A recent Ditch that Textbook post on the power of voice-to-text tech reminded me of a few simple truths. First, we should all be using it more for everything from notes-to-self to the seeds for the next great American novel. Second, it is a beautiful but brutally honest way to practice pronunciation in Spanish, English or any language one studies. I have done this frequently with beginners and I probably should do it more often with all my students. The feedback is immediate, and students respond differently to “Siri Says” then they do to “Señor Says.” There are also simple ways to allow students to respond to written prompts with “Voice typing…” in Google Docs. Third, as a generation of students grows more accustomed to voice remotes and voice enabled AI assistants, they will surely take more to talking it out than my generation has. They will surely be the ones who make translation-ready earpieces as fashionable as AirPods.

Fourth, voice-to-text tech may help students find their voice in their own language. Our Director of College Counselling recently talked to juniors about asserting their voices in college application essays. This led me to think about ways that forum may impact this process. Whether consciously or not, all writers approach different writing spaces with different assumptions and expectations. The switch is as much about speed as it is soltura (fluency, self-assurance). What if an essay began as a voice-to-text note? What is the seeds to a personal narrative where a voice-to-text Google Doc? What if the vocal interface and the different visuals across platforms (e.g. Google Docs, Notes, text messages, apps like Bear) allowed students to see and hear their writing differently?

Last, and most comically if you are anything like me, Murphy’s Law states that the language keyboard you have set currently is never the one you need. This bilingual problem can lead to some curious captures. “I love to learn languages” becomes “Animados son granos mango yes.” “Me encanta aprender lenguas” becomes “Main counter app and dad Langlois.” Go ahead, try it. It’s good for a laugh and it may teach you something about yourself as a speaker.

 

 

Featured image courtesy of Pixabay. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.