Connect Newcomers’ Laptops to Translation from Your Phone

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Wouldn’t it be amazing if you spoke, and it went automatically into your newcomers’ heritage language, on their school laptop? This is, in fact, possible, with the Microsoft Translator App 

Step 1: Download the App on your phone. For the iphone, it looks like the picture at the bottom of this entry.

Step 2: Start a new session on your phone. 

You should get a letter code (like TLGRC) that you will then give to your students to use on their laptops.

Step 3: Help the newcomer to go to this website: https://translator.microsoft.com/
and to enter the code from your phone.

Step 4: Confirm that it is working on your newcomers’ laptops. And that the newcomers know how to write messages back to you (these will pop up on your phone while you are speaking).

Step 5: Speak at a normal speed and clarity into the phone. It will pick up EVERYTHING. No need to push the “microphone” button again. It keeps going. 

Know that this translation is most effective when combined with the regular comprehensible input you would give a newcomer (visuals and vocabulary support, touch to teach, and directions should still be given in a “short, imperative, pause” format.

Watch the newcomer as you speak, to check for understanding. Just like Google translate, you may say a word such as “journal” and it may be translated as a noun, whereas you meant it as a verb. 

Lastly, know that “translation is a tool, not a teacher.” The student still needs you to support their language development, even if you are using Microsoft Translator effectively. 

Best of luck, and happy teaching! ​

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