An elementary school in the UK is using translation technology to help students who do not speak English as a first language.
Over half of almost 400 students at Manor Park Primary School in Aston, Birmingham, have English as a second language. Now the school supplies software that automatically translates between teacher and student.
The Talking Tutor program, developed by EMAS UK, instantly provides a translation for each student in his own language, after the teacher types instructions into a central computer. Students can respond in their own language, which is translated into English for the teacher.
The scheme has been criticized by some educational activists. Nick Seaton, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said that giving children intensive courses in English before starting school would be a better solution.
He also warned of the "danger that this computer translator will keep children within their own social group, which could be damaging to their future prospects."
However, Manor Park Head Teacher Jason Smith considers the software "a tool … not a replacement."
He estimated that over 30 languages are spoken in the school at any one time.
"It is the sort of tool that we can use to engage with children who have recently arrived in the country and have very little spoken English," he added.
A survey carried out by the government earlier this year revealed that over one million school children in the UK spoke English as a second language.
12 July 2010
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