HLQ PenPal Translation Pen
The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages in collaboration with Mantra Lingua Ltd is introducing the first technologically based solution to enhance appropriate identification of English Language Learners (ELLs). New York is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse states with over 200 languages spoken by English Language Learners from over 180 countries. Beginning this school year, districts in New York State will receive Mantra Lingua’s PENpal™ toolkits with an interactive Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) accessible in 26 different languages. The HLQ is an important part of the ELL identification process. After registration and enrollment in the school, the HLQ is completed by the parent/guardian. The new sound enabled HLQ will feature audio in 26 of the Top Home Languages in New York State. The PENpal™ will give districts the capability to immediately conduct the HLQ in any of the 26 languages, which include Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, Russian, Arabic, Urdu, Korean, Haitian-Creole, Polish, Albanian, French, Yiddish, Karen, Nepali, Punjabi, Somali, Uzbek, Japanese, Burmese, Fulah, Vietnamese, Turkish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, and English.
