Hampshire Young Interpreter Scheme

Information about the scheme

The Hampshire Young Interpreter Scheme aims to provide additional support to pupils who are learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), their families and to schools.  The scheme recognises the huge potential that exists within each school community, for pupils of all ages to use their skills and knowledge to support new learners of English, so that they feel safe settled and valued from the start.

Many schools have well established buddy systems for new arrivals. The young interpreter scheme does not replace the need for buddies, but adds to it and is a means of providing more extensive peer support. Pupil interpreters will undergo specific training to prepare them for this role and will be selected on the basis of different personal qualities they may have.

Our service has developed a pack which includes three sets of training materials to use with pupils at Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stages 3 and 4. Pupil participants are drawn from both bilingual and monolingual backgrounds, and there is guidance within the pack on ways to select pupils for the scheme.  

(You can order the pack using a form from the links on the right)

Bilingual pupils will learn how to use their language skills in a variety of ways to help a new arrival to access English and feel part of the school as quickly as possible.  Alongside English only speakers, they will learn different strategies to clarify, explain and ‘interpret’ a whole range of school activities, systems and procedures to new entrants through the medium of child–friendly English where first language isn’t shared by other pupils or adults.

The Hampshire Young Interpreter Scheme can therefore be used in a variety of settings – either where a number of pupils share the same language, or where there are isolated EAL learners. Making the scheme available to both bilingual and monolingual learners can be very powerful in developing empathy amongst English speakers towards some of the challenges and difficulties that pupils new to English may be facing.  A further benefit is that this additional support can be very reassuring  from a parent or carer’s point of view at a time when their child may be adapting to substantial changes. It also supports school staff in a variety of ways at different points in the school day.

An essential aspect of the Young Interpreters’ training at all Key Stages is a session in an unknown language which helps pupils develop understanding of the challenges faced by newly arrived students. This session also raises a discussion about the effective strategies, qualities and behaviours which help support pupils new to English. This session can be delivered by a bilingual adult. Alternatively, the DVD accompanying the guidance pack provides examples of sessions in unknown languages.

At Key Stages 3 and 4, as well as following their training, students are introduced with the idea that their interpreting skills could develop into a career. It is good practice to liaise with Connexions and invite one of their officers to come and discuss career opportunities with Young Interpreters. To support the “What next?” session, you will find a useful video on the accompanying DVD, an extract of which you can view.

Student interpreters can be used to:

• Show visitors around the school, particularly EAL new arrivals
• Support other EAL learners in the classroom.
• Regularly monitor that new arrivals are settling into the school and provide updates for the EAL co-ordinator
• Provide taster lessons in other languages for students and or staff
• Buddy up with new arrivals during their first few weeks to demonstrate school routines etc.
• Buddy with new arrivals on the playground and introduce them to other students or show them which clubs/lunchtime activities are available
• Assist communication  with other students/ parents/ carers who are new to English in order to support school staff
• Interpret pieces of writing for other EAL learners
• Welcome parents at school events, use bilingual skills to meet and greet, or present information in other languages

Further information

Please contact us for further details on how you can set up the scheme in your school.