QUESTION
Are exam preparation materials available in languages other than English?
0:34:07
·
97 sec
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) does not produce any study guides or exam preparation materials for civil service exams.
- DCAS states all city employees need to communicate and understand English
- The council member argues non-English speakers may benefit from materials in their native language for comprehension
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:34:07
The the question is since most of your outreach educational outreach materials is in English as deputy commissioner Harris testified.
0:34:17
Do they not do those materials not fall under the city's mandate of the 7 major languages that should be translated into the 7 major languages of the city?
Sanford M. Cohen
0:34:27
Well, my understanding is that we translate many of our documents into the languages that are required under the administrative code.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:34:36
I'm specifically asking about exam.
0:34:39
So educational exam, like prep, materials.
Farah N. Louis
0:34:43
We will
Sanford M. Cohen
0:34:44
not create any prep materials for our exams.
Farah N. Louis
0:34:47
Okay.
Sanford M. Cohen
0:34:48
So the basic rule is that All city employees need to be able to communicate and understand English Mhmm.
0:35:00
Because as government employees, they need to be able to take instructions in English and communicate with the public.
0:35:07
So that's the bottom line rule.
0:35:09
That's been an existence for
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:35:10
Well, even if someone can speak English, sometimes we think in other languages.
0:35:14
I am, you know, a Spanish speaker, native Spanish speaker.
0:35:18
Right?
0:35:18
So I learned Spanish, and then I learned English.
0:35:21
And so sometimes I think in Spanish, And so when we see questions, for example, you're preparing for a test, you can see it in Spanish and translate it in your head into English.
0:35:31
And so my question is as a study guide, as documents that are necessary for workers to study.
0:35:38
Are they available in a worker's native language?
Sanford M. Cohen
0:35:40
Decast does not produce any materials that are study guides or civil service.
