I am feeling very sick so fair warning this blog may seem lackluster, and if it does, I do apologize.
Growing up, there were plenty of fun questions we kids asked each other as part of our conversation, like “what superhero would you be?” or “would you rather fly or swim?”. They were fun to ask, as I could recall countless times envisioning myself flying through the sky or being Spider-Man. Microsoft took the question of “would you rather speak all languages or talk to animals?” and made it into a reality. Called “Microsoft Translator”, this program enables one to communicate with a person who speaks an entirely different language. As you can tell, it is a revolutionizing tool that is so practical and easy to use.
Microsoft Translator is so versatile, it can be used in a wide range of functions, including: one on one conversation, group conversation, and it can be used on a smartphone or desktop. As one person is speaking, the app can display the transcript of the speaker in whichever someone wants, and it also can use a voice feature that speaks the words of the speaker. In the classroom specifically, this feature’s duality is essential for those who may have trouble reading or hearing, for those who are disabled, and even those ESL or ELL students.
Being able to talk to someone from another language is so invaluable. With this app, we can connect with literally anyone in the world, which can help promote education for all and start to chip away at those SDGs from the UN. This app is leading the way on making the world a better place.
Not only is being able to speak to someone in another language awesome, but it is an awesome tool for teachers and students!! It helps teachers reach all of his/her students regardless of the diversity and language barriers!!