To ensure a smooth learning experience and eliminate the need for users to adjust keyboard language settings, we have implemented the following in-app features:

Self-Paced Lessons: Accents are optional when typing answers and do not impact whether an answer is marked as correct.
Speaking Responses: Our speech-to-text technology typically handles the correct placement of accents.

We recognize, however, that accurate spelling and accent placement are crucial for advanced learners to correctly establish word emphasis. Therefore, we are actively exploring and procuring alternative solutions for this need.

Sending International Characters and Typing Accents with Your Computer Keyboard in the Browser

IMMERSE on the browser detects your computer’s set keyboard language, but typing accented or international characters directly in IMMERSE requires a specific workaround, as it's not an inherent feature. Therefore, using standard shortcuts for accented letters with an international keyboard will not work without the special method explained below.

To use this feature, you must first enable the United States-International layout, or another international keyboard. These provide a quick way to type accented letters and other language-specific characters without needing to memorize ALT codes.

Once enabled, certain keys function as “dead keys”—meaning they do not produce a character until you press the subsequent key in a character sequence. For example:

Press ' followed by e to get é
Press ~ followed by n to get ñ

Additionally, some keys, such as the right-hand Alt (or ALT-GR key), act as modifiers, allowing you to type characters like ç, ¡, ¿, and others.

How the IMMERSE Shortcut Works

This feature significantly enhances the speed and accuracy of accented character input. It ensures complete compatibility with international keyboards and, notably, enables Japanese character input directly within the browser, which was previously unsupported. This functionality is available in Self-Paced AI Lessons and on Note Blocks in live scenes.

To use:

Click into the text box as if to type your response.
Press Ctrl + K (Windows) or Cmd + K (Mac) to open the Text Dialog.
Type your response in the pop-up window using your normal keyboard shortcuts.
Send the message using Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or Cmd + Enter (Mac).
Press ESC to exit the pop-up window without sending anything.

🈸 Logographic & Syllabic Languages

Users of languages like Japanese and Chinese, which rely on characters instead of an alphabet, can now directly type those script characters into IMMERSE when using a browser.

Additional Options

Using the ALT Button Accent Menu in live scenes

As an alternative to switching keyboard languages and using hotkey shortcuts for accented letters and international characters, there is a built in “Accented Letter Menu” that can be accessed while in Live scenes to type a note.

Press the ALT key on your keyboard to open the accents menu.

Typing Accented Letters in VR

While in a VR lesson, use the alternate letters button on the virtual keyboard to insert accented characters. Click and hold a letter to bring up accented options.

Changing to an International Keyboard

Windows

Open Settings on your Windows device.
Go to Time & Language → Language & Region.
Under Preferred languages, select English (United States).
Click the … next to it and choose Language options.
Under Keyboards, click Add a keyboard.
Choose United States-International from the list.
Close the settings window.
In your taskbar (usually lower-right near the clock), click the language indicator (e.g., “ENG”) and select ENG-INTL.

Windows: US International Keyboard Key Combinations

Description	Example	Key Combination
Acute	á é í ó ú Á É Í Ó Ú	‘ + letter ‘ + SHIFT-letter
Grave	à è ì ò ù À È Ì Ò Ù	`+ letter `+ SHIFT-letter
Diaresis / umlaut	ä ë ï ö ü ÿ Ä Ë Ï Ö Ü	“ + letter “ + SHIFT-letter
Circumflex	â ê î ô û Â Ê Î Ô Û	^(SHIFT-6) + letter ^(SHIFT-6) + SHIFT-letter
Tilde	ã õ ñ Ã Õ Ñ	~ (SHIFT + `) + letter ~ (SHIFT + `) + SHIFT-letter
Cedilla	ç Ç	hold ALT-GR + , (comma) hold SHIFT + ALT-GR + , (comma)
Ash	æ Æ	hold ALT-GR + Z hold ALT-GR + SHIFT-Z
Inverted Punctuation Marks	¡ ¿	ALT-GR + 1 ALT-GR + /
Oethel	œ Œ	* not available with INTL keyboard shortcuts. Use ALT Button Accent Menu in live scenes.

Mac

Open the System Preferences Panel by clicking on the Apple Menu in the upper-left-hand corner of your screen.
Select System Settings.
Scroll down through the settings option and click the Keyboard menu option.
Scroll through all the keyboard options until you come to Text Input.
Under the Input Sources setting, click the Edit... button.
In the lower-left-hand corner of the panel, click the + button to add a language keyboard.
In the list of languages presented, scroll down until you see English in the left-hand menu panel and click on the English option.
In the right-hand menu panel, select the ABC - Extended option for English
Click the Add button.
Close the System Setting panels once you have selected your language keyboard.
In the upper-right-hand portion of your screen, you will see that some language selection options have appeared. Click on the Text Input menu option to select the ABC - Extended keyboard.
Your text input option should have turned to an [A] icon. You now have the US Extended keyboard enabled and can begin typing Latin characters using unified diacritical input settings.

MacOS: English ABC-Extended Key Combinations

Description	Example	Key Combination
Acute	á é í ó ú Á É Í Ó Ú	OPTION + E, letter OPTION + E, SHIFT + letter
Grave	à è ì ò ù À È Ì Ò Ù	OPTION + `, letter OPTION + `, SHIFT + letter
Diaresis / Umlaut	ä ë ï ö ü ÿ Ä Ë Ï Ö Ü	OPTION + U, letter OPTION + U, SHIFT + letter
Circumflex	â ê î ô û Â Ê Î Ô Û	OPTION + 6, letter OPTION + 6, SHIFT + letter
Tilde	ã õ ñ Ã Õ Ñ	OPTION + N, letter OPTION + N, SHIFT + letter
Cedilla	ç Ç	OPTION + C, letter OPTION + C, SHIFT + letter
Ash	æ Æ	OPTION + ‘ OPTION + SHIFT+ ‘
Inverted Punctuation Marks	¡ ¿	OPTION + 1 OPTION + SHIFT + /
Oethel	œ Œ	OPTION + q OPTION + SHIFT + q

❓Experiencing a typing issue? Please reach out to our Support Team at [email protected] for assistance.

Using International Keyboards/Accented Letters in IMMERSE