I like LEC. The translate back helps. But we just use Google Translate because it's easier and has a bigger box for words. On the iPad it has a translation check. The normal one may have that too, I just didn't notice it. My laptop doesn't have a microphone, but the iPad does. It's nice to say a phrase or word and have it appear instantly, but it's not always reliable - it'll hang or lag so I found typing on the PC faster. Vanja can say Russian into the iPad but it only says what he wants ~50% or so. The iPad (probably the iPhone and iPods too) remembers everything that is typed in so that is how I asked him about the bathroom and drinking and eating.
Vanja is 13 and has quite the vocabulary. If I push him he can read and knows alot of words. He's not confident. Overall it's going well.
How wonderful to read your blog about sweet Vanya (Vanja...I was spelling his name all wrong!). You are so tech-savvy Fred, it has taken us a whole year and we didn't know about half of what you have already found. We have a Trano pocket translator, if that helps anyone. It's Ukrainian/English only. Bless you all.
ReplyDeleteI just asked him and he kinda shrugged with the Vanja or Vanya. He spelled out IVAN on a pad of paper. ALSO! This link should me how to changed the keyboard! For any apple device (I'm guessing). Under settings, general, keyboard - you can add about any language. He tried Russian, but then grabbed the Ukrainian Keyboard.
ReplyDeletehttp://ipad.about.com/od/ipad_basics/ss/Ipad-Keyboard-Settings-Help_5.htm
As far as communication (we have Andrii and Diana). .we have a small benefit in that we hosted last year and the kids were willing to teach us some Russian (not a lot, but some key words). We find that they LOVE to try to teach us their language . . .soooo . . we will type in the phrase "Will you please teach us your language?" and Google translate it . .they read it and said yes (giggling). So we poiint to things, or just use charades to get them to figure in out, and then say "po Rooskie" (for Russian - our two understand and speak Russian also). They will then tell us . .and we try to pronounce it (they laugh) . . . but it helps them realize that I'm trying to meet them at their level - not trying to Americanize them just to benefit me. That's just what we do.
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