Translator Tools

Google Translate and DeepL are two sites that can be helpful to translate text. It’s important to know when translator tools are helpful, and when they are impeding learning. Using the Google Lens app can also be helpful – all you need to do is aim your camera at a text, and it will help translate it for you. You don’t even have to copy and paste! This is especially useful when trying to read a hard copy of text (no digital version) or when you are trying to read words in a photo.

Helpful times to use translator tools

• When a non-French speaking person is supporting a French student, the non-French speaker may with to use a translator tool. This way, they can understand what the task is, and determine how they can support.

When to avoid translator tools

When a student is writing, it is better to use a online dictionary to look up unknown words. Students are encouraged to avoid writing a text in their home language and using translator tool to convert it to French, as it does not help the student grow their French usage.

If students are worried about making mistakes, they can use an editing tool like Bon Patron. This highlights errors and explains why it’s incorrect, without making the changes for the writer. This way, they can practice grammar concepts in a meaningful way.

When a student is reading in French, they are encouraged to use reading strategies to aid in comprehension. This includes:

• • predicting before reading, based on text features (such as titles, sub-titles, pictures or captions).
  • identifying words or parts of a text that are most important to understand. Students can then analyze the unknown words.
    • What could the word mean? Does the rest of the text make sense with this guess?
    • Do they have similar roots to known words in another language?
    • Look up the word in a dictionary. Is the text clearer now? What other key words need to be identified for the text to make sense?
  • making connections between text content and prior knowledge. What is already known about this subject? How can this be used to better understand the text?