Listening to your notes gives your eyes a rest and lets you revise in places where reading is hard. Text to speech reads any text aloud using the voices on your device.
When it helps
- You want to revise while walking, cooking or travelling.
- Your eyes are tired after long reading.
- You find it easier to remember what you hear.
- You are learning a language and want to hear pronunciation.
- You want to check your own writing.
Proofreading by ear
Your eyes often skip over mistakes in your own writing because your brain fills them in. When you hear the text read aloud, missing words and awkward sentences stand out. Paste your essay or answer into the text to speech tool and listen once at normal speed.
How to use it for revision
- Type or paste your notes. Keep each session to one topic.
- Choose a clear voice in the language of your text.
- Start at normal speed, then increase it slightly as you become familiar.
- Pause after each section and say the main points from memory.
- Listen again to check what you missed.
Listening alone is passive. Mixing it with recall makes it much more useful.
Settings
- Voice: the list depends on your device and browser. Install more voices in your system settings for other languages.
- Speed: slower for new or hard material, faster for review.
- Pitch: leave it at the default unless a voice sounds odd.
Combine with other methods
- Make question-and-answer cards in the flashcard maker and read the answers aloud.
- Use the study timer and listen for one block, then answer questions for the next.
- If you prefer to speak your notes, try speech to text to turn them into written text.
Limits to know
- It reads what is written, including errors, so check your notes first.
- The tool does not save audio files. It plays the sound only.
- Voices may sound flat or mispronounce names and technical words.
- Some browser voices are produced by an online service, so avoid pasting private text.
Accessibility
Text to speech is also useful for people with dyslexia or low vision. Do not feel it is a shortcut. It is simply another way to take in information.
Your text stays in your browser unless the voice on your device uses an online service.