Language Talking Translator

I Stand With GAZA

2014-07-25T02:31:00.001-07:00

Everything About Having The Perfect Wedding Day

2012-12-11T23:49:00.001-08:00

The perfect wedding is one where the couple can relax and even laugh at the things that go wrong on their wedding day. It is a fact that something will go wrong and it is best to expect it and to take it in stride. This article can help you to adopt the right attitude to a happy wedding day.

Have your wedding on a non-traditional day. For example, if you celebrate on a Friday instead of a Saturday, you will save a substantial amount of money. There are some complications associated with having a wedding on a work day, so think about having it in the evening. You will also have the entire weekend to continue to celebrate with friends and family members.

Do not bring a date to a wedding that you are invited to unless the invitation specifically stated that it was okay to bring a guest. The bride and groom might be on a budget and may not be able to afford having too many guests at their wedding.

Malden Mr. & Mrs. Medal Wedding Frame, 1-Opening

Use people that you know and trust for referrals. When it comes to hiring anyone to help with your wedding (catering, musician), you don't want to just trust that any person can get the job done to your satisfaction. Ask your friends who they used, and then make sure to give the company a visit while they are working so you can get an accurate feel of the job they do.

Choose your wedding dress before decide on anything else, including jewelry, shoes, purse, hair or makeup design. Take your time trying on gowns and look around at different venues before making your choice. If you can find what you like online, that will save you a lot of money too!

If you have some extra money in your budget, you will be able to consider enlisting the help of a wedding planner. Make sure that you look into several people before selecting the one that will be handling your wedding. Also, ask about the billing and fees that are associated with the planner so that you know upfront if you can afford their services.

It can be very tricky when you are planning a wedding and come from divorced parents who do not get along. Talking to your parents prior to the wedding about the issues may be needed to prevent problems at the wedding. If you are the bride and were raised with a step-father and biological father you may want to skip having anyone walk you down the Isle!

Once you have become engaged and your family and friends have been clued into the news, you and your fiance need to set up wedding registries. It is a great way to start your wedding planning and the wedding process and to identify the items that you would like to receive during your engagement party and bridal shower.

As previously mentioned, the fairy tale wedding doesn't really happen. Every wedding has it's unexpected disasters and the best thing to do is accept they will happen and don't stress about it. By putting a proper attitude in your wedding plans, you can make your wedding day a whole lot happier.

Everything You Have Ever Wondered About Homeschooling

2012-11-18T22:16:00.001-08:00

There are different outlets you can use to help your children learn. There is the traditional option of public school. There's also the more expensive option in the form of private school. There's also one more option called homeschooling. Does homeschooling sound like a good idea to you? If so, then read on for some homeschooling tips.

Get out of the house as often as you can. There is a great deal that can be learned from experiencing the world. This is actually one of the biggest perks of homeschooling. You are not limited to hours of working from a text book. You can instead bring your children to learn about the world first hand.

Deciding to home school your child or children is a big decision. If you're child is the recipient of bullying and wants to be home schooled, try to resolve the issue first. If the public school system is sub par, check out some private schools. Sometimes homeschooling really is the best option but make sure you know that for sure.

Utilize local resources to find resources you need. You can find resources for homeschooling at garage sales, curriculum sales and even homeschool groups on sites like Yahoo and Craigslist. Don't worry if they are gently used. A workbook with a few scribbled pages can still offer plenty of workable materials for class.

Keep at it even if you feel like throwing in the towel. It takes time to develop a plan that works for both you and your child. Many new homeschoolers give up too soon because they feel overwhelmed in the beginning, but after a year most homeschooling parents have settled in and enjoy homeschooling their children.

Study the many different types of homeschooling before making a decision about one. From unschooling to religious based educations to more traditional or even cyber learning, there are so many to choose from. Looking at them all will help you to make educated decisions about how you want to proceed with teaching your child.

While you may not want your kids to hang out with the ruffians in public school, they have to have some external social interaction. Plan out play dates with your neighbors or other family members. Take your kids to the park and let them play with the children there. Have them join teams, clubs and other organizations, too.

Join a homeschool group in your area. Many people homeschool and when you are around others who school their children at home it is much easier for you and your child. You can share ideas with each other, socialize and have a great support network. You can also swap curriculum materials to help you save money. The best way to school your children is with the help of others who do the same thing as you.

Limit the distractions in your workspace. This does not mean that you have to have a classroom. Simply, shut off the ringer on the phone, turn off the television and if the computer is not used for school, shut it down. The fewer distractions you have to compete with, the smoother your lessons will go.

While many modern homeschooling programs come with a recommended schedule, be sure to check your state regulations before planning your curriculum. Many states require that homeschooled children learn on the same 40-week schedule as their public school counterparts. In states without such regulations you will have more flexibility in planning the schedule.

Wednesdays can be hard as they're stuck in the middle of the week, so why not make them a special event? Include fun hands-on activities on this day or excursions around town. Make it something they look forward to and your kids will have an easier time making it through the week.

Be crafty when it comes to homeschooling. There are many resources that are going to cost money to purchase, unless you take the initiative to make them yourself. Flash cards can be made easily with index cards and laminate sheets. Get the kids involved in the making and education becomes even more fun.

There are many ways that your children can learn, but one of the most unique ways is homeschooling. If you use the tips from this article and give homeschooling a try. If you and your children like it, then you'll a way for your kids to get a good education.

Easy Tips To Help Make Homeschooling Better

2012-10-23T19:21:00.001-07:00

Many parents have come to the conclusion that the best way for their children to get the education they need is for them to receive it at home. However, the process of homeschooling is far more complicated than simply sitting down with some books for a set number of hours each day. By reading the piece that follows, it is possible for parents to begin getting a feel for the dedication and complex planning that homeschooling truly requires.

Make sure that your family plans fun times together. Even though your family will be together a lot, it is worth it to schedule time to do something fun that is not about school. This helps you grow closer as a family and gives you all a break from school related stress.

Make sure that you understand the needs of your particular child so that you can work at the correct pace for him or her. This is very important to merge your child into the learning experience so that they can soak in the material quicker and more efficiently while being home-schooled.

As you lay out your goals, make sure that they span the entire timeline of your kids' education. You should have goals which are easier to reach to ensure your kids are being positively reinforced frequently. Long-term goals should come with greater rewards so that your kids will be driven to attain them. Don't forget to set goals for yourself as well, including rewards which will drive you to be the best teacher you possibly can be.

When teaching your children, provide them with hands-on lessons. For example, if they're learning about a foreign culture, plan to create recipes from that region. For example, when learning about Stalin they could cook perogies and cabbage rolls. If learning about World War II, you can have them cook schnitzel, pasta and sushi as they go through the various Axis countries in their learning. When one learns with all of their senses active, they will absorb more information.\

Remember that home schooling is an extension of your role as a disciplinarian. When you're transitioning from public school to home schooling, it's a good idea to make both a discipline and lesson plan at the beginning of the year. You'll have to redefine your role as a parent to also include a role as a teacher. Be sure to think this entire situation through before embarking on home schooling.

An excellent homeschooling organization you should join is HSLDA. Although membership costs you $7 per month, the cost is well worth it. If the Board of Education were to ever contact you in regards to your homeschooling, being a member of HSLDA will certainly be in your favor. In addition, the HSLDA website provides you with information on your state's homeschooling laws.

Get in touch with other parents who home-school their children. This will be a great opportunity for you to share some tips, asks some questions and make some new friends. Do not let other parents influence everything you do, but keep in mind that some parents might have more experience than you.

While you want your home schooled student(s) to learn as much or more as their traditionally schooled counterparts, remember that you don't have to follow any guidelines when you are the teacher. Try different teaching and learning techniques to see what works best for your student. Also, consider using a reward program to make learning more exciting.

Don't fear getting help for housework when homeschooling. Adding an extra responsibility like homeschooling may mean that you need to delegate some of your household chores to another person. This other person could be another family member or even a friend. If you can afford it, there are maid and cleaning services that you can look at.

With increasing frequency, countless parents are determining that homeschooling is the best possible option in terms of ensuring that their children receive a truly great education. The process of schooling children in the home does, however, post substantial challenges for just about every parents, no matter how motivated. Fortunately, the advice in the article above has provide a solid foundation for getting a home-based educational program off the ground.

Curious About Homeschooling? Then Read This Article

2012-10-11T00:32:00.001-07:00

Are you sick of all the drama that comes with sending your children to public school? You are not alone. Many parents decide that keeping their children in public school is doing more bad than good. If homeschooling has crossed your mind, there are some things you need to take into consideration. Allow this article to be your guide to homeschooling.

Outsource some of your housework if you can while homeschooling. You can't be everything to everyone, and your new first responsibility is the educator of your children. If you have it in your budget t hire some help, even if it is just once a week for cleaning, it can help you keep your focus.

Learn the laws of your state that apply to homeschooling. The HSLDA website will fill you in on what the laws are in your area. Joining a homeschooling organization may help you if you are ever questioned by CPS or the Board of Education. The assistance provided will prove well worth any membership dues you will have to pay.

If you are homeschooling different aged children, consider unit studies. With a unit study, you pick a topic and the whole family learns about it. The topic could be a European country, the lifespan of a frog or a particular musical style. Each child works to their ability level and everyone helps to teach parts of the unit. This is a great way for peers to share their learning experience. It also cuts down on the amount of planning that you, the teacher, have to do and makes homeschooling easier.

Homeschooling can be a lot of fun. Just as children in traditional schools go on field trips, you can also take your child on field trips. This is a great time to connect with your child while teaching them things they would not necessarily learn with a large group. It gives the learning environment a more personal experience.

To help your student learn even the most complex concepts, it helps to understand what he/she finds most interesting. It is much easier to engage a student who has taken an active interest in the subject at hand. As the teacher, you have the responsibility for maintaining structure but this does not mean your pupil can't determine the direction as well. Seeking your student's input ups the ante and facilitates active learning.

Get in touch with your local schools. It may be possible for your child to enroll part-time for certain enrichment classes, such as art or music. They may be willing to rent textbooks to your family. Your child may also be able to play on their sports teams. Reach out to the administration and see what resources they can offer.

Make sure that you pick a room that has a lot of light when you are setting up your child's work area. Light is vital and can help to reduce the strain on your child's eyes over time. The proper work area is optimal to get the most out of your child.

When homeschooling you do not need to necessarily set up your home class exactly like a traditional classroom, although you do need some of the same materials. The kitchen or dining room table can serve as a desk. You will need a chalkboard or a whiteboard, art materials and other important learning tools.

It is okay to use computers when homeschooling your children, do not completely rely on them. As you probably already know, computers are very prone to problems like viruses and freezes. Because of these problems, it is important that you continue to use textbooks and other physical materials as well.

Learn the governing rules of homeschooling in your state. Each state will have specific laws concerning how a parent can home school. For example, some states mandate that a homeschool is listed as a private school within their state. While other states mandate that homeschooled children are given standardized testing in certain grades. By knowing your state's laws, you can ensure that you are following your state's mandates as they pertain to homeschooling.

As mentioned at the start of this article, many parent these days feel that sending their children to school is not allowing their children to get the best education. This is a main reason by people choose to home school their children. Use the tips from the article above to become educated on homeschooling and determine if it is the best choice for you and your kids.

Avoid Misadventure With These Simple Homeschooling Ideas

2012-10-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling can be one of the most enjoyable and most rewarding choices that you make for your children. It allows you to be engaged in their learning and to give them the benefit of one on one teacher, rather than having them in a class of many children. This article can help you get started in the world of homeschooling.

Steer clear of isolation by looking for learning opportunities outside the home. There are many educational activities that are perfect for supplementing textbooks and worksheets. To expand on history lessons, visit a museum with your student. Are there any historical reenactments held nearby? You could take short trips to popular historical markers or even attend a screening of a relevant documentary.

The goal of homeschooling is to instill knowledge in your child or teen, but it should also be viewed as something more. You have a rare opportunity to use learning as a means of bonding and interacting with each other in a way most parents never get. Highlight the student's accomplishments in your "˜classroom' just as you would for those earned in a traditional learning environment.

Homeschooling your children should not mean that they are exempt from tests and quizzes. It is important that you give your child a test as often as they would get one in school. This is a great way to determine which area your child is progressing in and which areas require more work on your part.

If your library sells donated books, visit it regularly. Teachers will often donate the materials they are finished with. Don't fear the boxes with photocopied stuff. These can often have some of the best items. Take the time to look through them. This is inexpensive and helps support your library!

Make sure you are prepared before you get started with homeschooling. You need to adapt your own schedule so you have enough time for your child, and of course you need to know what kind of methods you will be using and what you need to teach to your child.

Learn when to give in. If you are trying to teach your child in one way and it is not working, do not continue to push. Find an alternative method of teaching that subject to them. You can use movies, online apps or even online tutors to get through. Pushing them to learn in ways that is not easy for them will only frustrate the both of you.

Even homeschooling teachers and students want to feel included. For that reason, you should both consider joining a homeschooling support group. Your student(s) will get to talk to other kids that understand the lifestyle and challenges of homeschooling. Likewise, you can get input, advice and general support from other parents that have already struggled with and succeeded at homeschooling.

Do not forget that you are working with kids and kids are going to do better if you give them breaks. Hours and hours of studying and book reading is not going to make them excited about learning whatsoever. Give them time to run around a bit or just do nothing. It will do everyone a great deal of good.

If you want to home school your child but feel as though you need to touch up on a certain subject, why not take a college course? This will be a great way for you to learn more about the subject and pass this knowledge on to your child. Who knows, maybe when your child goes to college, you can get a job in this field.

Prioritize your time by having a set schedule. A schedule will help you, your children and other family members stay on task. By setting a "school time" schedule, friends and family will know that this time is vitally important for your children. Ask everyone to avoid calling during this time unless it is an emergency.

Now that you have a better idea of many of the ways that you can approach homeschooling, you should be more confident about getting started. There is also an abundance of support form other homeschooling parents, prepackaged curriculum sets, as well as great websites to help you along the way as you gain your footing.

More information at Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School

Franklin Electronic Publishers BES-1890 Speaking Spanish-English Dictionary

2012-09-25T19:02:00.005-07:00

This is my second Franklin Spanish<-->English Dictionary. The first one, the 1850, served me well for over 5 years. Loved it. Unfortunately, it was lost in a move back to the US. I chose the 1890 because it was the newer model. First the good points: Bigger screen, bigger keys, larger font...

The attribute that brought this dictionary down from a 5 star to a 3 star is that there is no hard cover that folds over to protect the keys and screen. The 1850 has this cover, the 1890 has only a soft pleather pouch. The on switch keeps being clicked on, resulting in rapid battery drain.

More information at Franklin Electronic Publishers BES-1890 Speaking Spanish-English Dictionary

Travel Interpreter

2012-09-20T00:55:00.002-07:00

no internet required, covers most needed words and phrases and speaks them in a dozen languages using native speakers. The search word or phrase function is great; type in the word you are looking for and your options appear. I started learning words in no time and could put together phrases not covered.

More information at Travel Interpreter

Learn Any Language

2012-09-13T00:34:00.003-07:00

The information in this book is priceless. After struggling for so long, learning a language has never been so simple. It's brilliant.

After failing to learn a language for years I was speaking proficient Spanish in just three months using Davids ideas. The book has been worth many times what I paid for it.

check this out at FREE How To Learn a Language Mini Course

How to Become a Translator - Breaking into the freelance translation business

2012-09-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

I've read a few books on the translation business, both focusing on my language pair (Russian to English) and also on simply breaking into the business. This is the best one from that latter sparse field. I mean, it could be extended and Daniels acknowledges this by posing a lot of other issues that could be addressed at the end. However, he has a lot of great tips, and also provides a much more useful overview of the current state of the profession, in contrast to Corinne McKay, whose book on the topic costs a lot more and provides less viable information using a great deal more verbiage.

I wish Daniels would address in his next book how to attain proficiency in SDL Trados, for one (I've been working on this for half a year now, and am still stuck using the 2007 edition as the 2009/2011 editions are highly complex and I don't even see the advantage of using them yet), and any tips on attaining expertise in selected fields of specialization would be welcome.

I am proficient in Russian having lived there a number of years and having attained a doctorate in the language. That being said, I am stuck in low-paying work now since my portfolio is thin and I am not well-versed in engineering, medicine, pharmaceuticals, construction, law. I am doing what I can by simply reading books on law and finance. It's a real struggle for an older "newbie" like me, though.

This book deserves five stars, though, for its pragmatism, its breadth, and the price makes it an especially good value. Hope Daniels comes through with that website of his. I checked it out, but so far there is no means of registering on it.

More information at How to Become a Translator - Breaking into the freelance translation business

Crazy Talk: A Not-so-stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms

2012-08-09T17:44:00.002-07:00

"Crazy Talk" is a humorous devotional "dictionary" of theological terms.

Rolf Jacobson has put together a little book organized around the big and not-so-big words Christians use when talking about God. He calls theology "Crazy Talk."

Each entry starts with a tongue-in-cheek definition of the term and then a short humorous -- but accurate -- discussion of the term and why it matters to Christians.

The words considered by "Crazy Talk" range from the familiar -- Angel, Bible . . . Worship -- to more technical theology -- Adoptionism, Canon . . . Theodicy.

The authors are Lutheran and reflect that perspective. (They even define some Lutheran theological words like "adiaphora" -- a word and perspective worth knowing!) But all Christians, regardless of their denominational tradition, will enjoy this book and benefit from its content.

You could read the book like a devotional -- a word a day. But chances are you won't be able to stop with just one word. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down.

These words don't do the book justice. Just buy it and read it. You won't be sorry!

More at Crazy Talk: A Not-so-stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms

Ectaco 500AL Oxford Multi-Language Electronic Translator

2012-07-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

I purchased the 500AL to use on a multi-country, extended trip last summer. When researching an electronic translator, I was surprised that there weren't more options available, given our digital era. I chose this model based on the amount of languages and the speaking function. I used it in Latvia, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

The 500AL is a little wider than a smart phone and about as tall and thick. The case is a thick plastic, and the unit feels pretty solid. If you look at the image, you'll notice that the lid is a little offset from the back of the unit. This actually alleviates tension on the joint and makes the unit more stable when opened on a table. It is a very nice design feature.

Display:
The active screen is smaller than the unit, which is indicated in the product image. There are static graphics of falling letters on either side of the screen that the image does not show. These are a little visually distracting, but not horrible. The LCD screen is very old school - monochromatic and NOT backlit. You won't be able to read it in dim lighting. Additionally, the plastic cover on the screen is high-gloss, so bright light is an issue too. Based on the side-graphics, no backlight, and gloss, it was a bit of an effort to read the screen at times.

On the flip side, the lack of a backlight and simplicity of image causes very little drain on the battery. It is easy to forget how quickly smart phones, GPS devices, and computers die when there is no power source. I used my translator quite a bit over a 5 week period and the battery is showing 3/4 full. This is also helpful because the on/off button needs to be pushed to turn it off. Closing the cover won't turn it off, so it could be easy to forget and leave the unit on for a period of time.

Keyboard:
It is well sized. You will need to thumb type, but it is much easier than most smart phones. The keys require a fairly firm press to work, and that was annoying for fast typing. I found I needed to backspace quite a bit from missed letters.

Note: Take the time to read the instructions before your trip or bring them with you. Some of the alternative key commands and setup options are not intuitive.

Language packs:
The 500AL comes with many, many languages on a preinstalled SD card. That was the big selling point for me. Where else could I find both Latvian and Czech in a single translator? I did not have to download anything, but I think you can if needed. I went on their website to look, but the site was incredibly confusing. You have to load each language pack from the SD card one at a time, replacing the previous one. This takes quite some time, at least a full 5 minutes, to do. So you can't flip between multiple languages in a conversation. This didn't bother me because I was only using one language per country.

The description does not contain the full list of languages. They are:
Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese (Kana and Kanji), Korean, Latin, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese. (Not all languages are supported both to and from English or in TTS -see below)

Functions:
The 500AL's dictionary is not a full sentence translator. It will only do one word at a time (there is a phrasebook however). I found the dictionary to contain more words than my pocket dictionary, and it did a pretty good job. Once the language pack is loaded, you can switch between English and the loaded language, but you have to go through the setup menu options. This was cumbersome because it required a few steps to do. It would be better to have a quick button to do this.
**Not all languages are supported in both directions! I could get English > Latvian, but I could NOT do Latvian > English! Czech and German were supported. This is contrary to the item description!

Note: If you choose a foreign language to English setting, all the menu items will be in that language! Try to familiarize yourself with menu items while in English first.
Note: When typing in a foreign language, make sure you type the non-latin letters appropriately using the alt key. The translator won't figure it out if you use an English letter instead.

The phrasebook is pretty handy too. It will take you through categories to find particular phrases. It is helpful to get the category set up before you might need it.

The TTS (text to speech) is useless. The voice is not the quality of GPS devices. Think 1980's computer voice. At one point I played a translation for a vendor in Germany and she didn't even acknowledge it. TTS is NOT available for all languages.

Hangman is a translation version - helpful only if you are learning a language. SAT, English Grammar, USA interview, and Idioms are for people wanting to live/study in the U.S. The currency converter was nice to have, but you have to set the exchange rate manually. World clock, metric converter, and calculator are just ok.

I do think the 500AL was worth the $100. It was not a full conversational aid, but it helped out in a number of pinches. Just the mass number of languages the unit has is great, and it is easier to use than a dictionary book. It was nice to hold the device up to someone to read. Much easier than pointing to a word or phrase in a book.

I am testing all the language packs for TTS and reverse language support. A partial list is below (got as far as Lithuanian alphabetically). I'll update with more language talking translator

Reverse translation (from "LANGUAGE" to English) in the A-L languages ONLY supported when using: Czech, French, German, Italian

TTS is supported in A-L languages with: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, Greek, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese (Kana and Kanji), Korean

More information at Ectaco 500AL Oxford Multi-Language Electronic Translator

Franklin Bi-Directional Spanish/English Translator (LRL-100)

2012-06-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

The keys are easy to press and type with, unlike some other models. Unfortunately, the vocabulary is quite limited, so many/most words I'm looking up areen't in there. If I could have this keypad on a model with a bigger word list, I'd be very very happy.

I have used this since January 2011, and find it great for anyone who speak a little Spanish, but could use some help with vocabulary. Easy to use. Small enough. Has most words a beginner will want, and is also very useful for intermediates who don't want to carry a bulky dictionary. You can't beat it for the price!!!

More details at Franklin Bi-Directional Spanish/English Translator (LRL-100)

Kim Tu Dien EV-81C: Two Way English - Vietnamese, English - Chinese Talking Electronic Dictionary Translator with Organizer

2012-05-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Over 1 million words ? User's Dictionary and Revision Test ? Comprehensive Reference Information ? USA Citizen Test ? Beauty Test (Manicure Test) ? Selectable English, Vietnamese or Chinese menu display

Technical Details

English - Vietnamese, Vietnamese - English, English - English, Vietnamese - Vietnamese Dictionaries
Two Way Chinese - English, English - Chinese Dictionaries
10 categories of Professional Dictionary, Conversation in multinational languages, 22 categories of Practical Dictionary, language talking translator
RealSpeakTM Quality Speech System in English pronunciation, English phrases examples and Vietnamese idioms

I like this dictionary, its small, compact, great for me as a student. Relative great dictionary for the price. I strongly recommend this dictionary to new Vietnamese English learners, students and travelers.

More information at Kim Tu Dien EV-81C: Two Way English - Vietnamese, English - Chinese Talking Electronic Dictionary Translator with Organizer

AM103 English Chinese Pinyin Dictionary Translator - Translate English Sentence/Word to Chinese & Pinyin

2012-04-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

Technical Details

Great for Travelers Visiting China and English Speakers Learning Chinese. User interface in English. Easy and Convenience to Use
Translates English Sentence/Phrase/Word to Chinese and Pinyin, Pronounces Authentic Mandarin Chinese
Translate Pinyin & Chinese Sentence/Phrase/Word to English. Pronounce both English and Chinese
Convenience tools including Calculator, Unit Converter, and World Time. Includes Daily Conversational Sentences & Phrases
Includes carrying bag, earphones, (2) AAA batteries and (1) year parts and labor warranty. Weighs 4.0oz

I've owned this and it's previous unit (with a back light). I've used both extensively in china to do just what it supposed to do. Does it work, you bet. I'm the guy who travels to China without much language knowledge other then enough to stumble by (i am getting better ).

For the money, this little unit is a gem. Do the the translation as good as units costing 4 times the cost. The real problem and there are a couple. language talking translator

1. Lack of a back light, is a big issue - so much so I can not use it in anything but bright light. That lack of a color display doesn't help
in seeing the screen,
2. Eats batteries.
3. Would be nice to be able to update the unit.

But on the same token, it's cheap, light weight, and gets the job done. I use it as a backup to my new unit. I would recommend the unit as it is good.
If they could just put those few enhancement all would be well.

More details at AM103 English Chinese Pinyin Dictionary Translator - Translate English Sentence/Word to Chinese & Pinyin

Lingo 6 Talk: Six Languages Talking Translator

2012-04-22T02:41:00.003-07:00

Product Features

Over 36,000 words and 720 useful phrases, language talking translator
Databand and calculator
Metric conversions
Currency conversions
Local and world time

Not much information at Lingo 6 Talk: Six Languages Talking Translator

LingvoSoft Talking Translator 2007 English <-> Spanish for Windows

2012-04-12T18:04:00.001-07:00

LingvoSoft Talking Translator 2007 software for Windows is a speaking translator that provides the highest-quality, most effective and accurate full-text translation of any text or document including business letters, technical documentation, e-mail and much, much more.

Employing the latest linguistic developments and syntactic databases, LingvoSoft Talking Translator 2007 delivers superior text translation instantly. Once translated, the text can then be spoken aloud using the latest TTS (text-to-speech) voice synthesis. This updated translation engine from LingvoSoft even works quickly and effectively on slower running PCs, saving you time and delivering the results when and where you need them at work, at school, or at home.

With a remarkably user-friendly interface that allows you to customize almost every element, this powerful application permits text for translation to be entered in three convenient ways - by opening a file, by copying text from another application via the clipboard, or by entering text directly using the incorporated virtual keyboard. language talking translator

Featuring advanced integration with other LingvoSoft applications it also is fully compatible with the most popular MS Office applications Word, Internet Explorer and Excel letting you import and export text directly between applications for a truly seamless environment.

System requirements:
Windows 2000/XP
25 MB free space on the hard disk
Sound card (for LingvoSoft Talking Translator 2007 only)
The software should be installed on systems with at least 64 MB of system memory

More details at LingvoSoft Talking Translator 2007 English <-> Spanish for Windows

Lingo Worldmate 6

2012-03-29T05:49:00.002-07:00

The electronic dictionary is excellent for comparing words with 6 common European languages. It has special features for learning phrases and saving words for review. The translator is strong in adverbs and adjectives. language talking translator

The nouns are not classified with gender in the applicable languages. The verbs are programmed in the infinitive form. One will also need to purchase a dictionary with a more complete list of verbs and a book of conjugations for identifying the various forms of verbs.

More information at Lingo 6 Translator (WM-6)

Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor

2012-03-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Technical Details

Real-time bidirectional translation system, using the Oxford-Besta dictionary, delivers accurate and concise translations.
E-Tutor:uses interactive Flash-based modules which provide a "face-to-face" environment together with accurate pronunciation tips.
MP3 - enjoy your music wherever you go
Video - 4.0" mobile vista video playback
Recorder - captures the sounds of life

I've bought for two reasons. First to do sentence translation from english to chinese. Second as a learning tool to help me learn the language. In both areas the product is a little bit better then OK and in some areas good. Some background, I'v been to China 5 times so far - each time with a electronic translator of some kind. I started out with a simple BBK 100, simple unit worked did the job only 120.00 not feature rich but again did the job. It ate batteries and had a poor backlight LCD display; but it did the job, luck would have it I lost it. I buy another one, go to China again, same unit but no backlight and ate batteries. So, I'm in China, find myself in an IT type mall (what fun) and I run into a vendor selling translators. I pickup a Besta unit designed for the Chinese market, was pretty nice. Managed to get it work in english mode. Good display, good rechargeable battery etc. Translations was pretty good, but not better then the 120.00 BBK; but i could see the screen. It saved my bacon. However, It had a serious problem after 20 mins of sentence translation it would reboot - was terrible. Digging into the unit it had a software version of 1.0 and you couldn't update the thing.

Going back to China, so I decided to get a new Besta unit as they seem to be good and some sort of market leader. The one I got in Beijing was good, but the reboot issue an lack of support was a show stopper. Perhaps a shiny new updated unite designed for the english market would be much better and if it rebooted, well i could probably get better support. So I went and spent the nearly 400.00 for this unit. First off, it's got a really nice display, easy to see, good colors and great batter life. Sentence translation isn't any better then my other units, but this is an area that is tricky to get right. The learning materials in the unit aren't bad, some are very good - like chinese classroom (an SD card that came with it). The E-C dictionaries are good. It also has some nice PIM features but in the age of iPhones these are useless features to me.

My real grip with the unit is that it doesn't offer enough learning material for english speakers to learn Mandarin. It has way too many learning tools for chinese to learn english - but I thought this was designed for the english speaking market (i called Besta to confirm this). So overall, it is a fairly good unit. It is well built. A little expensive and it does make for a good electronic dictionary. I just wished it had a better interface, more learning tools for english speakers. language talking translator

The PM features are ok, but a waste of resources (if you've got a smart phone). I would recommend this unit if the learning materials for english speakers were better, however, at nearly 400.00 in it's current state of development I couldn't recommend it. Besta could help itself, by simply making their website more accessible to english speakers for updating the unit download more material - but in it's current state, their website is terrible. I do plan on keeping the unit (hoping this will get better via their website). I'll be taking it to china in a week and we'll see if it's better then others I've got.

More information at Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor

Franklin TWE-118 5-Language European Translator/Travel Ace

2012-03-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

The Franklin Translator is a nice idea, but it's for beginners. If you're not a beginner in the language you won't be satisfied with the vocabulary available in this tool. language talking translator

supplement to the book. The translator comes with an instruction pamphlet which I keep with it. I have found the translator will take time to use without the pamphlet. It is compact and contains basic information for five languages. It should be a valuable aid for any trip to Europe.

More details at Franklin TWE-118 5-Language European Translator/Travel Ace

Atlas Dictionary English, Arabic SD3900i Special

2012-02-27T01:54:00.000-08:00

After the huge success that was achieved after releasing Atlas specialized dictionaries, we present Atlas "SD3900i" that contains besides the encyclopedic dictionary many specialized dictionaries such as: (Medical, Commercial, Law, Political, Military, Sports, Scientific, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer, IT and Internet).

In order to support the device technologically; it is equipped with an advanced search engine that enables the user to know the meaning of any word in any specific field. Furthermore, it contains 12 languages dialogue that grants the user the chance to communicate with others while traveling worldwide.

The dictionary works well in both Arabic to English and English to Arabic. The only thing that took me a while to figure out was that to look up verbs in Arabic you do not use the 3 letter root in the "past" (I am not on a computer with an Arabic keyboard so I can't type "al maadhee" here)language talking translator

Instead you look up the third person singular masculine in the "present ("al mudhari3"). So to look up the verb "to write" one must type in "yaktub" instead of looking up "kataba" like you would in a normal dictionary.

It is a great product, definitely worth the money and it shipped fast as well. Next year will be easier for me (studying abroad for the year) as instead of carrying my Hans Wehr Arabic-English and my Oxford English-Arabic I am going to be taking this.

Bottom line: buy it. At Atlas Dictionary English, Arabic SD3900i Special

Lingo Euro 5 Talk

2012-02-21T03:52:00.000-08:00

I found this to be a pretty good translator. You can fold the screen down to the keyboard which makes it very compact and easy to carry around. They keyboard is very detailed yet easy to figure out and use. I'm also happy with the translations and how easily you can switch between the various languages.

The reasons I knocked off two stars:language talking translator
1) The sound quality for saying/pronouncing the words/phrases is horrible, barely better than nothing.
2) When you look up words, they supply just on translation for each word for the target foreign language, ignoring the fact that there are often more than one corresponding words.

More reviews at Lingo Direct TT-5500 Euro 5 Talk 5 Language Talking Translator

Franklin DBE-1490 Merriam-Webster Spanish-English Dictionary

2012-02-13T21:13:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I was very hesitant to order this product after reading some of the reviews. I was seriously considering finding the older 1440 model, because one of it's reviews was so positive. But I called Franklin and talked to one of their techs, who convinced me to buy this.

I'm so glad he did. My husband and I are serious Spanish students (study several hours per day),and are planning to move to Mexico. We also have several Mexican employees.

The 1450 is ideal for us. It is really meant for Mexico, and South America, not Spain. It tells you when a word is appropriate for a certain country. What I love about it is that nearly all the words I have ever looked up for translation have been available, with very good definitions. language talking translator

Also it corrects spelling errors. More importantly, with many words that have variable meanings, it gives examples of sentences to show how variable the meaning can be.

This has been invaluable for us, since the tendency in learning a language is to try to translate quite literally, which is often inappropriate.
(Example: Caer;
1:to fall, to drop
2:to collapse
3:to hang down
4:caer bien - to be pleasant, to be likable<me caes bien: I like you>
5:caer mal or caer gordo: to be unpleasant, to be unlikable
6:caerse:to fall down)
In the past, I would have been tempted to use 'me gusta' to say I liked someone; however, this would have implied I had amorous feeling for them (oops!) Who would have guessed?
This info can also be found in the book, 'Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish', which is also highly recommended, but the electronic translator keeps it right at your finger tips.
My husband was a dedicated hard copy dictionary user, who thought I was wasting my money, until he realized how fast, easy, and on-the-mark the Franklin is. He "borrowed" my 1450 so often that I finally ordered another one for him, and another one for my 13-y.o.

Verb conjugations do take a little time,(not long enough to irritate me,still a useful function), but this is not primarily what I use it for. There are so many other good products on the market for that, such as the Warren Hardy flashcards (www.warrenhardy.com), the Real Spanish Path (www.speakspanish.com), etc.

I hardly ever use any of the other functions, just the translator. It's very quick to switch from English to Spanish (how do you say?) to Spanish to English (what's that word mean?) If you forget and type in an English word in the Spanish function, one button will automatically switch you over, so you don't have to re-type it. By the way, don't forget to follow the arrows on your display pad. There is always much more info than what you can originally see, so you need to keep scrolling down to read it. Also, be clear about this, the translator does not translate phrases, only single words. Bien viaje!

Get now at Franklin DBE-1490 Merriam-Webster Spanish-English Dictionary

Palm Speaking Language Translator (P10936U)

2012-02-06T23:34:00.000-08:00

This is a very poor product. The audio sounds like the early 1980s computer/robot voice sound (you sure aren't going to learn how to pronounce a foreign word with this product!).

I've found no volume control (it's very loud when you use ear buds). The program itself takes over ten seconds to load. Then there are further delays as it loads the data as you use it. language talking translator

There is plenty of screen space, they could have displayed the word in all five languages easily instead of having to switch languages and find the word again.

More at Palm Speaking Language Translator (P10936U)

MobiLearn Talking Phrasebook, English-French-German-Italian-Spanish

2012-01-31T03:16:00.000-08:00

You CAN move this to the SD Card leaving only 300k resident on internal memory.

The price seems a bit high to me, especially with all the free alternatives, but the spoken phrases don't sound computer generated so that may be a good value for you if you're not picking it up as the FAotD.

I think it's a little short on words, but about what you'd find in a phrase book, and it speaks the words to you rather than leaving you to muddle through foreign pronunciation. You're also getting multiple languages rather than just one you would likely find in a dead tree phrase book. language talking translator

The only negative point was that a spoken term, I forgot to note which one, was not the same as the words on the screen and obviously incorrect.

Run over your data files again, make sure to catch any of these minor errors, and this will be a five-star app for tourists.

Not what I'm looking for in the language app department, but pretty solid if this will fit your needs.

More information at MobiLearn Talking Phrasebook, English-French-German-Italian-Spanish