Read&Write supports text-to-speech in Irish

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To start using Read&Write for Google Chrome in Irish, you can switch over your speech settings with the following quick steps:

1. Open the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar in Google Docs or on the web
2. Click more, then the Options gear
3. Under the Speech tab, change your voice to ‘Gaeilge Peige

Now you’ll be able to use Select to Speak (Play), Click to speak, Hover Speak and Audio Maker to listen to any Irish text read aloud.

Download this support article for step by step instructions on how to access the Irish voice.

Supporting Irish-medium Education

There are currently 40 Irish-medium schools in Northern Ireland. The representative body for Irish-medium Education is Comhairle na Gaelscolaíchta, it’s their role to promote Irish-medium Education in the community. We spoke to them about what this new addition to Read&Write means. Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, CEO, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, said:

“Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta recognises the value of the technology available from Texthelp in improving accessibility to learning for all pupils and providing opportunities for enriched learning experiences across the curriculum. We are delighted, therefore, that Read&Write is now available in Irish and we wish to congratulate all those involved in ensuring the Irish-medium sector can avail of this invaluable resource! Texthelp have demonstrated that resources like these can be delivered through Irish and we would encourage other providers to follow their lead!”

There are now more than 7,000 students in Irish-medium schools in the North for the first time ever, with this number expected to rise sharply. So, we asked Dessie Tennyson, Head of Irish Medium Stream and Irish at St. Joseph’s Grammar School, what impact this update will have on Irish-medium education (IME) students:

“This new update will be of great assistance to all IME students, not only those that have additional learning needs. I love the fact that you were able to get a good clear voice in Ulster Irish! Most students have spent almost 7 months learning remotely and due to the nature of immersive education, I believe that our IME sector has been badly affected. Despite the immense efforts of our IME teachers, it is impossible to provide immersive education while at home. This provision will make a big difference in the years ahead with homework assistance, pupils will be able to listen to the words while they are reading them.”

Dessie also pointed out the addition of the Irish voice will not only benefit IME students, but it will also help pupils learning Irish too.  

“I believe that this update will provide great opportunities outside of Irish Medium Education. For anyone learning the language, especially at an advanced level, this programme/tool will assist them to read and hear at the same time.”

Schools in Northern Ireland have access to our literacy support software, Read&Write through the C2K network. To help students across the country read, write and study with ease and confidence. Find out more.

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Read&Write ag tacú anois le téacs go teanga i nGaeilge

Tá lúcháir ar Texthelp a fhógairt go bhfuil Read&Write for Google Chrome ag tacú anois le téacs go teanga i nGaeilge! Foilsíodh an nuashonrú úr níos luaithe an tseachtain seo, in am do Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Scéala iontach é seo agus is fada Gaelscoileanna an Tuaiscirt ag fanacht lena leithéid. Toradh eile ar an nuashonrú seo go mbeimid ábalta tacú le foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i ngach scoil eile fosta.

Breathnaigh ar an fhíseán seo go gcluinfidh tú an guth Gaeilge ag feidhmiú in Read&Write for Google Chrome:

Le tosú a úsáid Read&Write for Google Chrome i nGaeilge, is féidir do shocruithe cainte a mhalartú trí na céimeanna gasta seo a leanas:

1. Oscail barra uirlisí Read&Write for Google Chrome in Google Docs nó ar an ghréasán
2. Cliceáil more, ansin giar Options
3. Faoi tháb Speech, athraigh do ghuth go ‘Gaeilge Peig’

Anois, beidh tú ábalta Select to Speak (Seinn), Click to speak, Hover Speak agus Audio Maker a úsáid le héisteacht le téacs ar bith Gaeilge á léamh os ard.

Íoslódáil an t-alt tacaíochta seo faoi choinne treoracha céim ar chéim ar an dóigh leis an ghuth Gaeilge a rochtain.

Faoi láthair, tá 40 Gaelscoil i dTuaisceart Éireann. Is í Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta comhlacht ionadaíoch na Gaelscolaíochta agus is é a ról an Ghaelscolaíocht a chur chun cinn i measc an phobail. Labhair muid leo faoin tábhacht atá leis an ghné úr seo de Read&Write. Arsa Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, PF, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, “Aithníonn Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta an luach atá leis na háiseanna a sholáthraíonn Texthelp ó thaobh inrochtaineacht ar an fhoghlaim do gach dalta de agus le deiseanna saibhre foghlama a chur ar fáil thar na réimsí curaclaim. Tá lúcháir orainn, mar sin, go bhfuil Read&Write ar fáil i nGaeilge anois agus tréaslaíonn muid leo siúd a bhí lárnach san áis seo a sholáthar d’earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta! Léiríonn Texthelp go dtig áiseanna mar seo a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge agus mholfaimis do sholáthróirí eile a dhéanamh amhlaidh amach anseo!

Tá breis agus 7,000 dalta i nGaelscoileanna an Tuaiscirt anois den chéad uair riamh agus táthar ag dúil go méadófar an líon seo go mór. Mar sin, d'fhiafraigh muid de Dessie Tennyson, Ceannaire Shruth na Gaelscolaíochta agus na Gaeilge i Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Iósaef, cén tionchar a bheidh ag an nuashonrú seo ar dhaltaí Gaelscolaíochta.

“Beidh sé seo ina chuidiú ollmhór ag daltaí na Gaelscolaíochta. Ní amháin dóibh siúd a bhfuil riachtanais bhreise foghlama acu ach do gach aon dalta! Is breá liom go bhfuair sibh guth breá soiléir a labhraíonn Gaeilge Uladh. Tá beagnach seacht mí den chianfhoghlaim déanta ag daltaí agus mar gheall ar an chineál foghlama atá i gceist sa tumoideachas, bhí an earnail s'againne thíos go mór leis. D'ainneoin iarrachtaí iontacha mhúinteoirí na Gaelscolaíochta, is dodhéanta tumoideachas a chur ar fáil do pháistí sa bhaile. Déanfaidh an soláthar seo difear mór sna blianta atá romhainn le hobair bhaile agus iad ábalta éisteacht leis na focail agus iad á léamh.”

Mhaígh Dessie fosta nach le leas daltaí Gaelscolaíochta amháin atá guth na Gaeilge ach gur cuidiú é fosta do dhaltaí atá ag foghlaim Gaeilge.

“Feicim féidearthachtaí iontacha anseo taobh amuigh den Ghaeloideachas fosta. Do dhuine ar bith atá ag tabhairt faoin Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim, go háirithe ag an Ard-Leibhéal, cuideoidh an feidhmchlár seo leo rudaí a léamh agus a chloisteáil in aon am amháin.”

Tá rochtain ag scoileanna i dTuaisceart Éireann ar ár mbogearraí tacaíocht litearthachta, Read&Write trí ghréasán C2K, a chuidíonn le daltaí ar fud na tíre a bheith ag léamh, ag scríobh agus ag staidéar go réidh agus go muiníneach. Tuilleadh eolais anseo.