Text-to-speech (TTS) software transforms written content into spoken words. Using TTS can improve comprehension, increase retention, and make learning more accessible and enjoyable, particularly for auditory learners or those with reading difficulties.


Why Use Text-to-Speech?

  1. Boost Retention: Listening to content while reading along can reinforce understanding and help information stick in your memory.
  2. Increase Engagement: TTS can make long readings less monotonous, keeping you engaged with the material.
  3. Multi-Tasking: You can listen to course materials while commuting, exercising, or doing household tasks.
  4. Accessibility: TTS can be a game-changer for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties, making learning more inclusive and accessible.

Highly Recommended

  1. Speechify. Download the Speechify app on your device or use the web version. Speechify is a mobile, chrome extension, and desktop app that reads text aloud using a computer-generated text-to-speech voice. The app also uses optical character recognition technology to turn physical books or printed text into audio. The app lets users take photos of text and then listen to it read out loud. Download the Speechify app on your device, install the Chrome extension, or use the web version. Upload your document or paste the text, and choose your preferred voice and speed settings (e.g., Snoop Dog, Gwenth Palthrow). Press play and the app will begin reading aloud. Speechify offers a wide range of high-quality voices and allows you to listen at various speeds. It’s a favorite for its user-friendly interface and ability to handle different file formats. Rev. Dr. Nate Walker, founder of ReligionAndPublicLife.org, uses this technology daily and highly recommends integrating Speechify into students' everyday work.

Other Recommendations

  1. Apple's Built-in Text-to-Speech Tool is free, easy to use, and integrates seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem. On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Spoken Content. Here, you can customize the voice and speaking rate and enable "Speak Selection" to read aloud highlighted text. To use it, highlight any text, right-click, and select "Speech" > "Start Speaking."
  2. Microsoft Edge's Built-in Read Aloud Tool is readily available on Windows devices, making it convenient for quick reading sessions directly from your browser. Open any webpage or PDF in Microsoft Edge, right-click on the page, and select "Read Aloud." You can adjust the voice and reading speed from the toolbar.
  3. Dragon NaturallySpeaking: Install the software and set up your profile. You can then dictate documents, control your computer, and have text read back to you. Use the "Read That" command to have Dragon read your document aloud.