How Students Can Change the Voice Audio They Hear in Vocab Loco

Overview

Vocab Loco lets students hear words and sentences in two ways:

1. Vocab Loco Voiceover (default): our high-quality studio recordings. These are the same for everyone and can’t be customized. If any word sounds unclear, tell us and we’ll re-record it.

2. Browser Text-to-Speech (TTS): uses the voices installed on the student’s device/browser (voice names like Microsoft David, Zira, Mark, etc.). Choices and quality vary by device and browser.
   

Option A: Change the Voice inside Vocab Loco (recommended)

1. Open the Student Dashboard.

2. Click Change Voice (top right). (See Screenshot A.)

3. Press Play to sample voices, then Save the one you like.

4. Start any activity (e.g., Practice Spelling Test) to hear the selected voice.

Screenshot A (Change Voice button): shows the green “Change Voice” button on the dashboard header.

Screenshot B (Practice Spelling Test): shows the “Hear Word” controls and input box.

Option B — Try a different browser (system Text-to-Speech)

Modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) use your device’s built-in voices. Switching browsers—or adding voices in your OS—often gives clearer or more natural options.

Windows (Edge or Chrome)

1. Open Vocab Loco → Change Voice.

2. Pick a local voice (e.g., Microsoft David, Zira, Mark), Play to preview, then Save.

3. Want more voices? Go to Settings → Time & language → Speech → Manage voices → Add voices, then return to Change Voice.

macOS (Safari or Chrome)

1. Go to System Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices to add/choose voices.

2. Back in Vocab Loco → Change Voice, preview and Save your choice.

Chromebooks (ChromeOS)

1. Open Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-Speech → Speech settings.

2. Choose a preferred voice, then return to Vocab Loco → Change Voice and Save.

Quick tip: If a voice sounds off, simply try another browser on the same device—different browsers expose different voices and audio engines, which can make a big difference in clarity and pace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the voice affect every module?
Yes—your saved choice is used anywhere Vocab Loco plays TTS audio for you.

Why do my choices look different from a classmate’s?
TTS voices come from each device/browser. Different computers = different voice lists.

Can teachers control the voice for students?
Voice selection is per student device. Teachers can demonstrate Option A and suggest a preferred browser.

A word sounds unclear. What should we do?
Send us the word/list—our team will re-record the default voiceover if needed.

Troubleshooting

• No voices listed / only one voice:
  Update your browser and OS. On Windows, install Microsoft voices; on macOS, add voices in System Settings.

• Audio too fast/slow or hard to understand:
  Open Change Voice and test a few alternatives. Many voices differ in clarity and pacing.

• Nothing plays:
  Check device volume, headphones, Classroom/Chromebook sound settings, and allow site audio permissions.

Notes for Teachers

• We recommend students pick a clear, comfortable voice during the first week of use.

• If you require a single voice across devices (e.g., for assessments), have students use the default Vocab Loco Voiceover.

• For accessibility, students who benefit from slower pacing or different timbre may prefer specific TTS voices—encourage them to test and save their favorite.