Shouting Does Not Help: Helping LimitedEnglish Speakers in College Libraries

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Shouting Does Not Help Helping
Limited-English Speakers in College Libraries

• Dr. Patrick M. Valentine
• Dept of Library Science Instructional
  Technology
• East Carolina University
• LAUNC-CH Annual Research Forum
• May 21, 2008
• Wilson Library, UNC-CH

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Why Bother?

• Impossible for Librarian to Know All Languages
• Everyone Already Knows English
• English is the de facto lingua franca

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Why Were Here Today

• Library Is a Service Institution, Librarians Are
  Service Providers
• Attitude Tips Good Will Is Not Enough
• But Good Will Is Essential
• Bring Ideas Discussion Back to Other Staff

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Multilingualism is a Blind Spot for American
Libraries

• If Race is a Blind Spot for Librarians,
• What about Non-English Speakers or
  Limited-English Speakers?
• Our Purpose Here Not to lower services to
  majority but enhance services to language
  minorities
• English is Americas spread or majority language

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Who Are Your Patrons?

• Limited English Proficient LEP
• LEP Faculty
• LEP Students
• LEP Staff

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Basic Behaviors

• Speaking/Signage/Computer-Screen
• When in Rome
• K I S S
• Redundant
• Active Listening, Active Speaking

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Basic Behaviors

• Think how you are Saying it, Vary
  Vocabulary, Slower Speech, Avoid Jargon
• Different Cultures, Different Body
  Languages, Different Personality Traits
• Follow Clues, Beware of
• Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands Intercultural
  communication Business etiquette

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Taking the Message Home

• Creating a Climate of Openness Not
  Intimidation
• Being Pro-active with Management
• Networking with Student Affairs, International
  House, Foreign Language Depts
• Evaluating Library Yourself

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Many Language Backgroundson Campus and in
America Many Language Backgroundson Campus
and in America157,178 international students in
US 2006/07 10.0 93,289 international
scholars, increase of 1.3 International
Scholars in NCDuke University 1,290
scholarsUNC-Chapel Hill 1,110 scholarsInternati
onal Students in NC of Student Body
Duke 1,180 13.6NC State 1,1717 5.7UNC-CH 1,
495 5.4
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United States, 2006Percent of People 5 Years Old
and Over Who Speak a Language Other Than English
at Home. Dark Green 25-42 Light Green
14-23 Yellow Beige 7-13
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Stranger in a Strange Land

• Are LEP students faculty adept at navigating
  between home USA culture?
• Imagine Yourself Overseas
• Can You Do the Simplest Things?
• Imagine Reading Road Signs
• Using Public Telephones Being Questioned
  by Police

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What More Can We Do?

• Have keyboards in other languages
• Establish links to free translation tools
  set these links early in library webpage
• Translate web pages
• Use, Establish Maintain links to bilingual
  non-English databases
• Use SpeakRead or similar audio programs
• Be familiar with databases that have translation
  tools (eg, Pro Quest CSA Illumina)

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One Resource Using Non-English Keyboards

• Library Computers, our layout is strange,
  our keyboards are strange
• Simplified Chinese Keyboard

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Another Resource Linking to free web-based
translation tools, for example, Google
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One example Google Translatehttp//translate.g
oogle.com/translate_t

• About Joyner Library ?joyner??? Departments ??
  Driving Directions ???? Employment ?? Floor
  Maps ??? Friends of the Library ?????? Hours ??
  Library Policies ????? Staff Directory ?????
  Support the Library ?????

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Another web cross-lingual translation
toolBabel-Fish by Alta-Vista
We are testing for accuracy in translation in
translation back from Russian becomes, We
experience for the accuracy in the transfer.
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Another Resource Link to non-English data bases
WorldLinQ, Public Library of Queens, NY,
www.worldlinq.org/index.asp
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Data Base Translation examples

• Pro Quest CSA Illumina
• On-site translation tools
• Question is, What depth?
• Good example Fish Base interface in 15
  languages until actual articles are reached

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Translation on Computers

• What languages?
• Script compatibility - Code
• Translation links tools should start on first
  page
• Allow Patron to Customize

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We want our Patrons to Shine, Not
StruggleRemember to K I S SShort
Bibliography

• LAUNC-CH 2008