Using keyboard shortcuts to change keyboard input language

Prior to an exam it is important that you test your system and ensure that you can comfortably navigate between different language settings with keyboard shortcuts and NOT by clicking the language symbol in your taskbar. When an alternate language is used during an exam with a Lockdown Browser enabled, you will not have access to the hot bar and will need to navigate your settings with keyboard shortcuts.

For teaching staff

It is strongly recommended to set up a practice exam for your students that has the lockdown browser enabled so that students have an environment to test their language settings and develop their confidence navigating keyboard shortcuts during an exam prior to an exam delivery.

For students

Take the time to learn how to navigate your device’s language settings with keyboard shortcuts and develop some familiarity with the settings and options at your disposal on your system. While this guide is a good starting point, there are many resources available online for how to best set up your system with a language other than English. Come exam day, you should feel confident in typing in the language that you are studying.

Instructions for Macbooks (MacOS)

For instructions for setting up additional languages on your Macbook please see the official write in another language on MacOS guide.

Keyboard shortcut

The keyboard shortcuts for MacOS are:

• Control + Space: Selects the last input source that was used
• Control + Option + Space: Selects the next input source in the Input menu
• Press and hold Control, then press Space: Displays list of all input sources. Clicking Space again will select the next input source in the list

Use the fn key or globe key

1. Check the settings for your keyboard by going to the Apple menu and then choosing System Settings.
2. Select Keyboard in the sidebar. The option will either be called Press globe key to or Press fn key to. Click the dropdown menu and select Change Input Source.

You will now be able to switch between input methods by pressing the fn key or globe key. Clicking the key again will select the next input source in the list.

Instructions for Windows

For instructions for setting up additional language packs on a Windows device, please see the language packs for Windows Microsoft guide.

On Windows, the shortcut required for swapping languages is Alt + Shift. This shortcut will allow you to scroll through the installed languages on your system, even if you are using a Lockdown Browser. To scroll through more than two languages, hold down Alt and tap the Shift key.

Enabling a keyboard shortcut for swapping input methods for Japanese Language (Windows)

Once you have a language installed, you may find that you still cannot type in the language, or wish to quickly swap between different language input methods. These different keyboard types are known as Input Method Editor’s or IME’s. IME’s are of particular importance if you are typing in Japanese, as they are turned off by default and must be turned on prior to sitting an exam.

In order to enable Japanese IME keyboard shortcuts.

1. Navigate to the Time & Language settings
2. Under Time & Language, click on Language & Region.
3. Navigate to the language you are wanting to enable and click the three dots and select Language Options.
4. Scroll down to the Keyboards section, click the three dots next Microsoft IME and select Keyboard Options. Then select General.
5. Toggle “Use Kana input for hardware keyboard” as well as “Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji Key”. The key it is referring to here, on a standard English keyboard, will default to the tilde (~) key, usually situated to the left of the number 1 on a standard keyboard.

In addition, you can set up an additional shortcut in the following way:

1. Follow steps 1-4 from above except instead of selecting the ‘General’ option, select Key and touch customization.
2. In the key assignment section you will find four different customisable options. Feel free to customise these to your liking. For this example we will make Ctrl + Space also swap between English characters and Japanese characters.
3. Under Ctrl + Space, click the dropdown and select IME on/off.

If you followed all the steps, with the Japanese language pack enabled (press Alt + Shift if you have reverted your system back to English to reselect Japanese) you should be able to swap between English characters and Japanese characters by either pressing Alt + tilde (~) or Ctrl + Space.

What to do if you cannot get a language pack to function correctly on your device

Students are able to request a University of Melbourne loan laptop for their exams if they are unable to use their personal device or wish to use a University of Melbourne device instead of their personal laptop.

These are available for collection on the day of your exam at the venue your exam is taking place in. These devices can be booked in advance or requested during the exam. If you have problems with your device during the exam, your device can also be swapped out to a loan device.

These devices have language packs already installed, and keyboard shortcuts already set up in advance.

On a loan device, the default keyboard shortcuts will be:

• Switch Languages: Alt + Shift
• Change Input Method (for Japanese Students): Alt + tilde (~)
• Change Input Method (for Korean Students): Right Alt