What is text to speech?
Text to speech converts written content on Seneca into spoken audio allowing users to listen to questions, explanations and learning material.
This means students can:
Hear the content read aloud
Follow along at their own pace
Access learning without relying solely on reading
Text to speech is available on most courses and can be used during learning and revision.
How text to speech helps students
Text to speech helps remove barriers to learning by allowing students to engage with content in a way that works best for them.
It is especially helpful for:
Students with SEN or additional learning needs
Students with a lower reading age
Learners who struggle with focus or reading fatigue
Students who learn better through audio or multimodal input
By listening rather than reading, students can:
Access more content independently
Reduce cognitive load and improve understanding
Stay engaged for longer
Build confidence without needing constant support
This means:
Students can work through content at their own pace
Teachers can support more students without reading content aloud
Learning can continue both in and out of the classroom
Students are empowered to revise and learn independently
This is particularly valuable in mixed ability classrooms and during independent study.
How to use text to speech
Text to speech is accessed directly within Seneca courses using the speaker icon.
Open a Seneca course or lesson
Look for the speaker icon next to the text (shown as a small speaker button)
Click or tap the speaker icon to listen to the text being read aloud
Replay the audio as needed to support understanding
The speaker icon appears alongside text content on most courses making it easy for students to choose whether they want to read, listen or do both.