Monthly Archives: November 2024

Converting Text to an MP3 File with Audio Maker in Read&Write for Google Chrome

Posted on by

Learners can listen to learn by using turning text into an audio file. The Audio Maker tool in Read&Write for Google Chrome creates a speech to text MP3 file using text in a Google Doc or on a website. That file can then be played just like music or an audiobook. Click and drag to highlight the text to be turned into the MP3 file. Click the Audio Maker icon to create the file. A box will appear with a progress bar to show when the file is finished. To access the file, select the recent downloads button in the upper right hand corner of the browser window. The MP3 file can then be shared via Google Drive and listened to on any device where Google Drive is available. At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every student and teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools. 

Screenshot of Creating Audio box that appears when the Audio Maker tool is selected

The Audio Maker tool of Read&Write for Google Chrome Creating Audio

Translate Single Words Using the Translate Tool in Read&Write for Google Chrome

Posted on by

The Translator tool of Read&Write for Google Chrome uses Google Translate to provide the translation for a single word at a time in the language of your choice in a pop-up box. The icon on the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar will turn purple and have a dot under it when the tool is on. The translation can be read aloud by speech to text by selecting the triangle next to the translated word in the box. To choose the language, select the three vertical dots on the far right of the toolbar, and select “settings,” from the drop-down menu that appears. A menu will pop up. Select “speech,” on the left hand side of that menu and scroll down a little to see the, “Translation,” heading. Use the drop-down menu to select from the available languages. At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every student and teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools. The translation tool will give learners quick, single word translations without having to leave Google Docs.

Screenshot of Translator tool showing the word Puzzle translated into Spanish

Translator Tool

Screenshot of Speech Settings of Read&Write for Google Chrome with Translation tool circled

Select a Translation Language in Read&Write for Google Chrome

Hovering Over Suggestions to Have Them Read Aloud Using the Check It Feature of Read&Write for Google Chrome

Posted on by

The Check It feature of Read&Write for Google Chrome extension checks writing for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and common word confusion errors. When activated, it will create a purple underline under potential errors. This works in addition to built-in spell checking or grammar checking software in the word processing software, appearing above or below any underlines that software may generate. It will also generate a list of suggested corrections. These corrections can be read out loud by Read&Write for Google Chrome if the user turns on the “Read Check It suggestions on hover” option in settings.

On the far right of the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar, select the 3 horizontal dots and then select, “Settings.” On the left side of the menu that opens, select “Check It.” Then check the box next to, “Read Check It suggestions on hover.” At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every student and teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools. This feature could be added to an editing process to improve writing.

Read&Write for Google Chrome settings screenshot displaying the Read Check It suggestions on hover checkbox in the Check It tab

Read Check It suggestions on hover