I downloaded Word Lens years ago.
As a Spanish teacher, I thought I’d found a perfect resource. Sadly, I couldn’t find a good use for it in my class.
Then, a few months ago, I was speaking to a friend who was preparing to head to the mission field. We started talking about his plans for language school and the best ways to learn language.
That’s when I remembered Word Lens.
Word Lens
I downloaded the app and showed him the finer points, including the in-app purchases he would have to make to acquire the ability to do more than reverse English text. And that was it. After our discussion, I promptly deleted the app.
And then Google.
What an epic line, right? I got chills writing it. Sounds vaguely like Scripture, “And then Google…”
And then Google bought them out and set all the in-app purchases free.
Hallelujah!
Word Lens is a neat little app, and now that it’s entirely free, there isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t download it, especially if you’re a missionary or planning on a short-term missions trip this summer. I tried the app on some of my posters in my classroom, and had mixed results, which makes sense. It’s not designed to be used as a translator; it’s designed to help you read signs in the real world.
So, long story short, it doesn’t take away the need for language school, but it is a handy little tool to help you survive till you’re a bit more fluent.
What languages does it do? So glad you asked. It translates Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Russian all to English. Again, it has its limitations: clarity of the sign, font (nothing fancy), lighting, and the fact that it’s a machine trying to decode contextual language.
And yet: I’d download it in a heartbeat if I were heading overseas.
So there you have it. I submit to you, for your consideration and cost free download: Word Lens for iOS and Word Lens for Android.
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