Google+Translate

code  function googleTranslateElementInit { new google.translate.TranslateElement({   pageLanguage: 'en'  }, 'google_translate_element'); }  code =Google Translate=

Translates sections of text or URLs into another language

Resources
 * http://translate.google.com/
 * http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/faq_translation.html
 * [|Google Translate on Wikipedia]
 * [|Procedure for Translation - Google]

Strengths

 * Translates 41 languages
 * Translates inputted text or URLs
 * Gadget can easily be added to your web page
 * Allows the user to make translation corrections
 * Can work on mobile devices (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10011254-94.html)
 * No click translation available in selected languages (just scroll over word)
 * Allows for greater communication between individuals of various linguistic backgrounds
 * FREE
 * Translations are made within seconds: very time effective and faster than translating by using a dictionary

Weaknesses

 * Is an automatic translation
 * Does not translate websites written in Java script or Flash
 * Fluency is lost
 * Limits the number of paragraphs and/or range of technical terms
 * Pronounciation not available (audio component)
 * Dialect differences not addressed (Portuguese from Portugal vs. Brazilian Portuguese
 * Not all languages are addressed (ex: Creole)
 * Does not translate phrases that are native to particular regions
 * Does not translate common sayings accurately
 * Requires internet access, making it inaccessible in homes where parents and students don't have computers or internet

Opportunities

 * Can search web sites in other languages
 * Your web page can be made available in other languages
 * You can volunteer to become a translator for languages not yet available on Google Translate
 * Opportunity to engage in email and blogging with individuals who speak a different language
 * Opportunity to gain further understanding of other languages
 * Stories, poems and other creative or fact based text become available to individuals who speak different languages
 * Opportunity to read text in foreign languages that might be out of reach otherwise due to lack of published translations

Threats

 * Translations are not always accurate
 * Word meanings can be lost
 * Does not apply any or all grammatical rules (depending on the languages being translated to and from)
 * May allow students to get around a school's firewall or internet website blocker when translating websites
 * Leaves room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation

Ideas for the classroom
 * This can be a great tool to communicate with parents of students who don't speak English
 * Can be helpful for ESOL students
 * Use in a foreign language classroom to compare accuracy of translations
 * When studying a country, teaching students some words in the native language will help to motivate students.
 * Students can translate text from museum web pages, as well as poems or short stories written in different languages
 * Students who are studying a foreign language can use this tool to translate words or phrases while writing stories or reading text