Text to speech

Your students have different backgrounds. Some are allophones, some may not know how to spell or are missing vocabulary. Your students may be able to speak English, but this doesn’t mean they are aware of the correct spelling and/or phonics of the English language. These students invest their energy in figuring out the words they see, trying to sound each one of them. Add this to the challenge of understanding a whole text. 

• My students do not understand the reading.

• They are not motivated to read.

• They annotate a text, but still do not get to comprehend the message.

• Are your students reading the words properly?

Use a TEXT TO SPEECH tool.

Teach students how to use text to speech reading tools such as Read&write or ClaroSpeak.

You may have students understanding when you speak, but not when they read. Their listening comprehension skills are better than their reading skills. Why? Some students face the big challenge of differentiating between the multiple meanings of words. Lack of vocabulary, spelling, and phonics play a huge part in your students’ reading comprehension. By listening to the words, students will invest their energy in understanding meaning, instead of decoding and sounding the words as they read.

Text to speech tools will read to the student, giving them the opportunity to hear and see the words at the same time, narrowing the possibility to misunderstand words, learning good pronunciation and improving spelling skills.

Student can annotate/take notes of their reading when using a literacy software reading tool.

1. Make sure your students have the correct technology device: screen size, headphones, and a device that supports the software to be used.

2. Ask your students to download the desired text to speech tool. Offer help as needed.

3. Choose a model text for your student, preferably from the online version of the textbook. Show students how to use the new tool.

4. Be clear on your expectations for the rest of their reading assignments. Must the student use the tool for all reading activities? Will your student be able to use the software during in-house evaluations? Do not hesitate to ask for support (Pedagogical counselor/resource teacher).

If you use Moodle in your teaching, see this document explaining how to use "read and write" in Moodle. 

Here is a video if you prefer to watch. 

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