SIR World Languages Investigation Abstract
IMSA SPANISH STUDENT HANDBOOK
Presenters:
Alisha G. Howell, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; alisha@imsa.edu
Shanna M. Wilcox, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; shanna@imsa.edu
Advisor:
Ms. Socorro Cintron, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Foreign Language, Aurora, IL, 60506; 630-907-5901; cintron@imsa .edu
Abstract:
Have you ever read the IMSA Parent/Student Handbook? Not only did we read the handbook, which was hard enough to comprehend in English, but we have also been translating it into Spanish for several months. According to the Census Bureau, in the year 2000, 19.2% of families in Illinois spoke a language other than English in their home. This statistic, along with the fact that some students of Spanish-speaking families are not able to discuss IMSA policies with their children, led us to our inquiry project. Throughout this school year we have learned much about the process of translating text from our advisor and from our own experience, which we have developed over the course of our Spanish education. English is a very difficult language to translate because of its idioms and non-translatable words and phrases. However, this problem led us to gain a better understanding of the handbook material before attempting to translate it. Discipline policies, sections concerning Residential Life, and visitation guidelines were considered to be top priority for both prospective and current IMSA parents, so we translated them first.