Overview:

Google Translate is a free online translation service with a variety of different features that would be useful to educators.  Both mobile app and web interface versions are available, with the web interface being more robust.  At the most basic level, Google Translate allows users to type, speak, or even take pictures of signs in one language and receive a translation back in another language.  Currently, Google Translate offers translation services for approximately 90 languages.  

Synchronized with Google Chrome, users can translate complete webpages or just single out words or phrases instantly. Users who do not use the Chrome web browser can still utilize the highlight and translate function by downloading an add-on which is compatible with most popular browsers. 

Google Translate is expanding from being a web-only translation application with new features that allow translating pictures of words through a smartphone camera and mobile app call Word Lens.  This allows users to take Google Translate with them when they need it most. Basically, if your are traveling to a different country and need to translate a sign or a menu, just take a picture and the app will translate it.  Also, Translate offers Conversation Mode which allows direct translation through a microphone recording on a laptop or smartphone. 

Google provides these translations by employing statistical machine translation, which means that previously translated documents are scanned looking for patterns that Google Translate can apply to a new translation. The more examples of previously translated documents the more accurate Google claims the translations will be.  Simple word and phrase translations do seem quite accurate however attempts to translate paragraphs of text from English to another language and back to English again result in imperfect translations.  The accuracy of the translations provided in Google Translate cannot be guaranteed, so all work done within Google Translate must be done with this understanding.

Google is working to improve the quality of its statistical machine translation through the Google Translate Community which relies on a community of volunteers who either provide examples of good translations or verify the quality of translations.  The Translate Community was recently responsible for verifying or translating over 12 million words during the Google I/O Translation community challenge, which ran from May 26 - June 5, 2015.

For more information, check out the Google Translate Blog - The official source for news on Google's translation technologies.

Videos:

How to use Google Translate:

Uses:

• Clickable speaker icon allows users to hear the translated text read aloud or repeated  

• Ability to save translated words and phrases to a phrasebook in a Google account so that translations may be accessed and used again.   

• Option to turn off instant translation.  Students can try a translation on their own, before using Google Translate to check their answers

• Handwriting text feature allows students to write text that needs to be translated.  This could be useful when special characters are used or when the characters in a language do not match the keys on a student's keyboard
  

• Web addresses may be entered and  Google will return a links of given website that may be clicked.  The texts within the body of the website, will be translated.  In this way, entire websites can be shared with readers of other languages

Pros and Cons:

Pros

• Free

• Plug-in allows use through browsers besides Chrome

• Translate entire websites or just highlight words or phrases
  

• Number of languages available is robust and growing

• Accuracy is increasing daily due to use and community participation

• Savable phrasebook feature via Google account

• Continuous feature and quality updates through Google
• Instantly translate audio via smartphone speaker and mobile app
• Translate photos of text via smartphone camera and mobile app
  

   

Cons

• Not every language represented

• Accuracy not guaranteed

• Language idiosyncrasies such as idioms not typically  translated properly

Alternatives:

GoldenDict: GoldenDict is an open-source dictionary program that allows users to use multiple dictionary formats to find translations of words or phrases in a variety of different languages.  Android users can purchase a mobile version of GoldenDict.

iTranslate: iTranslate is a word, text and phrase translator for over 90 languages.  It is compatible with Apple, Windows and Android platforms.

Lingoes: Lingoes is a dictionary and translation software available in over 80 languages.

Navita Translator: Navita Translator is a translation software for Blackberry users.  It can translate and speak more than 60 languages.

Odyssey Translator: Odyssey is an offline translator for iPhone and iPod touch.  It is available in 9 languages and has voice files (recorded by native speakers).

5 Alternatives to Google Translate: Silicone Angle Blog Post by Melissa Tolentina

*note the first alternative mentioned, Word Lens, has since become part of Google Translate.

Resources:

Google. (n.d.). Google Translate Blog. Retrieved June 25, 2015 from http://googletranslate.blogspot.com/

News, C. (2015, January 14). Google Translate app upgrades voice, camera translation - Technology & Science - CBC News. Retrieved      July 7, 2015, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/google-translate-app-upgrades-voice-camera-translation-1.2900450

Tolentina, Melissa. (Jan. 13, 2015). 5 Alternatives to Google Translate. [Blog Post] Retrieved June 25, 2015

     from http://siliconangle.com/blog/2015/01/13/5-alternatives-to-google-translate/