Mac Computers – Virtual Keyboard Instructions
In order to type in certain languages, you may need to add a new virtual keyboard. This guide will explain how to add virtual keyboards on Mac OS and choose the correct settings for each language.
How to Add a Virtual Keyboard
1 .Open “System Settings” (under the Apple icon).
2. Click Keyboard (on the left). Then click the “Edit” button (under “Text Input”).
3. Turn on “Show Input in menu bar”. This will add a language switcher button (
) in the top-right of your screen.
4. Click the + icon in the bottom-left corner.
5. Choose the language and keyboard layout option. Then click the “Add” button.
5. Choose Amharic > Ge’ez. Then click the “Add” button.
The Amharic keyboard will look like this:
5. Choose Armenian > Armenian – HM QWERTY. Then click the “Add” button.
The Armenian keyboard will look like this:
5. Choose Manipuri (Bangala) > Manipuri (Bengali) – Standard
The Bengali keyboard will look like this:
5. Choose Greek > Greek
The Greek keyboard will look like this:
Choose Chinese, Simplified > Pinyin Simplified
Note: There is no keyboard layout for the Chinese, Simplified – Pinyin Simplified keyboard layout because phrases are spelled out with letters from the English Alphabet.
How to Type in Chinese Simplified:
- Typing in Chinese Simplified begins with typing the pronunciation of the word (Pinyin) and then hitting the space bar to bring up a list of Chinese Simplified characters to choose from.
Important: If test takers use Pinyin* in the response (not Chinese characters), they will top out at the Novice-High level. To score at the Intermediate level or higher, test takers MUST show the ability to use characters.
*Pinyin is the Romanization of the Chinese characters based on their pronunciation. In Mandarin Chinese, the phrase “Pin Yin” literally translates into “spell sound”. In other words, spelling out Chinese phrases with letters from the English alphabet.
6. Click the input icon (in the top-right corner) to change your keyboard.
Try typing. You should find that you are now writing in your selected language.
View Virtual Keyboard Layout
Click the input icon and choose “Show Keyboard Viewer”.
A virtual keyboard will show the layout for your selected language.
Easy Ways to Type Accented Characters
Mac OS also allows easily typed accented letters and diacritical marks by using a sustained keypress on a single key. For example, if you press and hold on “a” a pop-up will appear after holding that key for a few moments which displays which accents are available for that particular letter or character.
- Press and hold on the letter you wish to accent, continue holding the letter until a menu with character accents are displayed.
- Choose the character accent with the mouse, or press the number corresponding below the accent in the menu.
If this accent sub-menu feature isn’t available to you, it’s likely because you either have a fairly old version of system software, or perhaps you disabled the accent menu to favor key repeat instead.