Speak My Language: Free Translation & Transcription Tools for International Students

🗣️ From Speech to Screen: Free Tools for Live Translation and Transcription

Navigating lectures and university life in a second language can be tough. Thankfully, there are some brilliant free tools out there that can turn spoken English into real-time text – even in different languages like Arabic, Punjabi, Mandarin and more. Here are some of our top picks for international students at Queen’s 👇

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Microsoft Translator for Outlook

• What it does: Translates emails into your chosen language directly inside Outlook, so you can read and reply without copy-pasting into another app.
• Great for: International students who want to keep on top of university emails, class updates, and group project messages in their own language.

Microsoft Translator in Teams

• What it does: Enables real-time message and meeting translation through built-in features and an AI-powered Interpreter agent.
• Great for: Online meetings and lectures providing real-time captions and transcripts translated into the language of your choice.
• Where to find it:
  • Messages: Right-click on a message and select Translate
  • Manage Preferences: To change settings, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > General > Translation (choose your preferred language)
• To Translate During Meetings/Online Lectures:

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Microsoft Translator

• What it does: Real-time voice translation with over 70 languages supported.
• Great for: Group conversations – each person can join via a code and speak in their own language.
• Where to find it: Android, iOS, and desktop version.

Google Translate

• What it does: Translates spoken or typed text between 100+ languages.
• Why we like it: It has a conversation mode for back-and-forth chats and works offline if you download the language packs.
• Where to find it: Free on Google Play and the App Store.

Live Transcribe (Android only)

• What it does: Converts live speech to on-screen text in over 80 languages.
• Why it’s fab: It’s made with accessibility in mind and doesn’t require an internet connection after setup.
• Where to find it: Pre-installed on some Androids or free on Google Play.

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Apple Translate (iPhone/iPad only)

• What it does: Translates voice and text between 10+ key languages including Arabic.
• Cool feature: Split-screen conversation mode so you can both see the translations as you chat.
• Where to find it: Built into iOS (check your Translate app), or search in the App Store.

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Vidnoz AI Voice Translator (Web-based)

• What it does: Translate voice to 140+ languages with natural-sounding voices.
• Why it’s unique: Ideal for presentations or recorded messages; includes lip-sync and voice effects.
• Where to find it: Use straight from your browser: vidnoz.com

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Final Tips

• Check your Wi-Fi or data if you’re using cloud-based tools.
• Use headphones with a mic for clearer audio capture.
• Try pairing these with screen readers or text-to-speech tools if you prefer hearing the translation read aloud.