This article covers how translation works in the Finalsite mobile app, including how the app interface and published content are translated and how to set a preferred language.
💡Quick answers
- How does it work? The app uses Google Cloud Neural Machine Translation (NMT) to translate news and events in real-time, focusing on context and natural flow rather than word-for-word replacement.
- What languages are supported? The app interface supports 196 verified languages.
- How is language changed? By default, the app follows the phone's system settings. Override this in App Profile Settings or during initial setup in the language picker.
- Does it translate everything? It translates all text-based content (news and events). Text inside images and PDF attachments is not translated.
Set a preferred language in Preferences > Language area
By default, the app follows the phone's language settings. If that language is unsupported, the app defaults to English. A preferred language can be set during initial setup or changed at any time in your mobile app's Profile bubble in the top right corner in the Preferences > Language button.Â
| Setting up for the first time | Changing language anytime |
|---|---|
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The language picker opens automatically during initial app setup. Step 1: Select a preferred language from the picker. Step 2: Tap Next to continue setup. |
Step 1: Tap the profile bubble in the top right corner of the app. Step 2: Scroll down to the Preferences section. Step 3: Tap Language. Step 4: Select a language from the picker. The Apply button appears. Step 5: Tap Apply. The app switches to the selected language. |
Use the language picker
The language picker lists all 196 supported languages in Suggested languages and Other languages sections. Each language shows both its native name and English name. Use the search bar to find a language by either, for example, typing "Spanish" or "Espanol". Both return the same result.
To exit without saving a change, tap the back arrow. Any unconfirmed selection is discarded.
After applying a change, a banner may appear noting that notifications may still arrive in the previous preferred language if that preference is set separately in the school system. Contact the school or district to update that setting.
Translation in the mobile app interface
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported content | App menus, navigation buttons, news, and calendars |
| Language count | 196 verified languages |
| Primary control | Mobile device settings or App Profile Settings |
| Fallback | Defaults to English if a language is unsupported |
The technology behind our translation
Finalsite uses neural machine translation (NMT) powered by Google Cloud. NMT uses deep learning to translate entire sentences at a time. This allows the system to recognize context, preserve grammar, and maintain the natural flow of school communications. This "neural" approach provides significantly higher accuracy for official menu items and news feeds than older word-for-word methods.
Supported languages
The app interface supports 196 verified languages. View the full reference for these supported languages and their ISO codes via the Google Cloud Translation documentation.
FAQs
- What happens if a preferred language is not on the supported list? If a selected language is not supported for the app interface, menu items and buttons default to English.
- Does translation work for images or PDF attachments? No. The translation engine processes text-based content only. Text inside images (such as a photo of a flyer) or uploaded PDFs remains in the original language. Adding a text summary to the message body ensures all users can understand the key details of an attachment.
- Will push notifications be translated? Yes. Push notifications for news, alerts, and events are processed by the translation engine and arrive in the language set in App Profile Settings.
- Does the app translate news stories from the website? Yes. News content published through the Finalsite CMS that appears in the app's news feed is translated in real-time when the user opens the story.
- Are calendar event locations and map links translated? The text description of a calendar event is translated. Address strings and proper location names are generally left in their original format so that map applications such as Google Maps or Apple Maps can still recognize the location data accurately.
- Does translation work for screen readers? Yes. Because the translation engine converts text at the code level, assistive technologies such as VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android) read the translated version, supporting digital equity goals.
- Is there a cost to users for translations? No. The translation service is built into the Finalsite mobile app. There are no fees or additional data charges to access content in a preferred language.
Best practices for content translation
| Best practice | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Keep headlines clear and literal | Puns and wordplay may be taken literally by the engine, producing confusing headlines. |
Avoid: "A 'Tee-rific' day at the golf fundraiser!" Better: "Successful golf fundraiser raises money for athletics." |
| Use standard date and time formats | Consistent formats help the engine identify schedules and translate time markers accurately across all 196 verified languages. |
Avoid: "This Fri @ 7" Better: "Friday, Oct 12 at 7:00 PM" |
| Structure news stories with descriptive headings | Short, descriptive headers give the translation engine context anchors for the paragraphs that follow. | - |
| Provide text for important image content | The engine cannot read text inside images. Any critical information in a photo must also appear in the text body, including event date, time, and location. | Think of the text body as the accessible version of a flyer. |
| Avoid local abbreviations | Common abbreviations for buildings or school names may be ignored or mistranslated. |
Avoid: "Meeting in the HS Lib." Better: "Meeting in the high school library." |
| Test high-stakes announcements | For emergency alerts or policy changes, have a native speaker verify the app to confirm the tone of the translation is appropriate and clear. | - |
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