What is the best text to speech app for learning English? Our answer
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What is the best text to speech app for learning English? Speechify is undoubtedly one of the best. Read the article to find out more.
What is the best text to speech app for learning English?
Text to speech is an assistive technology tool that can help language learners boost their foreign language skills. Whether you’re just starting to acquire a new language or can already hold a conversation in it, text to speech fits the bill.
This article shares how this powerful tool benefits language learning and introduces Speechify, a great app to help you along your journey.
How text to speech helps English learners
If you have already used Apple’s VoiceOver feature or Google Text to Speech, you already know how TTS technology works. Basically, with the use of AI and deep learning, software can read printed or digital text out loud for you. But how does this relate to language learning?
Well, as you probably already know, the key thing when learning a new language is the approach. With the right approach, you can expect to understand and even start communicating in your target language in a matter of months.
Spoken language plays a huge role here. It helps you improve your grammar, phonology, vocabulary, morphology, discourse, and more. Using TTS software on a daily basis helps gradually improve these skills and makes you a more efficient learner.
The benefits of TTS can be found across multiple use cases. Educators who work with learners with dyslexia and other learning disabilities use read-aloud software to create a more inclusive learning environment. The easy availability of such tools for iPads and other digital devices has helped make the shift to assistive technology much easier.
Here’s how TTS can help you on your English learning journey.
Pronunciation
As a language learner, you’ve probably used Google Translate to check out the meaning and pronunciation of some words. Although the app offers somewhat lifelike voices for English, it falls short for other languages. It’s also not so great for customizing the reading speed.
TTS also allows using different voices (often hundreds of them), so you can listen to multiple versions of a text or use a separate voice for different types of text. You can create your own personal podcast-like files to listen to valuable content and master your pronunciation.
Literacy skills boost
Text to speech software works wonders for improving literacy skills. You learn new vocabulary, review the words you know, and feel more confident reading a text in a foreign language.
Writing
You can also improve your writing and proofreading skills. You spot mistakes in your writing or spelling by hearing the software pronounce words out loud. Similarly, the TTS software corrects the pronunciation mistakes you may have acquired before.
Motivation
TTS makes language learning interactive and works wonders for self-esteem. Natural readers make the lack of language exposure in the real world less of an issue.
As a foreign language learner, it’s important to create an environment that works for you. You may have difficulty expressing your verbal skills if you're too self-conscious. Text to speech software is available from the comfort of your home, so you can listen to the audio output and repeat the phrases or words you need to practice without feeling embarrassed.
With TTS, you can listen to your target language in any situation. Commuting, traveling, or walking can be perfect times to learn or review your skills. You can add files to iTunes or similar playlists and access them at any time of the day.
Many customization options
High levels of customization make TTS suitable for learners of all levels, ages, and backgrounds. The highlighting feature for spoken text and the ability to increase or decrease the speaking rate make customization and personalization a breeze.
The flexibility of TTS makes it an excellent tool for everyone who wants to focus on the details. If you are learning British English, you can choose voices in this accent. The same goes for Australian, American, and any other English dialect.
The benefits of text to speech software in English learning make this assistive technology tool an excellent choice for learners. Speechify is an app that can help you reap all the benefits of such an approach.
Use Speechify to improve your English skills
Speechify is a text to speech tool that has helped thousands of language learners boost their English skills.
Using Speechify is simple. Copy the text file or upload the document into the API to convert text into an audio file in real time. Choose from different languages and human voices, and the software will offer an audio version of the text. The software creates WAV and MP3 versions you can download at any time.
Choose from male or female voices or a custom voice to make your learning experience more fun. The software is available as a Chrome extension, a mobile app for iOS and Android, and a desktop app.
Speechify can read multiple text formats:
- Txt
- Docs
- HTML and other web pages
- ePUB
- Microsoft Word (docx)
- Google Docs files
- Printed and written text
High-quality AI voices in Speechify are lifelike and make e-learning English a breeze. You can download the audio file to your computer or device for offline use. You can even upload printed documents from your iPhone thanks to the OCR feature that can recognize printed text and convert it into audio.
Integrations with Google Cloud and other services make it easy to use across devices. You don’t even have to use tutorials for it. Speechify is available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and many other languages.
Try Speechify’s free version today by visiting the official website.
FAQ
What is the most realistic text to speech app?
Speechify, NaturalReader, VoiceDream Reader, and Amazon Polly use speech synthesis and have natural-sounding voices in different accents for a customizable learning experience. Other voice generators are available with limited functionalities.
What is the best text to speech reader?
Speechify is arguably the best text to speech reader on the market. Great customization options, plenty of different voices, suitability for people with learning disabilities and impairments, and advanced speech technology are just some of its benefits.
What is the best free text to speech voice?
There are numerous free text to speech voice apps available on the market. However, most of them offer robotic voices. Google Text to Speech is a free feature you can try. Speechify is a great option, even if you’re a learner on a budget.
Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.