Using text to speech (TTS) in edit mode

What is text to speech (TTS)?

Text to speech converts written words to audio of the spoken language. It is available to use inside the text editor, or on any text boxes (or shapes that include text) for any page in edit mode. Teachers can control students' use of this feature via a toggle in their library settings.

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How does it work?

Text to speech in text editor

When the text editor is open, click on the speaker icon (located on the bottom left) to hear the entire text read out loud. Each word spoken is highlighted for users to follow along.

You can select individual words or sentences to be read out loud within the text editor by simply selecting the text you want to hear first, and then selecting the speaker icon. Note: This only works inside the text editor.

Once the speaker icon is selected and you start listening to your text, if you click on the Stop icon, it will immediately stop reading. If you want to hear it again, please note that it will start playing from the beginning again.

Text to speech on text elements

After text is already added to a page, you can select a text box and a speaker icon will appear underneath. Click the speaker icon to hear the words inside the text box read out loud. Each word spoken is highlighted for users to follow along.

The same functionality works for shapes that include text - simply select the shape and a speaker icon will appear and the text can be read out loud.

If you are listening to your text element, and you select the Pause icon, it will immediately pause the reading. If you select the speaker icon again, it will begin reading out loud where you paused.

However, if you select pause and then select on anything else before replaying the speaker icon, it will start reading again from the beginning.

Note: You can only listen to individual words or phrases from within the text editor.

Text to speech on translated text

If you have enabled translations in your library settings, you and your students will have the ability to listen to translated text. When text is translated to other languages, TTS functionality will work the same way as stated above and will read the translated text out loud.

Note: TTS relies on the languages installed on your computer to determine the voices you may hear.

👉 Read the support article to learn how to add or change languages on your browser.

TTS options for voices and speed

The user can control the voices and read aloud speed within the read to me settings in "Read mode."

How do I control student access to this feature?

As a teacher you can control text to speech at the classroom library level by a toggle in the library settings. The feature is enabled by default but can be switched off at any time.