Lost in Translation

Technology continues to assist and resolve many issues and challenges in our modern-day lives. There are advances in assistive and adaptive technologies to foster learning mastery and tools to grow skills. We use technology to develop learning management systems and calculate distances throughout the galaxies. However, technology can’t always predict nor evaluate effectively the areas that are amiss. Fortunately, technology has human beings as collaborators to foster reasoning and intelligent assessments of analytical understandings to the data that is gathered, evaluated, and synthesized.

Due to the combination of technology and humans working together, innovation and information continues to grow. However, much is presented and translated in English in many cultures. This is a growing concern over language learners lack of opportunities in their native languages. Specifically, this is more prevalent among India’s regional language learners facing a moving away from their own language due to high translation costs. Technology alone has not recognized this, but Rian has. Rian is a company that has resolved this dilemma by reducing translation cost and simplifying this problem quickly while fostering job possibilities of local languages.

According to Ani (2019), “Rikaian Technology Pvt Ltd is a Pune based company, which innovated Rian as a means to create jobs by simplifying the end-to-end translation process. Rian is an AI-powered platform that speeds up the translation process by automatically translating the body of the text, leaving only refinements to be completed with the high-quality human review” (Ani, 2019).

Rian seeks to address these language issues globally and locally by developing tools through affordable and available intelligent translation technology to anyone. Rian believes this is the answer to the industry's unprecedented potential for growth of the translation industry. Gautam Kulkarni, COO of Rian states, “(Rian) is providing holistic end-to-end solutions, streamlining the best combination of people, processes, tools, and data.” 

Rian translation software allows users to convert 40 languages including major Indian and foreign languages. According to Ani, “It converts Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Videos and more (over 20 file formats) inside their native applications and from the original languages in which they were created” (Ani, 2019). Currently, Rian has 3,000 users and over 50 million words have been translated. These numbers continue grow rapidly with high expectations of reaching the company’s goal of changing 100 million lives.

Source:

Ani. (2019, June 19). Rian's new translation platform powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Retrieved June 20, 2019, from https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/rian-s-new-translation-platform-powered-by-artificial-intelligence-ai-119061900991_1.html

Pixabay. (n.d.). Free Image on Pixabay -The Digital Artist. Retrieved June 9, 2019,   

       from https://pixabay.com/illustrations/translate-keyboard-internet-button-110777/

Growing Language with These Four Apps!

Developing ways to foster a supportive and nurturing environment for students where English is not their first language is vital to their development. Specifically, L2 students can benefit greatly with technology that assist their language skills. Fortunately, QSI News blogged about 4 apps that can help students learn English. These apps assist in the syntax, pronunciation, memorization, and the translation of language. How beneficial are these technologies? Quite beneficial! Students can easily download these apps to their mobile device and access these helpful apps to quickly trigger their memory bank or complete necessary assignments. These apps are also versatile to fit with individual learning needs and styles. For example, these apps offer multi intelligence approaches with content. L2 students can access videos, audio, images, and a flash cards to help with recall and support connections. FluentU, specifically, provides a number of videos in real time to assist L2 students with the English culture and English spoken language. 

To download or learn more about these exciting apps travel to: https://www.studyinternational.com/news/4-apps-to-help-international-students-learn-english-effectively/

Sources:

Study International Staff. (2019, June 12). 4 Apps to Help International Students Learn English Effectively. Retrieved June 13, 2019, from https://www.studyinternational.com/news/4-apps-to-help-international-students-learn-english-effectively/

Pixabay. (n.d.). Free Image on Pixabay -The Digital Artist. Retrieved June 9, 2019,   

       from https://pixabay.com/photos/english-english-language-language-2724442/

Modern Ways to Use Technology in ESL Instruction

We live in a digital age, and it is ever growing in ways that are hard to foresee its full potential. Involving ESL students in the world of technology with best practices will only intrigue them to pursue information that will grow their learning. They only need to be shown how to use it.

Fudin (2016) states: “Computers, tablets and e-readers can all be instrumental in learning English, offering interactive and motivating activities for students of all ages” (Fudin, 2016).  ESL students can benefit from these technologies as wells as the technologies that will soon to be to assist them in their language skills development. These technologies not only should be appropriate, but also should be utilized in ways that are effective. I recently read a website that shares ten ways for ESL teachers to use technology to support the ESL students. In addition, this website shares a number of resources that will prove helpful for the ESL student and instructor. 

When engaging ESL students in the creation of any projects, it is critical to keep in mind, for the instructor, to implement tools that allow the learner to share their unique voice and perspectives while fostering a platform that engages ESL students to be creative and analytical. This approach is complimented by supportive feedback from peers and instructor. 

Source:

Fudin, S. (2016, August 22). 10 Modern Ways to Use Technology in ESL Instruction. Retrieved June 9, 2019, from https://busyteacher.org/13732-using-technology-esl-instruction-10-modern-ways.html

Pixabay. (n.d.). Free Image on Pixabay -The Digital Artist. Retrieved June 9, 2019,   

       from https://pixabay.com/illustrations/artificial-intelligence-brain-think-3382507/