Today, it’s more important than ever for people to know more than one language, particularly given how global our society has become. At the same time, many people are trying to learn English. English language learners, usually shortened to ELL, can have issues with English for a number of reasons. The language is difficult to learn, the words aren’t always spelled as they sound, and the many accents can make it hard for people to understand how to speak English. That’s where a text-to-speech tool, such as Speechify, can be helpful.

Learn more about the benefits of a text-to-speech program below, and consider putting Speechify to work for you.

English language learning students can benefit from text-to-speech

First, it is important to understand that ELL students can benefit significantly from text-to-speech programs. These programs are available for many platforms—including iOS, macOS, Android, Google Chrome, Google Docs, Microsoft Windows, and more. The reality is that for someone to learn a new language, regardless of whether it is English or Spanish, it is critical for them to learn how to read, write, and speak. One of the best ways to do so is to use a text-to-speech tool. Some of the biggest benefits of these tools include:

Accessing content

A text-to-speech Chrome extension can help someone become bilingual by allowing them to access different types of content online. For example, Speechify has the ability to handle a wide variety of file types, ranging from PDF files and ePub files to audio files and other types of text files. In order for someone to go through the process of decoding a new language and moving up their grade level, they need to be able to immerse themselves in content through reading, writing, and speaking. A complete text-to-speech tool like Speechify can do all this and more.

Stretching text endurance

Many people do not realize just how hard it is to read long passages of text in a new language. Eyes and ears get tired, and it is tempting to simply let the brain switch off and allow the content to go on by. With a text-to-speech tool, the program will go through the process of reading to them. With read aloud capabilities, it is easier for people to pay attention for longer passages and for longer amounts of time.

Easing text anxiety

Another one of the top benefits of using a text-to-speech tool is that it can ease text anxiety. Text anxiety is when people get very nervous when they look at a block of text and are asked to read it fluently. With access to a text-to-speech, it is possible for someone to listen to another, native voice read the text smoothly. Then, they can take a look at different contexts, master the spoken language, and read with more fluidity, thus easing text anxiety.

Unlearning helplessness

Sometimes people can have a sense of despair when they learn another language. They feel like they will never be able to do it after facing some difficulties. This mentality has to be unlearned. Instead of focusing on the ultimate goal of becoming fluent, it is better for people to focus on individual steps. A text-to-speech program can help people unlearn this feeling of helplessness and give them the confidence they need to learn a new language.

Assists with writing

Of course, a text-to-speech program can also help people learn how to write in a new language. If you have ever looked at something written in your native language and simply said, “that doesn’t quite look right,” that is something that you need to learn in your new language, as well. With a text-to-speech tool, you can expose yourself to the writing more consistently, learning what looks right and what does not.

“But how will they ever learn to read?”

One of the most common questions people have about a text-to-speech tool is how will someone will never learn how to read if they use one. Some TTS programs like Speechify have a highlighting feature that can help you follow along with the text-to-speech tool that allows you to learn how certain words are pronounced, which can help you learn how to read in English.

How Speechify can help ELL students

One of the most important tools that those looking to learn a new language is to use is Speechify. This is a text-to-speech tool that allows someone to take just about any text file, ranging from a PDF to a web page, and convert it to speech. Some of the top benefits of using Speechify include:

• This is a program that is great for people with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, because it allows them to listen to the speech with a voice they are comfortable with instead of trying to read the text on the screen.
• With Speechify, there are dozens of languages available. This is one of the top text-to-speech technologies on the market, and with the premium version, it is possible for someone to instantly translate text from one language to another. This is a critical feature for those looking to learn a new language.
• Speechify also comes with a highlighting tool that can help someone improve their reading skills. The highlighter allows them to follow along and learn how different words are pronounced.
• Speechify has some of the most advanced optical character recognition (OCR) features on the market. The program is very accurate on just about every platform, including Chromebooks and the iPad, which makes it easier for people to build their vocab skills.
• With Speechify, users have the ability to customize the voice to meet their needs. They control the volume, pitch, tone, and reading speed. This makes it easier to customize teaching strategies to meet student needs.

In the end, these are just a few of the top benefits of using Speechify to help people learn a second language or foreign language. This is also a tool that is helpful for those with special education needs.

All students can benefit from text-to-speech tools

Clearly, all students can benefit from having access to complete text-to-speech tools. While there are many TTS choices on the market today, the top option is Speechify, which has both a free version and a premium version. Users even have the option to try the premium version for free for a few days before they decide if they want to pay for the premium version.

Next steps

Learning a new language is hard, but it does not have to be as hard as people make it. You can rely on language learning tools Speechify to help you learn English or any other language—and even become fluent.

People also ask

Some of the most common questions that people ask about assistive technology for ESL and ELL, such as TTS, include:

Does text-to-speech help ELL students?

Yes, a text-to-speech tool helps ELL students by assisting them with their reading, writing, and speaking skills. If you want to get the most out of this program, then you need to use the right program, which is Speechify. It has a wide array of tools that you can use to master English.

What strategies would you use to communicate with an ELL student?

If you are trying to communicate with an ELL student, you need to speak slowly and clearly to give them an opportunity to comprehend what you are saying. You might also want to consider writing it down and using hand gestures to make sure they have a clear understanding of the message.

How does text-to-speech help students with disabilities?

A text-to-speech tool can help people with disabilities because it can speak the words on the screen to them instead of forcing them to read the words. That is one of the top advantages of Speechify, which can help people with disabilities, including dyslexia.

How do you make content accessible for ELL students?

If you want to make content more accessible for ELL students, then you need to present the content in multiple formats. With a text-to-speech program, such as Speechify, you can present them with the written word and the spoken word. That way, they can link the two together and master a new language.

How do you make text easier to read?

There are a few ways you can make text easier to read. One of the best ways to do so is to combine the text with a text-to-speech program, such as Speechify, that can speak the text in addition to showing it on the screen. If you use Speechify, you can also highlight the text on the screen as it is read aloud. This means that you can listen and read with the text as it flows along, making Speechify the top text-to-speech tool on the market today.