e-languages | Thomas' Work Space

Can speech recognition tools be soundly applied for speaking practice in second language acquisition programs? Paper at SLRF 2014

2014/10/26 plagwitz Leave a comment

For your convenience, I provide two versions of this presentation: the slide deck:

And a screencast of my presentation:

(Unfortunately, PowerPoint 2013 seems to have introduced a bug in alignment of narration and video. If they fix it, I will republish),

2014/09/14 plagwitz Leave a comment

My initial test of W7ASR mV8MRY used an end-of-chapter web quest from a 1st-year German textbook. From reading for the gist to pronouncing an authentic target culture text is a challenge – make it extra credit.
Turn existing writing exercises into speaking/ reading/ corrective writing exercises: Free form writing during note taking, e.g. when answering comprehension or short essay questions, fits the continuous speech optimization of W7ASR.
You will likely see reduced recognition accuracy and less proofing feedback, but gain wider applicability for (grammar, but especially vocabulary) drills that use discrete writing, e.g. filling in cloze exercises (navigation need not be done by voice), even in a web browser from your LMS or online textbook.
Turn “flipped classroom” homework preparation fill-in-the-blank conversation suggestions into more hands-on phrase dictations before your in-class communicative practice.
Similarly, my Spanish screencasts, e.g. qK9fKV, flips our Spanish for Law Enforcement: If W7ASR can ”understand” your Miranda warning, a suspect likely can also.
Finally, the most advanced language learners can replace writing of essay tasks from their textbooks by speaking them – use of only ASR for editing is optional.
All above tasks are based on existing textbook and/or syllabus which are easily extended by Windows 7 “open response” speech recognition.

2014/09/14 plagwitz Enter your password to view comments.

2014/09/12 plagwitz Enter your password to view comments.

2014/09/12 plagwitz Leave a comment

My use of Windows7 Automated Speech recognition in 7 languages integrates with
other LRC activities for oral practice, assessment and ePortfolio.
1. A lower-key and more frequent homework assignment
2. than our Kaltura student presentation webcam recordings NRBFS (using a URL shortener, as in http://goo.gl/NRBFS),
3. and with better feedback than our voice-insert recordings with Sanako mV1DR,
these homework assignments prepare for in-class assessments
1. chapter tests with textbook audio recordings z2KYtk,
2. screencast recordings of student presentations Cmd3gQ, pair conversations l6H12, and question-response midterm/final exams ZL7DG using Sanako digital audio lab.
All except Kaltura (incompatible with Mahara) also produce language learner ePortfolio pieces.