Bridging Language Barriers: How the WorldPenScan Go Empowers Language Learners
This article was contributed by Indie Reijnierse, an English language teacher at the International School Breda in the Netherlands. Indie has integrated WorldPenScan Go into international classrooms to support multilingual learners.
What if a single classroom tool could make learning in a new language less intimidating? Every international classroom has students who are eager to learn but, unfortunately, are limited by language. When I met one such student last school year, I began searching for a tool that could bridge that gap. This search led me to a seemingly small but transformative tool: PenPower’s WorldPenScan Go. This digital pen scans text and translates it into the user’s home language, allowing students to access learning with confidence and independence.
Supporting Students Who Are Learning in a Language That Isn’t Their Own
When our school welcomed a new student who was just beginning to learn English, our language of instruction, this presented not only a considerable challenge for the student but also for our teaching team. We had worked with language learners before, but those students were usually younger and had more time to adapt to the language and the school system before being expected to engage with advanced subject matter.
For a student new to the language of instruction, every lesson, every text, and every assignment can feel like an uphill battle. As teachers, we know that language shouldn’t be a barrier to learning, yet, without the right tools, it often is.
Finding the Right Tool for Language Support
After trying several methods to help this student access materials, such as using her personal laptop or borrowing a bulky iPad from our primary school, it quickly became clear that these solutions weren’t ideal. For one, the iPad drew unwanted attention due to its size. We all know that students rarely want to stand out, especially when it involves something that makes them feel different or self-conscious.
I thought that using her laptop might be a better option, since every student at our school uses one. However, for printed assignments or textbook excerpts, she would have had to take photos of the pages, something that isn’t very practical and, once again, was likely to make her feel singled out.
Then, one day I came across a video about digital pens designed to support students with dyslexia. Intrigued, I continued researching and came across the handheld translation device WorldPenScan Go by PenPower. I realized this might be exactly what this student needed.
Empowering Students, Easing Teachers’ Workload
At school, I had noticed that teachers often preferred to move students away from using (online) dictionaries during tests. There were two main reasons for this: it could be time consuming, leaving students with less time to complete their exams, and it raised understandable concerns about students accessing websites like ChatGPT during testing. This added additional pressure for teachers since they had to monitor students more closely.
The translation pen addresses both of these challenges. It allows students to scan unfamiliar words or phrases instantly, saving time, and it cannot access websites: removing the concern about online access. As a result, teachers no longer had to worry about constant supervision, while students continued to receive the language support they needed.
Another major benefit I found is that, unlike larger tech devices, the digital pen is discreet: it does not draw unwanted attention. Once students learn how to use it, they can work independently without having to ask teachers for help accessing the lesson content. This autonomy makes it especially empowering for shy or reserved learners.
Helping Students Succeed by Removing Language Barriers
After introducing the device to a few of our language learners, I quickly realized this tool was a game changer. I trialed the pen with a colleague during a test for a content-heavy subject, and I observed students using the pen frequently, which highlighted just how much language support they still needed.
It was a reminder that, as teachers, we sometimes overestimate our students’ proficiency because they may appear confident and participate actively in class. While many multilingual students develop conversational English quickly, academic language takes much longer to master. Fully understanding the questions and having access to subject-specific terminology is not only essential for comprehension, but it’s also likely to lead to higher grades. Without the additional mental load of translating independently, students can focus their energy on demonstrating what they know rather than deciphering the language of the test.
An added benefit for teachers is that, because of this tool, teachers no longer had to move from desk to desk translating or clarifying questions. This meant that the pen gave language learners greater autonomy while helping teachers divide their attention equally among all students.
From a Single Student to a Shared Practice
Following this success, we purchased additional pens for our secondary classrooms and later introduced them in our primary school as well. Seeing the difference it made for both teachers and students, inspired me to advocate for its use in other (international) school settings where many languages are represented.
I’ve seen how one simple tool can change the learning experience for multilingual students, and I believe that when we share tools that work, we move one step closer towards building classrooms where every language, and every learner, is valued. I encourage other educators to explore how PenPower’s digital pen can improve accessibility, promote equity, and make multilingual education more inclusive.