Text to Speech Tools
On this page:
ReadSpeaker
ReadSpeaker has four tools for reading different types of content: webReader and docReader in Brightspace and TextAid and TextAid extension for reading web content.
webReader
There is a text to speech tool included in Brightspace. The tool can be access via the Listen button that appears on topic, discussion, and quiz pages:
Activating the Listen button will reveal the Player:
The player will read aloud, and (by default) highlight, content as it is read.
In quiz, each question has its own Listen button. The player will stop after reading each question and possible responses. Answer the question and select the next Listen button to continue.
There are a number of options on the Player for speed, volume, and controls. Additional settings and tools are available in the Settings menu:
Under Settings you can customize the appearance, including colours and highlighting.
Choose Reading Voices to change voices.
When reading, a second toolbar will appear at the bottom of the window with simplified controls.
Select Content
You can select content and a button will appear:
Choose Listen to hear the selected text.
Enlarge Text
Enlarge text opens a window at the bottom of your screen that shows the text being read. There are options to change the appearance.
- Select the player menu button.
- Toggle Enlarge Text to on.
- Click Listen.
Text Mode
Text mode simplifies the view of a page. Keep in mind, this may temporarily alter the appearance of the page.
- Select the player menu button.
- Choose Text Mode.
- A new overlay window will open showing the simplified version of the page.
Page Mask
Page mask dims the page except for where the mouse is. This may help users focus on what is being read.
- Select the player menu button.
- Choose Page Mask.
- The screen will dim except for a horizontal line that follows the mouse.
Users can change the size of the mask using the + and – buttons on the right side of the mask.
Click and Listen
This tool is not available in the quiz tool to prevent accidentally clicking an incorrect answer. In other parts of Brightspace, this option allows you to click on text and have that section read aloud.
- Select the player menu button.
- Toggle Click and Listen to on.
- Click on text on the page, you will see a red outline around what is being read as well as the highlighting of sentences and words.
docReader
Brightspace includes a tool called docReader. Use the Open with docReader button below the document frame.
docReader will read PDFs and Word documents aloud with various options for highlighting, listening, and reading.
Click Listen or highlight text and choose Listen to begin reading.
Select Text Mode to see a simplified version of the document.
Select Layout Mode to return to the original view of the document.
Select Expand Toolbar for more options or Collapse Toolbar to hide.
Use Page Mask to dim the document except for the lines where your mouse is focused.
Use Reading Ruler to move a ruler with your mouse to underline each line as you read it.
The Settings menu has options for reading speed, colour and highlighting settings, as well as font and spacing options in Text Mode.
TextAid
TextAid is a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox) similar to webReader in Brightspace that helps users to read content anywhere on the web.
To access the browser extension navigate to TextAid and select Sign in with Office 365. Login with your Langara email address and password.
- Select Web Reading.
- Select Computer or Mobile.
- Choose preferred browser.
- Each option includes instructions and a link to install the extension.
Once the extension is installed, you don’t have to through the portal every time you want to use the extension.
Using the extension
- Select the Extensions icon (a puzzle piece in Chrome and Firefox) near the top right of the browser.
- Choose ReadSpeaker® TextAid.
- The ReadSpeaker tool will open.
- A pop-up will guide you to login if you are not currently logged in.
- Highlight text and select the Play button (green arrow).
- Change highlighting, reading speed, and language on the toolbar using the gear, speedometer, and globe icons.
- Writing assistance tools are only available in Word or Google docs.
- The Snapshot tool (frame icon) allows you to extract text from pictures.
Learn More
Device Built-in
Word
Microsoft Word has two text to speech tools: Read Aloud and Immersive Reader.
Read Aloud
Read Aloud is available in the desktop version of Word. Move to the Review tab and click Read Aloud, or press Alt Control Space
A small toolbar appears with controls and voice options.
Users can have Read Aloud read from their cursor position or select text and have only the selection read.
Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader is available in both desktop and browser versions of Word. Immersive Reader is also available in the browser version of PowerPoint.
To open Immersive Reader, move to the View tab and select Immersive Reader.
The document’s appearance will change. At the bottom of the window, users can access Read Aloud tools.
In Immersive Reader, users can customize text size and spacing, font styles, background colour, and more.
For more information, read listen to your Word documents.
Android
- Download Android Accessibility Suite if not already on device.
- Open Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Installed Apps.
- Choose Select to Speak.
- Follow prompts to set up service.
- In apps you want read aloud, tap the accessibility icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on text or tap and drag around text you want read aloud.
- Use toolbar to stop, pause, or change settings.
Note, this may be different depending on your Android phone.
Android has a Reading Mode App for Chrome.
- Install the Reading mode app from the Google Play Store and open Reading mode.
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility.
- Select Installed apps.
- Select Reading Mode.
- Set desired Reading mode shortcut.
- Open the Accessibility shortcut and select Reading Mode.
- Note, Reading mode does not work on all webpages. Reading mode works best on documents and text heavy pages.
- Reading mode changes the appearance of content.
- Press Play to begin reading.
- Press Settings to change appearance and audio settings.
Learn More
ChromeOS
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-speech.
- Toggle on Select to Speak.
- Select the Select to Speak icon (circle with speaker) on the Shelf and click and drag over content you want read aloud. Or highlight text and press Search and s.
- The Select to Speak navigation bar will appear with options to pause, skip, rewind, and change speed.
Additional options for voices and highlighting are available under Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-Speech > Select to speak settings.
Hear text read aloud – Chromebook Help
iOS
Use Spoken Content to read aloud content in iOS.
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility.
- Tap Spoken Content.
- Toggle Speak Selection on.
- Highlight text and select Speak to hear selected text read aloud.
To hear everything on screen read aloud:
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content.
- Toggle Speak Screen on.
- Swipe down from top of screen with two fingers to have all page content read.
- Use the toolbar to control speech.
In Safari, use Listen to Page:
When available:
- Select the
icon in the address bar and choose Listen to Page.
- Control playback by tapping on
- Control reading speed, skip forward and back, pause, or stop listening.
Learn More
Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback – Apple Support (CA)
macOS
Turn on Spoken Content:
- Navigate to System Settings > Accessibility
- Toggle Speak selection on.
- Select ⓘ Show Detail beside options to customize.
- The default keyboard shortcut for Speak Selection is Option Escape.
- Choose System Voice and press Play Sample to verify voice and speed.
When activated, the Spoken Content controller will appear with options for controlling speech.
Learn More
Have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen – Apple Support (CA)
Browser tools
Firefox
Press F9 (Windows) or Command and Option and R (macOS) to open/close Reader View or click on lined paper icon in address bar.
Reader View includes built-in text to speech and display customization.
The look of webpages can be customized, including the font as well as line, character, and word spacing.
The background colour can be changed, as well as the colour of links, font, background, and highlighting under the Custom tab.
The Read aloud tool (headphone icon) offers read aloud functions, variable speed, and voice options.
This is not available on all webpages.
Firefox Reader View for clutter-free web pages
Edge
Edge has two reading tools: Read Aloud and Immersive Reader.
There are 3 ways to activate Read Aloud:
- Press Control Shift u
- Click on A icon in address bar
Read Aloud will begin reading from the top of the page. - Right-click on text, select Read Aloud or Continue to read aloud from here
Additionally, users can select text, right-click and click Read Aloud Selection
To use Immersive Reader, press F9 or click the Immersive Reader icon in the address bar (when available).
Immersive Reader offers a simplified version of webpages with full Read Aloud functions. Additional visual customizations and reading preferences are available.
Learn more about Read aloud.
Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge.
Safari
Turn on Spoken Content:
- Navigate to System Settings > Accessibility
- Toggle Speak selection on.
- Select ⓘ Show Detail beside options to customize.
- The default keyboard shortcut for Speak Selection is Option Escape.
- Choose System Voice and press Play Sample to verify voice and speed.
In Safari:
- Highlight text.
- Right-click.
- Select Speech.
- Select Start Speaking.
- Or select Edit from menu bar.
- Choose Speech.
- Click Start Speaking.
Use the controller window to control reading and speed.
Safari has Reader View available on some websites. This simplified view of web content may make reading easier. Click Show Reader View in the address bar.
Reader View can also be activated by pressing Command Shift r or open the View menu and select Show Reader. Reader View is not available on all websites.
