Certified Languages International(CLI) provides professional educational interpreting services over phone and video to help K–12 schools, colleges, and universities communicate clearly with students and parents.
When qualified phone and video interpreters are available in seconds, children don’t have to be put in the position to interpret for their families, and bilingual staff can focus on their primary responsibilities. Staff can quickly pick up the phone or access CLI’s video remote interpreting (VRI) platform to support mutual understanding between families and educators.
All 230+ languages at CLI are available on-demand, 24/7/365, with no need to schedule, so we’re ready to help at a moment’s notice.
Discussions around student and academic achievement can escalate quickly. CLI works with qualified interpreters who act as neutral third parties. They understand education terminology and procedures and ensure everyone knows their rights and responsibilities.
This is especially critical during:
Providing communication in a parent or guardian’s preferred language can help schools reduce the risk of escalation, confusion, or potential civil rights concerns related to language access.
Providing meaningful language access for students and families is a legal requirement for many educational institutions.
CLI helps schools and universities support compliance with key regulations, including:
CLI’s interpreter network includes professionals qualified to support language access needs in educational environments through our rigorous screening and assessment process.
CLI helps educational institutions access language services that remove communication barriers and strengthen educational equity.
On-demand, 24/7 telephone interpretation services are available for educational institutions to address less complex interactions that don’t need face-to-face communication.
Schools commonly use phone interpreting for:
Telephone interpreting is also especially valuable for languages of limited diffusion that may not be available locally.
MERFi is CLI’s VRI platform, which helps schools and universities communicate effectively during complex or sensitive conversations where visual cues matter.
Educational organizations often use VRI for:
MERFi can be accessed from smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers with internet access.
| Situation | Recommended Service |
|---|---|
| Quick updates or scheduling | Telephone interpreting |
| IEP meetings or complex discussions | Video interpreting |
| Sensitive conversations | Video interpreting |
| High-volume administrative calls | Telephone interpreting |
| ASL communication | Video interpreting |
Telephone and video interpreting services offer busy teachers, admin, and districts a viable option to connect with their diverse communities while reducing risk of non-compliance. CLI delivers:
Each interpreter in our network is familiar with educational processes and terminology. We ensure they understand and respect the sensitive dynamics of student-family-educator communication.
CLI has supported the interpretation needs of K–12 school districts and higher education institutions reliably for over 30 years.
From one of our very first clients, an Oregon-based teaching university, we maintain strong relationships, built on a reputation for success and customer satisfaction.
CLI also offers accurate written document translation and multilingual transcription — ideal for transcripts, academic records, and oral interviews.
We specialize in languages of limited diffusion and are often able to secure interpreters in languages with only a few thousand speakers.
A large Seattle-based organization reached out to CLI needing interpreters for Yup’ik, an indigenous language from Alaska with only around 10,000 native speakers. After one week, we identified and vetted an experienced Yup’ik interpreter, and they were onboarded with CLI the following week.
How It Works
Whether you’re accessing an interpreter over the phone or through video, our process is simple.
Dial CLI’s phone number. CLI’s operators answer within seconds.
The operator will ask what language you need. If you’re not sure the operator can help you. CLI offers interpreters in 230+ languages.
The operator will gather your call information while CLI’s system locates an available interpreter. Let the operator know if you need a third-party dial-out.
The operator will connect the interpreter to your call. The operator will then disconnect from the line and your conversation can begin.
Enter your access code to sign into the CLI video interpreting web address.
Fill in the requested info and select your language.
Within seconds, a live interpreter appears on screen and facilitates clear, accurate communication.
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Transform how your institution connects with diverse families, students, and faculty through expert language services designed for educational excellence. Our specialized solutions help schools build meaningful partnerships, improve engagement, and support both legal compliance and student success.
Reach out today to discuss your specific needs or get started with a personalized quote.
All the interpreters we work with sign confidentiality agreements to ensure data privacy and compliance with regulations like FERPA that protect student and family information.
Additionally, CLI has stringent data security protocols enacted to safeguard against unauthorized data access.
Both phone and video interpreting services are priced per minute based on your language mix and volume. We offer free quotes so you can budget for your needs predictably.
MERFi requires no specialized equipment to access. You can connect with a video interpreter from any device with internet capabilities, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop PCs. We do recommend larger screens for interpretation of American Sign Language to provide the best experience.
Yes, teachers and staff can connect directly to an interpreter through phone or video. VRI requires a unique access code and phone interpreting requires a propriety phone line or unique access code to access the service.
