Text To Speech Software is more used now than at any other time in history. In this article, we explain what it is, how it works, and where you could use it to improve any skill. The best thing about TTS technology is that it is always useful. You can even read this article out loud!
Text to speech is the first option we think of when we are talking about teaching a language. Why? Because it is a tool that allows us to write, paste or upload text and transform it into clear audio. So, teachers and students can use it as a study complement, especially with pronunciation issues.
Japanese, for example, is a complex language to learn from because it has three separate writing systems Kanji, Katakana, and Hiraganag. The spelling could be hard too because it implies so much more than saying the words correctly. You can use a TTS tool, in this case, for getting used to the rhythm or the way they accentuate it.
In technical terms, programming experts said that text-to-speech is a kind of assistive software that reads digital text using an artificial voice. What does it mean? Through a machine learning process, the ‘speaker’ can interpret the characters and then, spell them as a human would do. Of course, it is not like hearing a real person but is quite similar. You will notice the difference but it is not the same as a talking robot.
How does TTS work? First, you put your text in your text-to-speech processor. Second, the mechanism starts to move and the AI links every letter with a phoneme. This happens in a matter of seconds, in the code structure. Third, the software returns us an audio file with our text reading. The talker could be customized in most of the AI voice generators. So you can build a deeper connection with what you are hearing.
This kind of resource brings a lot of advantages. The most important one is accessibility. Did you know that more than 15 percent of worldwide people have difficulties with learning languages? But hearing a text instead of reading it could expand the knowledge faster.
In this way, it will help people who struggle with reading, have learning impairments, or limited eyesight. And different studies have proven that it is advantageous when somebody is learning a new language. Making your internet material audio aids online users in comprehending the text better.
If you read until here and you are already convinced of the benefits of text-to-speech tools, we recommend you to try Woord. This is the most intuitive, understandable, and complete option you will find online. It has more than 27 languages and is beyond 49 voices to make your audio perfect. Below, you can learn how to use a TTS with child voices in your Japanese class!
Also, you can modify volume, pace, speed, genre, and more! Add special effects, a profile, and all the details you want. The ready-to-hear audio will be on MP3 for listening on the website or downloading. Try it for free, with only an account, and bring it to your classroom. You and your partners will learn Japanese much faster and better with Woord voices!