When the classroom speaks two languages, the transcript should too

Starlight already supports lesson transcription in over 70 languages. What is new, and what users asked us for, is the ability to transcribe a single recording that moves between two of them.

This is the reality in a lot of classrooms. International schools running instruction in English alongside Mandarin, Cantonese, French or others. Welsh-medium classrooms across Wales. MFL lessons in the UK, where the medium of instruction shifts naturally between English and the target language throughout the hour.

Until now, a transcript engine had to pick one. That meant either losing the English scaffolding in a target-language lesson, or losing the target language itself. Neither serves the teacher trying to reflect on what actually happened in the room.

Why it matters for coaching

If a transcript misrepresents what was said, every coaching insight built on it inherits that error. For coaching to be specific, timely and actionable, the transcript has to be accurate. Bilingual classrooms deserve the same accuracy as any other.

How it works

When you upload a lesson, Starlight asks you to select the spoken language of the recording. If your lesson is in one language, select it and you are done. The platform defaults to English, or to whichever language you set in your user preferences, so most uploads need no thought at all.

If your lesson runs in two languages, choose the combination. Starlight remembers your selection. Next time you upload, that combination sits at the top of the dropdown alongside your default, so you do not have to scroll.

Built from how teachers actually teach

This came directly from users. Teachers told us their lessons were not monolingual. We adjusted.

If your classroom runs in two languages, give it a try. And if there is a combination you would like to see better supported, tell us. The next version of Starlight is shaped by the schools using it now.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you'd like to see what a Starlight report looks like for a lesson in your own school, you can book a demo at https://starlightmentor.com/demo-request.

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The Insight Engine is written by Adam Sturdee, co-founder of Starlight, the UK’s first AI-powered coaching platform, and a senior leader with responsibility for teaching, learning and coaching. This blog is part of a wider mission to support educators through meaningful reflection, not performance metrics. It documents the journey of building Starlight from the ground up, and explores how AI, when shaped with care, can reduce workload, surface insight, and help teachers think more deeply about their practice. Rooted in the belief that growth should be private, professional, and purposeful, The Insight Engine offers ideas and stories that put insight—not judgment—at the centre of development.

🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-sturdee-b0695b35a/