:::info # 20 tips to learn how to better read and write with the iPad ::: --- **Yann Houry**  - teacher - director of Academic Research & Innovation - author of [Ralentir travaux](https://www.ralentirtravaux.com) --- As as student, the iPad can help you **overcome many difficulties** and offers you **many solutions** to help you with your writing or improve your ability to read. These solutions are classified into three parts: 1. **Read**, 2. **Write** 3. **Understand**. --- Here they are. And they are all free! :star-struck: --- :::success ## <i class="fa fa-leanpub" aria-hidden="true"></i> Read ::: --- :::warning ### 1. Use Speak selection ::: You can make the iPad **read any piece of text**. Handy when you can't pronounce or recognize a word.  --- Go to `Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech > Speak selection` to activate Speak selection. --- :::warning ### 2. Use Shortcuts ::: Use [this shortcut](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/732c6a84562a4389a03b357adc591d8e) to display a web page with the **Open Dyslexic font**. Useful if you are dyslexic and you have a problem reading online.  --- :::warning ### 3. OpenDyslexic font ::: Download the [OpenDyslexic font](https://gumroad.com/l/OpenDyslexic) to display all your documents with this font specially designed for dyslexic students.  --- :bulb: If you don’t know how to install a font, visit this page: [How to use custom fonts on iPhone and iPad](https://9to5mac.com/2019/06/12/ios-13-how-to-use-custom-fonts-on-iphone-and-ipad/). --- :::warning ### 4. Reader mode ::: Read comfortably using **Reader mode**.  --- To do this, tap the **four small lines** in the address bar in Safari. You will thus avoid any unnecessary distraction (advertisements, navigation menus, etc.).  --- :::warning ### 5. Convert a web page into a PDF ::: By doing this, you will be able to export the page, read it in **offline mode** and even **annotate or highlight** passages you want to remember.  --- To do this, since iOS 13, take a screenshot and choose `Full page` then save your PDF with the app of your choice. --- :::warning ### 6. Office Lens ::: With Office Lens from Microsoft, you can take a picture of a document (a book for instance) or a whiteboard and scan it.  --- From now on, you can share this picture to the built-in Immersive Reader and **change the font** (the Comic Sans is great for dyslexic students), change the **size**, **detach syllabes**, **display** nouns in purple, verbs in red and much more. You can use **Picture Dictionary**, **translate**, **read out loud** the text as well. --- :::success ## <i class="fa fa-pencil" aria-hidden="true"></i> Write ::: --- :::warning ### 7. Use the Speak recognition fonction ::: It may happen that you cannot write a word and you cannot find its spelling in your dictionary. --- In this case, **record your voice**. The iPad will recognize the word for you and at the same time give you its spelling.  --- To do this, **press the small microphone** at the bottom of the keyboard next to the space bar. --- :::warning ### 8. Create shortcuts ::: If you have trouble typing quickly, **create shortcuts**.  --- For instance, to write your email address quickly, create a shortcut like "yh" and by writing this you will get "yhoury@lyceeinternational.london". --- To do this, go to `Settings > General > Keyboard > Text replacement`. --- :::warning ### 9. Turn your handwriting into block letters ::: Hand write with Notability and **turn your handwriting into block letters**.  --- Write by hand, select your text using the ✄ icon, press the selection and in the menu that appears, choose `Convert To Text`. --- :::warning ### 10. Fluently ::: As one can read on the [website](https://fluently.so/trybeta): > Fluently is an online text editor with a multilingual translator, dictionary, and thesaurus built-in. --- So if you need to **write** (and not only to **translate** like you would using Google Translate) and format a document, your are at the right place.  --- :::warning ### 11. Google Docs ::: Everyone knows [Google Docs](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/?tgif=d) but it’s worth remember it: **you are not alone**. --- If you get through the blank page anguish, remember that you can share your document with a friend who can help you. Also remember your teacher can read what you are writing and provide you feedback and advice. So think of it!  --- :::warning ### 12. MindNode ::: Traditional note-taking may be difficult for youngest students. --- With [MindNode](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/mindnode-mind-map/id1218718027), which is a mind mapping app, you can **jot down your thoughts**, create some kind of picture of your ideas and **export them as rich text**.  --- :::success ## <i class="fa fa-lightbulb-o" aria-hidden="true"></i> Understand ::: --- :::warning ### 13. Check your spelling ::: **Check your spelling**, if you are a French speaker, with [le bon patron](http://bonpatron.com/). Of course, you can find many spell checkers (such as [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/m) or [Language Tool](https://languagetool.org/)). --- But the reason why I’m suggesting my students to use Le bon patron is that they can get **explanations both in French or in English** so when they are more confident with one or other language, this is helpful. --- The English version of Le bon patron is [SpellCheckPlus](https://spellcheckplus.com/).  --- :::warning ### 14. Use a dictionary ::: For French speakers, go to [Larousse](https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais "Larousse") and search for the word you want to know the spelling. Also think to check conjugation as well with the [Bescherelle](http://bescherelle.com/). --- To avoid typing “Larousse” ou “Bescherelle” every time you need to visit these pages, create **a favorite**.  --- To do that, press the **rectangle icon** located in the upper-right corner of your screen (the one with a little arrow pointing to the top) and choose `Add to favorite`. --- :::warning ### 15. Phonetic search ::: For French speakers only. Do a **phonetic search** by using the [Académie française](https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/) dictionary.  --- Type the word you are looking for spelling and choose `Mots proches`. The dictionary will find the right spelling for you! --- :::warning ### 16. Built-in dictionary ::: Use the **built-in dictionary** (to add a dictionary, go to `Settings > General > Dictionary`).  --- To use it, **press a word** to make it appeared and **choose `Look up`**. --- :::warning ### 17. Create your own dictionary ::: **Create your own dictionary** and memorise the vocabulary you’ve learn while working or reading. --- In **Notes**, create a folder labelled Dictionary and create as many notes as there are letters in the alphabet. To sort these notes in an alphabetic order, go to `Settings > Notes > Sort notes by`.  --- :::warning ### 18. Google Translate ::: Translate words you don’t understand. Use [Google translate](https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8) or [Word reference](http://www.wordreference.com/) to find the meaning of a word.  --- :bulb: Don’t try to figure out the meaning of a complete text. Instead, try to understand a word, a group of words or even a sentence. You can however translate a paper document with the **augmented reality** feature of the app. --- :::warning ### 19. Google translate in a spreadsheet ::: By using [the formula Google Translate](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093331?hl=en) in Google sheets, you will be able to get a translation of the words you don’t know. --- Depending on which language you want, the function should look like that: ```=GOOGLETRANSLATE($A1,"fr","en")``` --- You can even create some kind of automatic research of the translated word by using this function: ```=HYPERLINK("https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/"&A1, "Français")``` --- By doing this, you create swiftly and automatically a dictionary without having to write a lot of things!  --- :::warning ### 20. Otter ::: Having a Zoom videoconference with your students? Consider using [Otter](https://otter.ai/) which provide a **real-time transcript** so students don’t have to take notes and can keep focused on what you say. Transcribing your Zoom meeting can also **help those that are deaf or hard of hearing**. --- Moreover, you can listen to your transcript of course but you can also **highlight text** or **comments** it. Very convenient!  --- :shrug: Only for English teachers (Otter only supports English) using their computer. --- :pray: Thanks for reading this! ---  <i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i> Follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/yannhoury)