Plano health inspectors are talking to Asian business owners in their native language.
The city is translating certification information and, beginning in May, will offer food safety classes to employees in Mandarin Chinese, which is not the third-largest language segment in Plano.
Health inspector Xiaoquing Wang, who speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, is the primary instructor. She says much of job is that of cultural ambassador.
She said her language skills helped when she inspected one restaurant for the first time.
"As soon as I started speaking Chinese, he felt like I was much closer to him," Wang said. "He started to open up to me about how they prepare food and what suggestions I have for them."
Sixteen percent of Plano's population is Asian. The diverse population includes people from Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Phillippines, Japan, India and other Asian nations.
"I think it's the quality of life in the community, I think it's our technology-corporation-based area, I think it's our school system," said Deputy City Manager Bruce Glasscock.
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Brian Collins, director of Plano's health department, said the city must adapt as its business and community needs grow.
"We're trying to meet the challenges of that come with that diversity, and one of them is language and cultural barriers," he said.
