Configuring the BrailleNote Touch+ for Students with Visual Impairments in a Foreign Language Class

Downloading languages and switching between language profiles

Braille display and entry settings for Spanish, French, and German

Spanish

In order to display and enter braille with correct accents for Spanish letters, several settings must be changed.

Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu.

Select the option Configure Language Profiles.

Select Spanish.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for entry.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Under Language profile name, the indication should be shown that settings are being changed for Spanish.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for display.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Ensure that Spanish is listed as the Language profile name.

Select Computer Braille Table.

Select Español Liblouis.

Return to Configure Language Profile.

Select Literary Braille Table.

Select Español/Reducida Duxbury grade 1.

Information on Spanish special characters and punctuation is available in Table 1.

OPEN IN VIEWER

Table 1.

Spanish special characters and punctuation.

Character	Dots
á	1-2-3-5-6
é	2-3-4-6
í	3-4
ó	3-4-6
ú	2-3-4-5-6
ñ	1-2-4-5-6
ü	1-2-5-6
Opening/closing Double quotation marks	2-3-6
Opening/closing single quotation marks	6, 2-3-6
¿?	2-6
¡ !	2-3-5
Caps indicator	4-6

Note. The braille symbols for left and right square brackets are the same as the symbols for á and ú. Students should be able to differentiate the symbols based on context clues and the location of the symbol within a word or phrase. The Spanish forward slash (dots 6, 3) cannot be accurately entered or displayed when using the Spanish language profile. Curly brackets can be displayed accurately, such as when receiving external documents, but cannot be entered on the device accurately.

French

In order to display and enter braille with correct accents for French letters, several settings must be changed.

Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu.

Select the option Configure Language Profiles.

Select French.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for entry.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Under Language profile name, the indication should be shown that settings are being changed for French.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for display.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Ensure that French is listed as the Language profile name.

Select Literary Braille Table.

Select Français Unifié Duxbury Grade 1.

Information on French special characters and punctuation is available in Table 2.

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Table 2.

French special characters and punctuation.

Character	Dots	Punctuation	Dots	Numbers	Dots
à	1-2-3-5-6	,	2	Number indicator	6
â	1-6	;	2-3	1	6, 1-6
ç	1-2-3-4-6	:	2-5	2	6, 1-2-6
é	1-2-3-4-5-6	.	2-5-6	3	6, 1-4-6
è	2-3-4-6	(…)	2-3-6…3-5-6	4	6, 1-4-5-6
ê	1-2-6	/	3-4	5	6, 1-5-6
ë	1-2-4-6	-	3-6	6	6, 1-2-4-6
î	1-4-6	?	2-6	7	6, 1-2-4-5-6
ï	1-2-4-5-6	Caps indicator	4-6	8	6, 1-2-5-6
ô	1-4-5-6			9	6, 2-4-6
ù	2-3-4-5-6			0	6, 3-4-5-6
û	1-5-6
ü	1-2-5-6
œ	2-4-6

Note. The French percent symbol (dots 5, 3-4-6) cannot be accurately entered or displayed when using the French language profile.

German

In order to display and enter braille with correct German, several settings must be changed.

Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu.

Select the option Configure Language Profiles.

Select German.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for entry.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Under Language profile name, the indication should be displayed that settings are being changed for German.

Select Preferred Braille Grade for display.

Select Literary Braille.

Return to Configure Language Profile. Ensure that German is listed as the Language profile name.

Select Literary Braille Table.

Select Deutsch Duxbury Grade 1.

Information on German special characters and punctuation is available in Table 3.

OPEN IN VIEWER

Table 3.

German special characters and punctuation.

Character	Dots
,	2
;	2-3
:	2-5
.	3
(…)	2-3-5-6…2-3-5-6
/	5, 2
-	3-6
%	3-4-5-6 2-4-5 3-5-6
‰	3-4-5-6 2-4-5 3-5-6 3-5-6
ä	3-4-5
ö	2-4-6
ß	2-3-4-6
ü	1-2-5-6
Number indicator	3-4-5-6
Caps indictor	4-6
Letter indicator	5-6

Changing these settings will ensure that all braille, regardless of language, will be displayed uncontracted while students are using their desired language profile. Ensure that students are aware of this, as well as the minor differences between English and the foreign language braille formatting. If necessary, students can quickly switch back to the English language profile by entering Enter + Space + L, read the English portion of the assignment, and then switch back to the foreign language voice and braille settings using the same command.

Reading and typing foreign language documents

Students can read, edit, and submit assignments using the same methods that they use in studying other subjects. Accented foreign language letters in a Microsoft Word document will be displayed accurately on the braille display when opened using the KeyWord application. Using Microsoft Word documents opened by KeyWord also ensures that students are able to read documents line by line. This makes it much easier for students to toggle between English and the foreign language when necessary because worksheets frequently contain directions written in English and practice exercises written in the target language.

In order for the braille to be displayed accurately, the student must be operating the BNT+ in the correct language profile. For example, if the student is attempting to read a Spanish worksheet while using the English language profile, the braille display will inaccurately display the accented Spanish letters. If the student switches to the Spanish language profile, the accented letters will be displayed accurately, and the pronunciation will be correct.

If the student types the symbols while using the correct language profile, the English or foreign language profile, accented letters typed in the foreign language, using the foreign language profile, or English contracted words, using the English profile, will be displayed accurately when the work is completed. For example, an accented letter e in Spanish is é in print and dots 2-3-4-6 in braille. If the student is using the device with the Spanish language profile selected and enters dots 2-3-4-6, it will be shown in the document as é. However, if the student is using the English language profile and enters dots 2-3-4-6, it will be shown in the document as “the.”

It does not matter which language profile the students are using when they submit their assignments. The language profile that the students used when they type each individual braille symbol determines in which configuration the symbols are displayed. Work created by students can contain both accented foreign language letters and English braille contractions. All work will be displayed accurately, given that the student used the correct language profile to type each symbol.

Downloading and accessing a foreign language textbook

Obtaining foreign language textbooks in braille can be difficult. To circumvent needing a hardcopy braille textbook, students can download the texts onto their BNT+ and obtain immediate access to the material. For this process to proceed with limited difficulty, the textbook needs to be formatted so that it can be read using screen reading software. The textbook must be a Microsoft Word document opened using KeyWord so that students can read it line by line.

The most efficient way for students to complete assignments involving a textbook is to have two files open in KeyWord. One file would contain the textbook while the other file is a blank document in which assignments can be completed. This procedure ensures that the textbook is not altered by the student in his or her attempts to complete the assignment. The student can easily switch between documents by entering the command Space + Dots 1-2-5-6.

Conclusion

Assistive technology can be used to ensure that all students have equal access to materials, including for the study of foreign languages. Utilizing the BNT+ in foreign language classrooms is one method to deliver and receive braille materials quickly and efficiently. By following the procedures detailed in this article, students can learn the proper pronunciation of foreign language words while still being able to toggle back and forth between English text-to-speech and the target foreign language. Students can have access to directions written in English and exercises written in a foreign language. In addition, students can create work containing both English braille symbols and accented foreign language letters. Textbooks can be delivered in an electronic format, so students have access to the foreign language material without a delay in receiving unwieldy and expensive hardcopy braille textbooks. The BNT+ gives students with visual impairments the opportunity to learn a second language alongside their sighted peers. The authors believe that teachers should consider incorporating the device when students on their caseloads are studying foreign languages.