Cool Tools/Curriculum Idea: Google's Toolbar's Translate Gadget

Google may not create tools specifically in mind for education, but the tools certainly fit our needs. The Google Toolbar has fantastic shortcuts for many Google created features for personal web browsing.  One of the great gadgets you can add is called the Translate Gadget.  A friend and colleague of mine, Jamee Childs, was using this when we were team planning her unit on animal adaptations.  She is a Spanish immersion teacher at my school, so all websites and documents she gives to students must be in Spanish.  Jamee has found that this tool "accurately" translates most print information found on webpages.  Be aware that not all sentences/words can be translated, and literal translations can be a problem. However, my colleague has found that the Google translator tools are accurate and constantly updating their vocabulary.  You will notice that this tool translates anything that isn't an image on the page. This includes adds, etc.  WOW! The video below shows you how easy it is to install and use this gadget.

Now for classroom connections:

ESOL Students - If you have a popular/useful website you want to use with students, don't let a language barrier be in your way.  This tool can "accurately" translate websites in over 20 languages.  In the lab or on your classroom computers, set up the Translate Gadget, and train your English Speakers of Other Languages students to use this tool on pages where the English reading or sentence structure may be too challenging.

World Language Teachers/Students - Have you ever been stumped by vocabulary on a page, schedule, or authentic WL document?  Use this tool to help you navigate through the harder vocabulary on a page.  While we don't want kids to use the tool for word for word translation, you may find that some words need to be defined on a page to aid comprehension.  If your translate button has been installed on your toolbar, and if you have set your language, you can mouse over words in documents, and it will give you all the possible English definitions for that word.