Course Catalog / BMU 001 / Lesson 4 of 5

BMU 001

Quick review

1. Name the three study tricks.

See the answer

Quiz yourself, space it out, and mix it up.

2. Why is rereading a weak method?

See the answer

It feels familiar, but it does not build memory as well as recalling.

Why this matters

Your phone has free tools that can read text out loud, make words bigger, and show captions on videos. Many people never turn them on.

These tools are not only for people with a disability. They help anyone who is tired, busy, or reading on a small screen. Using them is smart, not cheating.

Start with what you already do

You already change your phone to fit you. You set the ringtone, the wallpaper, or the brightness.

Common belief: Having the phone read to me means I am not really reading.

What is actually true: Listening while you follow the words is a real way to take in a lesson. You can use it to check a hard word or rest your eyes. Apple and Android both build these tools into their phones.

Key words

read aloud

A tool that reads the words on the screen out loud. Apple calls it Speak Screen or Speak Selection. Android calls it Select to Speak.

text size

How big the words look on your screen.

captions

Words on the screen that show what is being said in a video.

Tool 1: Read aloud

Menu names can change with phone updates. If you do not see these words, search Settings for read or speak.

Tool 2: Bigger text

You can also pinch out with two fingers to zoom in on many web pages and photos.

Tool 3: Captions

Most video players also have a CC button. CC stands for closed captions. Tap it to turn captions on.

Text version of this figure

Find any screen tool. The same path works on most phones.

1. Step 1, Open Settings: Tap the gear icon.
2. Step 2, Tap Accessibility: Or search Settings for the tool name.
3. Step 3, Turn on the tool: Read aloud, bigger text, or captions.
4. Step 4, Test it: Try it on this lesson right now.
5. Done: The screen now works for you.

Source: Apple Support and Android Accessibility Help pages (Oct 29, 2026).

Worked example: Ray sets up his phone

Ray's eyes get tired on long lessons. He has an Android phone.

1. He opens Settings and searches Font size. He moves the slider two steps.
2. He goes to Accessibility, then Select to Speak, and turns on the shortcut.
3. He opens Lesson 3, taps the shortcut, and taps a paragraph. The phone reads it to him while he follows along.
4. He watches a short video and taps CC to turn on captions.

It took him about 10 minutes. Now his study time is easier. Ray is a made up example.

Worked example 2: Grace uses a library computer

Grace has no computer at home, so she studies at the library. The lesson text is small. She holds the Control key and taps plus two times, and the page gets bigger. A lesson video plays with no sound, because she forgot headphones. She clicks CC and reads the captions. At home that night, she opens the lesson on her iPhone and swipes down from the top with two fingers to hear Speak Screen read it.

Grace is a made up example.

Practice: Match the need to a tool

Name the screen tool that fits each made up need: read aloud, bigger text, or captions.

1. Ken's phone screen is small, and the words look tiny.
2. Rose watches a lesson video on a loud bus.
3. Ali's eyes get tired after one page of reading.

Check your practice: feedback

1. Bigger text, or pinch to zoom.
2. Captions. Tap CC on the video.
3. Read aloud. He can listen and follow along.

Common mistakes

• Giving up when a menu name is different. Search Settings for the tool name.
• Turning text so big the page is hard to use. Go back one step on the slider.
• Thinking these tools are only for others. They are for anyone who wants an easier screen.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. You cannot find Speak Screen in your phone's menu. What should you try first?

1. Download a read aloud app from the app store.
2. Search Settings for the word speak.
3. Restart the phone and look in the same menu again.

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Yes. Menu names change, and search finds them.

A: Your phone likely has the tool built in. Search Settings first. Review Tool 1.

C: Menu names change. Search Settings for the word speak. Review Tool 1.

2. What does the CC button on a video do?

1. It turns on captions.
2. It changes the video quality.
3. It turns on a voice that describes the video.

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Yes. CC means closed captions.

B: Quality is a different setting. CC means closed captions. Review Tool 3.

C: That is audio description, a different tool. CC means closed captions. Review Tool 3.

3. Kim reads lessons with read aloud turned on. Is that real studying?

1. No, it is a shortcut.
2. Only if she has a disability.
3. Yes. Listening while following the words is a real way to learn.

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Yes. These tools are for anyone.

A: It is a smart tool, not a shortcut. Review Start with what you already do.

B: Anyone can use them. Review Why this matters.

Next up

Next you will find free help near you and finish your learning plan. Go to Lesson 5: Where to get free help.

Stuck or have a question? Ask BMU Learner Support.

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