Tech+Tool+1

**Technology Investigation #1: iTravl**

**What is** itravl***?** ECTACO itravl is a two-way multilingual language communicator and electronic dictionary. ECTACO, Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of electronic handheld dictionaries and translation software. itravl can be used as an interactive language teacher and provides full text translations. You can type sentences using a virtual keyboard which will then be translated to the other person's language. It also includes a dictionary, pictured dictionary, phrasebook, and sentence builder in both directions.

**How can itravl be used in the classroom?** I could envision myself using this piece of technology with my students and their parents. In teaching about appreciating other languages and promoting multilingualism, this device could be an exploratory tool for the students to use with each other. I could also see myself using it with ELL students. If something is confusing or a communication breakdown is happening, this device could bring some clarity to the situation. Also, the language and grammar features could help ELL students learn and practice English. In addition, I could use this device to communicate with students' parents who speak limited English and parents could write in their own language to communicate with me. I also could send out short emails using the parent's native language. The translator might not be perfect, but it shows that I'm making an attempt to reach out and communicate and that's what's important.


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