The Fort Dodge Middle School and Fort Dodge Senior High staff have been able to access devices called “TimeKettles,” and both buildings — along with some elementary schools — have been equipped with translator hubs.

On the surface, it has a pretty high-tech, sci-fi look. But according to FDSH Counselor Jolene Hays, the equipment serves a practical purpose for students and families.

“This will help them feel more comfortable. It gives them a sense of belonging,” said Hays, who works in her role with English Language Learners at the high school. “We know this isn’t the solution to language barriers, but it helps us communicate better. That’s step one.

“Feeling included and respected is huge in a school like ours.”

-Messenger photo by John McBride Most of the schools in the district are now equipped with translator hubs that translate one language into another. It allows teachers and staff to communicate with students and parents without language barriers.

The school district unveiled the two pieces of technology this year. TimeKettles are similar to air pods for listening to music. Instead, they translate language into dozens of other languages.

A teacher installs the TimeKettle app on their phone, then picks which language they are speaking and which language the student can understand.

Once the ear buds are paired with the teacher’s phone, they translate what the teacher is saying almost instantaneously.

Hays said the teachers are able to have their phones almost anywhere in class, and the app will pick up what they are saying and translate to the students wearing the ear buds. The app can pair with up to six sets of ear buds, but Hays said students are able to wear just one and then up to 12 students at once can hear the translation.

Last week, FDSH held senior parent meetings. Some families attended that didn’t speak fluent English. They were able to distribute ear buds, and had one phone centrally located to pick up all the speakers presenting that night, which then translated for both students and families.

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Fort Dodge Schools have been using two devices to help communicate with non-English speaking students and families. The school purchased both a translator hub and TimeKettle devices to help students, parents, teachers and staff all communicate without language barriers.

Hays said several family members appreciated being able to fully understand the information being presented in their native language.

The app also features a mode where a teacher and student can each wear one ear bud and have a one-on-one conversation, which is then translated into a language each can understand.

“Teachers are saying they feel more at ease,” said Hays. “I met with a teacher who has a student that doesn’t speak any English, and I was able to show the teacher how to use the app very quickly. She was very happy about that.”

The app also allows students to transcribe presentations into any language, but Hays said they’re still working out the kinks with that.

Currently, both the middle school and high school have access to the ear buds. Hays added 15 teachers at the high school utilized the TimeKettle features during the first trimester, which ended last month.

Hays also said right now, there are about 10 students who are unable to even have a basic conversation in English. The TimeKettle ear buds are helping break down that educational barrier.

The district also offers translator hubs in each building’s main office, where non-English speakers are students. FDSH has hubs at each entrance to the building and in the nurse’s office.

Those work differently. Students or staff can speak into the translator in their chosen language. Then the translator types out what they said, and also plays it audibly in another language.

A student can speak into the hub in Spanish, for instance, and it will translate what they said into English for any staff member. The staff member is able to then reply in English, and it will play back for the student in Spanish.

Again, Hays said the hubs can be set for many different languages. She added both the hubs and TimeKettles can be set for the many variations of Spanish spoken by students in the district.

The nurse’s office at the high school has one of the hubs, and it’s been a big help when students come in not feeling well and they don’t speak fluent English. That allows KC Williams, the nurse at FDSH, to more accurately diagnose an issue the student is having.

“We were wondering if they would translate medical terms, so we tried it. Amazingly, it did,” said Hays.

Hays said the hub can also be held up to an office phone, and help translate if a parent calls and they don’t speak English.

All of the technology was purchased with Gear Up money, a grant the district received a while ago.

Hays said the middle school will be receiving a grant from the Fort Dodge Community School Foundation to purchase their own TimeKettle sets. They have been using some from the high school this year.