Many of my readers may already be aware of these tools. But... just in case: For my friends and colleagues who teach foreign languages: these tools may be of help to you. Even if you don't teach a foreign language but want to collaborate with teachers around the world, these tools may be of help to you.
I must confess to solving a technical problem a couple of years ago by using one of these tools to translate a blog post written in French. The author had experienced the same technical issue and solved it. He posted his solution in French. One problem: I don't speak French. However, with Google to the rescue, I was able to resolve the issue!
These Google Translation Browser Buttons can be added to your browser's toolbar for quick access to using the Google translate engine to translate the page you are currently visiting. Drag the translation button(s) you will need most to your toolbar. Visit the URL you need translated. Press the button. Tah Dah!
If you just want to enter some text and have it translated, the Google Text Translation tool may be the answer. Just type in your text. (You can also paste it in from another location or from a document.) Choose the language it was written in and the language to which you wish it to be translated.
If you want to just translate a quick word or two, the Google Translation Dictionary may meet your needs.
I am including code below that, when copied into the template of your blog, will allow your visitors to translate your entire blog with two clicks of a mouse. I don't recall where I first came across this code as I have used it for many years. You can see the result of the code in the sidebar on the Practical Practice main page under the header "Translate My Blog." Go ahead and give it a try to see how it works.
To add this same functionality to your blog, just copy the code between the two bars made of asterisks into your blog template's sidebar. (Don't actually copy the asterisks themselves.
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<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.write ("<FORM action=http://translate.google.com/translate>")
document.write ("<div align=center><div style='border:0px solid #f00; padding:4px; width:150px; text-align:center;'>")
document.write ("")
document.write ("<INPUT type=hidden size=55 value='"+location.href+"' name=u>")
document.write ("<SELECT name=langpair>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=en|de>English to German</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=en|es>English to Spanish</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=en|fr>English to French</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=en|it>English to Italian</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=en|pt>English to Portuguese</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=de|en>German to English</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=de|fr>German to French</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=es|en>Spanish to English</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=fr|en>French to English</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=fr|de>French to German</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=it|en>Italian to English</OPTION>")
document.write ("<OPTION value=pt|en>Portuguese to English</OPTION>")
document.write ("</SELECT> ")
document.write ("<INPUT type=hidden value=en name=hl><INPUT type=hidden value=UTF-8 name=ie><INPUT type=hidden value=UTF-8 name=oe>")
document.write ("<INPUT type=hidden value=/language_tools name=prev><INPUT type=submit value=Translate></div></div></FORM>")
// -->
</script>
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These tools are certainly not without accuracy-related issues. But they have helped me. As the world becomes a smaller place, I wish I had mastered more than just the English language!
