Using Google translate
We have a large Spanish-speaking population of students, but our organization doesn't have the resources to have our entire scholarship application translated for this year's application cycle. We're thinking of promoting the Google translate feature to help reduce barriers for these students. Has anyone used Google translate for scholarships? What positives/negatives did you see?
Best Answer
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Hi @AndreaRecek ! We do have a couple of clients that utilize Google translate and can be a good resource for you. Feel free to reach out to @JulieMott for more information on how they use the feature in their processes.
Also, here is an article we have on the feature, in case you haven't seen this yet:
https://support.foundant.com/hc/en-us/articles/4404292059287-Google-Translate
Good luck!
Lisa
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Answers
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Hi @AndreaRecek ! We do have a couple of clients that utilize Google translate and can be a good resource for you. Feel free to reach out to @JulieMott for more information on how they use the feature in their processes.
Also, here is an article we have on the feature, in case you haven't seen this yet:
https://support.foundant.com/hc/en-us/articles/4404292059287-Google-Translate
Good luck!
Lisa
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Thank you! That's helpful
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The following are just things to consider. I would still encourage you to turn on Google Translate in your SLM.
As a former Spanish teacher, I wanted to share with you that while Google Translate is a great tool and has improved over the years, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to the English you use in your original document. Avoid using English words that have more than one meaning (back, return, etc.), or provide clarifying language that would help the reader. Also, be prepared that there are over 20 countries that speak Spanish, so Google translate will sometimes use different words for the same thing within one paragraph.
I'm not sure if this applies to your situation, but my background also includes working with the English Language Learner population, and you may find that while they can speak and comprehend the Spanish language, they may not be literate in Spanish.
Also, make sure to clarify that you want the answers to be in English. Students may think that since you provide a translated site, they can answer in their native language.
All of that being said, Google Translate is a great first step to reaching out to your Spanish-speaking population of students.
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Thank you for your comments!
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