Translating Slide Presentations using Google Docs

Now that you know how to translate Google Docs and PDFs, you may wonder how do I translate a slide presentation (Google Slides or Powerpoint).  

An add-on to Google Slides called Slide Translator is available.  This add-on will allow you to translate each individual text box in your presentation.  One by one.  Slide by slide.  Oh, did I mention that the text is translated but not installed into the presentation?  You have to do that yourself.  It sounds great in theory, but the execution of the app is not there.

Alternatively, you can download your Google Slide or Microsoft Powerpoint presentation as a PDF. Then upload it to Google Drive.  Then go through the steps in my last blog entry "Translating a PDF using Google Docs" to create a translated copy of the text.  

It's not a perfect solution.  You may lose some formatting and/or pictures.  However, all of the text will be translated in one step.  Much less work than using the Slide Translator add-on.

Translating a PDF using Google Docs

My last post talked about how easy it is to translate a Google Doc into more than 100 languages.  That is great, but what if you have a PDF that needs to be translated?  How can you quickly and efficiently translate that?

Translating a PDF can be just as easy as translating a Google Doc. 

 

1. Upload the PDF to your Google Drive if it is not already in Drive.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Right click on the PDF (1)
   
   
3. Select Open with (2)
   
   
4. Choose Google Docs (3) to open the PDF file in Google Docs.
   Google Docs will then convert your document from a PDF to a Google Doc file.
   
   
5. Once the file opens in Google Docs, you can use the same steps from my previous post, How to Translate a Google Doc.
   
   (Click the Tools tab, select Translate Document, then choose the language to translate your doc, and click Translate).

Note that some of the formatting may change depending on what your PDF looks like.  You can take the time to edit it and make it pretty if you would like.  

 

How to Translate a Google Doc

Translating Google Docs is easy and a great (and simple) way to share classroom information and resources with families.  Additionally, Docs can quickly be translated into more than 100 different languages.

HOW TO TRANSLATE A GOOGLE DOC

1. Open the Google Doc file that you want to translate in Google Drive.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click the Tools top tab (1)
   
   
3. Select the Translate Document option in the drop down. (2)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. The Translate document dropdown will appear.
   
   
   
5.  Notice that the new document title will be preceded by the words "Translated copy of ".  A suggestion is to remove this text and add the words "Translated copy" + the language name at the end of the title.  This will allow all of your translated copies to appear next to the original version in your folder that is sorted alphabetically.
   
   
6. Select the language for which you want to translate your document.  There are more than 100 language choices for this translation.
   
   
7. Click Translate.  Your new translated document will keep all the same formatting of the original Google Doc.