 94612 Hours vary | Indigenous Latin American Languages, Spanish, English | Interpreter training services 40-hour Social Justice and Legal Services Interpreter Training is in the Central Valley They have a list of trained indigenous interpreters, see attachment. | Free | |
Asociacion Mayab/Mayab Association 3012 16th St. #202, San Francisco, CA 94103 Hours vary 415-556-9800 415-569-0377 | Mam de Guatemala, Tzeltal de Chiapas, Chol de Chiapas, Maya de Yucatan | Interpreter services in person, phone | Varies | |
Mayan League 1201 K Street NW Washington, DC Hours vary 202-827-6673 | Mayan languages | Interpreter services phone, video | Varies | |
Mayavision Hours vary 213-810-4730 | Mayan languages | Interpreter phone, video, in person (LA based) | Varies (about $300 for a day) | |
Mixteco/Indigenous Community Organizing Project 520 W. 5th St., Oxnard CA Hours vary 805-483-1166 805-270-9483 | Zapoteco, Mixteco | Interpreter services phone, in person | Varies | |
Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities 744 N Abby St., Fresno CA Hours vary 559-499-1178 | Mixteco, Triqui, Zapoteco, Chateno, Talapaneg, Many | Interpreter services phone, in person | Varies | |
Antena Los Ángeles Hours vary | Spanish, English, Indigenous Latin American Languages | Interpreting, text translation, workshops on language justice basics and best practices for equitable communication across languages, training on interpreting and translation skills in a language justice framework | Varies | |
Voiance 24hrs 800-481-3289 | Many | Interpret services in person, phone | Varies |
For more information on ESL support from school districts, please refer to the Education section.
Resource | Languages | Summary | Eligibility | SPA |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antelope Valley Adult Education 45110 3rd Street East Lancaster, CA 93535 Classes 5:00pm or 9:00am daily (661) 942-3042 | English, Spanish, Many | English as a second language | No cost, must register | 1 |
North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library 5211 Tujunga Avenue North Hollywood, CA 91601 (818) 766-7185 (213) 228-7037 | Spanish, Many | English conversation classes, tutoring, adult literacy classes | Free | 2 |
Van Nuys Service Area: West Valley Occupational Center 6200 Winnetka Avenue Woodland Hills, CA Mon-Fri: 8:00am-9:00pm (818) 346-3540 | ESL | English as a second language, career classes | 2 | |
North Valley Occupational Center 11450 Sharp Avenue Mission Hills, CA 91345 Mon-Tue: 8:00am-11:00am, 5:00pm000-7:30pm (818) 256-1400 | ESL | English as a second language, instruction in speaking, reading, writing, listening | No cost | 2 |
Central City Neighborhood Partners 501 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Mon-Fri: 8:30am-8:00pm (213) 482-8618 | ESL | English as a second language, educational youth programs for students | Varies, ESL is free | 4 |
East Los Angeles Service Area: East LA Occupational Center 3921 Felix Place Los Angeles 90031 Mon-Thurs: 8am-8pm, Fri: 8:00am-3:00pm Sat: 7:00am-3:00pm (323) 224-5970 | ESL | English as a second language, career classes, academic classes | ESL and academic classes are free, career classes vary | 4 |
Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department 333 S. Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4:30pm (213) 241-1000 | Many | Students receive instruction in all content areas in both English and a second language beginning in kindergarten, in an effort to promote bilingualism and biliteracy. | Available to all students | 4 |
Venice Service Area: Venice Skills Center 611 5th Avenue Venice, CA 90066-3512 Mon-Fri: 8:00am-8:00pm classes 8:00am-12:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm (310) 664-5888 | ESL | Academic and English as a second language classes are free, career classes at a reduced price, high school diploma | Academic ESL classes are free, career classes at a reduced price | 5 |
Emerson Adult Learning Center
8810 Emerson Ave Los Angeles 90045 Fri: 8:00am-4:30pm Mon-Thurs: 8:00am-8:30pm (310) 258-2000 | ESL | Academic and English as a classes are free, career classes at a reduced price, high school diploma | Academic ESL classes are free, career classes at a reduced price | 5 |
Maxine Waters Service Area: Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center 10925 S. Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90059-1023 Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-9:00pm Fri: 8:00am-4:00pm (323) 357-7700 | ESL | English as a second language classes | 6 | |
City Of Commerce Public Library Rosewood Library 5655 Jillson St, Commerce, CA 90040 6:00pm - 7:30 pm (323) 722-6660 ext 2823 | ESL | English conversation classes, citizenship classes | Free | 7 |
Eastmont Community Center
701 So. Hoefner Avenue East Los Angeles, CA 90022 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-5:30pm Fri:8:30am-12:30pm (323) 726-7998 | ESL | In person language classes, citizenship/green card classes | Need to live in the following areas: 90040, 90640, 90022, 90660 (Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Commerce Pico, Rivera, Alhambra, Mentebello) Free | 7 |
Norwalk La Mirada Adult School 15711 Pioneer Blvd. Norwalk, CA 90650 ESL Classes at La Mirada Campus M-F 8:15am - 12:00pm ESL Classes at Norwalk Campus Mon-Fri 8:15am-12:00pm Mon-Thurs 5:15pm- 9:00pm (562) 210-3170 | ESL | English as a second language classes for non or limited English speakers | Free, Immigrants, Adults 18+, Non-native speakers | 7 |
Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus ESL Office 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, CA 90806 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-8:00pm Fri: 8:30am-4:30pm (562) 938-4111 | ESL, Spanish | English as a second language, employment services | First 6 levels are free | 8 |
Paramount Unified School District Adult Education Center 14507 Paramount Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723, 9:00am-12:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm for classes (562) 602-8080 | ESL | English as a second language, citizenship classes | Free with picture ID from any country | 6 |
Huntington Park Service Area: Slawson Southeast Occupational Center 5500 Rickenbacker Road Bell , CA 90201 Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4:00pm (323) 729-6400 | ESL | High school diploma in Spanish, career classes (cost) | N/A |