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Speak Selection is a setting that allows students to select text on a screen and have it read out loud.
Students can also use Speak Selection to translate selected text.
Speak Selection can support students to:
build independence
strengthen comprehension and fluency
boost confidence with reading
improve editing and revision processes
increase focus and attention
learn new words and pronunciations
To turn on Speak Selection on an iPad in iPadOS 18:
Tap each image below to learn more, and zoom in to get a closer look.
Go to "Settings".
Tap "Accessibility".
Tap "Spoken Content".
Tap the circle to toggle on "Speak Selection".
Once Speak Selection is turned on, the "Highlight Content" option will be shown in the menu. To have words highlighted as they are read aloud, tap "Highlight Content".
Then tap the circle to toggle on "Highlight Content".
Use the menu items to customize the Highlight Content. Choose to have individual "Words", full "Sentences", or both "Words and Sentences" highlighted. Next, choose if the content will have an "Underline" or have a "Background Color". Lastly, choose the "Word Color" and "Sentence Color".
Tap "Spoken Content" to go back to the Spoken Content settings menu.
To use Speak Selection on an iPad in iPadOS 18:
Go to a webpage, image or photo with text.
Choose the text that will be read aloud, then tap and hold the text until it is highlighted in blue.
Drag one of the blue dots (grab points) over the text that will be read aloud so that the sentence or paragraph is highlighted.
In the Speak Selection menu above the selected text, tap "Speak".
The iPad will now read aloud the text that was selected. Depending on how Speak Selection settings were set up, the words or sentences will be underlined or highlighted as the text is spoken aloud.
To pause the reading, tap the highlighted text to show the Speak Selection menu, then tap "Pause".
To stop reading the selected text, tap anywhere on the screen around the highlighted text.
A new selection of text can now be chosen to be read aloud.
To turn off Speak Selection on an iPad in iPadOS 18:
Tap each image below to learn more.
Go to "Settings".
Tap "Accessibility".
Tap "Spoken Content".
Tap the circle to toggle off "Speak Selection".
Step-by-step instructions according to the iPad's Operating System:
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LINKS TO EXTERNAL RESOURCES
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With Speak Selection, students in the TDSB can:
read specific text and learning materials. Highlight a sentence or paragraph, then use Speak Selection to read the selected text aloud.
edit and revise work. Listen for errors in typed work and revise the words to make the writing sound better.
learn new words. Highlight a word to hear how it sounds, then look up the definition to learn what it means.
respond to questions. Use Speak Selection to read a question out loud from a work task or webpage to better understand the questions.
complete paper and pencil work tasks independently. Take a photo of paper assignments, then use Speak Selection to listen to the instructions and questions in order to complete the assignment.
increase independent learning.
Last Updated June 16, 2025
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