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Software Helps Teach English Faster

Learning a new language is never easily, particularly when the language is one of the most difficult ones around. This difficult language is of course English, but now, with a new great software, students can get a hold on pronunciations in a flash. Merit Software announces the addition of a voice component, called the Merit Text Talker, to most of its English language improvement programs. With the Merit Text Talker, all of the passages, questions, answers, tips and explanations students view on the screen can be spoken aloud. This is a new innovation that shortens the time required to grasp key English language concepts.

Words are highlighted in synchrony with their enunciation, providing emphasis and helping students follow the text. The company provides two high-quality North American voices. Users may also install their own regional voice into the Merit Text Talker. Research has shown that a multi-sensory approach to instruction shortens the length of time required to grasp essential English language concepts. Even before the addition of speech capability, Merit programs have been evaluated through rigorous research and shown to have a long term positive effect on student mastery of essential English language concepts.

Text-to-speech functionality is now seamlessly integrated into the software. With just two clicks, students can command that text be spoken aloud without additional windows opening or closing. There is no copying and pasting of text, or toggling back and forth between applications. Students may repeat words and phrases as often as they choose, and from wherever they wish within the context of Merit`s skill-building exercises. Merit expects that the fresh instructional enhancement of including text-to-speech will be beneficial to a wide variety of students, including but not limited to English language learners, people with learning disabilities, and remedial readers.