Microsoft Translator for Education - a Great Web 2.0 Tool for Teachers
Having worked as an English teacher in a high school for the
last twelve years that has a large population of Spanish speaking students, I
can attest to the need for all of us to do better with reaching those students.
Breaking down a language barrier takes time, but creating accessible lessons is
difficult when your time is already being split between a hundred responsibilities,
each equally important. This is the point where many teachers turn to
technology for assistance. Microsoft has an excellent tool to help teachers,
students, and their parents communicate better when there are language barriers
– Microsoft Translator for Education.
Microsoft provides several add-ins to download, the first of which is a Presentation Translator. This free resource is available for any teacher, student, or parent and the lecturer will have to use Windows 8 or later as well as PowerPoint 2013 or later. According to the site, “language learning students can ask questions in their language by speaking or typing and can follow classroom discussions by receiving transcripts in their own language” (“Lectures and Presentation – Education – Microsoft Translator,” n.d.). The translator allows teachers a way to not have to necessarily change their lecture materials but instead have them translated in real time, and students, regardless of language skills, can participate in discussions. Transcripts of the lecture can even be saved for later access.
Presentation Translator
Microsoft provides several add-ins to download, the first of which is a Presentation Translator. This free resource is available for any teacher, student, or parent and the lecturer will have to use Windows 8 or later as well as PowerPoint 2013 or later. According to the site, “language learning students can ask questions in their language by speaking or typing and can follow classroom discussions by receiving transcripts in their own language” (“Lectures and Presentation – Education – Microsoft Translator,” n.d.). The translator allows teachers a way to not have to necessarily change their lecture materials but instead have them translated in real time, and students, regardless of language skills, can participate in discussions. Transcripts of the lecture can even be saved for later access.
The presenter will have to wear a microphone in order to use the translator. All users will download the app, Presentation Translator or access it from their browser. Then, the presenter will open PowerPoint and click Start Subtitles. A QR or number code will appear, and all users will need to enter it in order to continue and join the conversation.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
One of my favorite features of Microsoft’s Translator for
Education is the Parent-Teacher Conference app. This free app can be used by
anyone using Android, iOs, or Windows 10. The user downloads the Microsoft Translator app
from the app store, shares a number or QR code to all users participating in
the conversation who also have the app, and then everyone can use their phones
like walkie-talkies to participate in the conversation! A browser can be used
for the translator as well and by following the same directions at https://www.translate.it/. Microsoft makes
connecting so easy!
Study Groups
Students with language barriers often are left out of group
work and cannot participate in conversations with their peers. Microsoft
provides a way for those students to be part of the class instead of having to
be separated with a modified curriculum. With the same translator app used for presentations (explained above), students can message one another and
have the messages translated as fast as they can write. As long as all students
in a group have the app, they can participate in discussions. Who says
discussions have to be oral?
Conversations
Not much planning has to go into using Microsoft’s Translator app. According to the site, “you can also
have an impromptu conversation with a parent using the app’s Split Screen
feature – which lets you speak two languages into one device, translating the
conversation in real-time” (“Live Conversations – Education – Microsoft Translator,”
n.d.). If a parent surprises you with a meeting or if a student needs help with
something, you can be ready with the app. Even phone calls can be put on
speaker and translated spur of the moment by using the app.
Microsoft Translator
for Education is a tool that has so many uses and can provide accessibility
to any classroom or teacher…and it's easy to access!
Resources
App features. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/translator/apps/features/
Conversations - Microsoft
translator. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://translator.microsoft.com/.
Lectures and presentation – Education – Microsoft translator.
(n.d.) Retrieved from https://youtu.be/5tZn_osINXw
Live conversations – Education – Microsoft translator. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/translator/education/live-conversations/
Microsoft translator for education. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/translator/education/#lectures-presentations
Darlene,
ReplyDeleteThank-you for sharing this thoughtful post. As our EL populations continue to grow, this is a useful resource for teachers, parents, and students. I love the way teachers and parents can conference through the app. This would help eliminate having to wait to schedule conferences based on a translator's schedule. I love the paragraph you included about cooperative learning groups. What a wonderful way to be inclusive immediately within the classroom. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Ashley
Darleen,
ReplyDeleteThis is Ashley again. For some reason it is defaulting my comment to be from my Genius Hour Blog as opposed to Almost a School Librarian. Sorry about that.
Ashley
Your blog is very timely for me. My library has recently been the location of choice for our ESOL students when the coordinator is not at the school and there is a need for them to work outside of class. What I am seeing is that the students being sent speak very little English. This creates a barrier for us and for any other students trying to help. We use Google Translate, typing in, when needed. I think this is a possible option I will need to try. With South Carolina being an English only teaching state, I know that our ESOL students get frustrated. I wonder if using these apps would still fall within the guidelines.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great tool that I will definitely check out and share with students, teachers and parents. It will come in handy when we don't have someone who can translate, which is often.
ReplyDelete