Last updated on 5 November 2024
Online translation services are interesting and useful tools. Provided, of course, that pupils are explained the limits of the exercise. The IT tool that will replace the work of a professional translator has not yet been invented. However, it must be recognized that Online translators have made a lot of progress, here my selection of the three essential sites in the field.
ImTranslator.
Here is an online tool that has the advantage of offering you access to the main online translation services. At least the best known. From a single interface, you can offer your text for translation on the services of Google of course, but also Microsoft, Babylon and Promt. Practical, to compare the results from one to the other ImTranslator offers a summary of your text pointing out the differences in interpretation between the engines. The service is free of charge. Only small flaw, advertising to my taste too invasive.
Link: ImTranslator
MyMemory.
Machine translation tools are generally good enough to translate simple sentences and classic expressions. They are a little more struggling with specific imaged expressions or long sentences. MyMemory offers a not particularly good automatic translation tool, but this one is enriched with contributions and proposals from users. The site claims more than 600 million contributions made by its users. A good compromise between machine translation and manual translation. The site is contributory and free of charge.
Link: MyMemory
Mobile translation.
To these online tools I would be happy to add tools to use on your smartphone. Pretty practical when you are traveling for example without a dictionary at your fingertips. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, Google is arguably the best choice. The app offers 64 different languages, including 17 in which you can translate text but also voice!
Links: Google for Android / for iOs
A last word to offer you a nugget that I love. Word Lens. These are:an application for iOs that uses augmented reality. You can easily impress your students and loved ones. WordLens uses the camera on your smartphone. You target the text of a panel, for example, and the app translates it into your sensor image. The app is free but you will then need to purchase packs per language.
Link: WordLens.
Update. This feature is now integrated with Google Tanslate.
In the classroom.
This suite of translation tools will be useful to your students if they are accompanied by a pedagogical effort. No, they do not allow the English version to be made, yes they are another tool for trying to understand and interpret a language. They can even be absolutely essential on the go thanks to mobile.
And what online translation tools do you use?
English