The Beauty of "Text to Speech" Technology and How It Enhances the Language Learning Process

It's the year 2023, and Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing every aspect of our lives. Language learners, in particular, are benefiting greatly from the accessibility of technology, information, and resources. For enthusiasts of Audio Assisted Reading, this is truly a golden age.

As language learners, we seek applications and resources that can simplify and enhance our journey, and text-to-speech technology has become almost indispensable for those embarking on the adventure of learning a new language.

By combining listening, reading aloud, and repetition, we feel that the possibilities for achievement are boundless.

Allow me to share my own experience as an example.

After dedicating years exclusively to learning English (which I am still doing), I decided to challenge myself and begin studying another language - my third language: French.

Here I am, amazed by the text-to-speech technology that allows me to listen to any text with a remarkably high level of accuracy. We can adjust the speed, gradually increasing it as our proficiency improves. We can follow the highlighted words and sentences, repeating the process again and again and again. It's simply heavenly!

I have been studying French from scratch since the beginning of this year, which means it has been five months now. Last week, I had my first conversation class with a small group of students. Although I was initially nervous, I managed to exchange my first sentences in French in front of a group of people. It was a significant achievement for me, and I believe we should celebrate such milestones in our lives. Yay!

In addition to diligently following a language program, I have been practicing with Audio Assisted Reading in French daily, which helps to improve my confidence. I choose short texts on various topics, always at a challenging level—not too easy, but not overly difficult either. I find great joy in reading these texts aloud along with the audio.

Growing up during a time when language learning resources were scarce, I truly believe that the sky is the limit for us passionate and eager language learners in today's world.

Text-to-speech resources are readily available, from the accessibility settings on your cell phone to internet browser extensions. The list of applications seems endless.

Now, you might wonder which one to choose. Well, a quick Google search will yield plenty of text-to-speech solutions, ranging from free options to affordable ones. The choice depends on how you plan to use them.

There are free software options that utilize AI voices, which, although not sounding entirely natural, can assist us in learning word and sentence pronunciation and connections. Alternatively, you can find affordable options with incredibly human-like voices.

The most important thing before investing your money in a text-to-speech technology is to give it a try during the trial period (and remember to cancel the subscription if you decide not to continue with the service). Make sure to explore all the available features during the trial period. Consider the following factors based on your specific needs:

Accuracy: The pronunciation should be clear, with proper intonation and pauses. You can test this by listening to a few words and comparing them with the pronunciations on online dictionaries or tools like Youglish, which provides spoken language examples by real people in context.

Voices: The more natural (human-like) the voice, the better. Look for options with male and female voices, adults, and children, so you can expose yourself to different speech patterns.

Speed settings: Ensure the software allows you to adjust the speed, both increase and decrease. This feature is crucial, as it accommodates your learning pace.

Click to Read: Check if you can click any part of the text to begin listening from that point.

Language Options: Verify that the text-to-speech software offers the language you intend to practice. Look for a variety of language options to choose from.

Other Features: Consider additional features such as adjustable text size, text spacing, dyslexia font options, dark mode for easier reading, word highlighting, and customizable highlight colors. Also, check if the software provides options to save and organize your files in a library.

When seeking text-to-speech technology to support your Audio Assisted Reading practice, the simple option available in the accessibility settings on your cell phone can certainly get the job done. However, if you're as curious as I am about how technology can aid us in this language-learning journey, I highly encourage you to explore the various text-to-speech models available. It's truly fascinating!

Enjoy your language learning experience, and may text-to-speech technology be a valuable tool in your quest for language proficiency.