Software That Listens

It's Not a Question of Whether, It's a Question of How

Authors

  • Krystyna A. Wachowicz
  • Brian Scott

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v16i3.253-276

Keywords:

Speech Recognition, Pronunciation, Feedback, Communicative Approach, Games, Dialogue, Vocabulary, Commercial Software

Abstract

Rapid advances in speech recognition technology have opened up new possibilities in computer-assisted language learning (CALL). From our perspectives as language teacher and applications developer (respectively), we review three levels of speech-interactive learning activities in selected commercial products: activities for vocabulary development, conversational practice, and pronunciation. Our review suggests that the effectiveness of speech-interactive CALL is determined less by the capabilities of the speech recognizer than by (a) the design of the language learning activity and feedback, and (b) the inclusion of repair strategies to safeguard against recognizer error.

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Published

2013-01-14

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Section

Articles

How to Cite

Wachowicz, K. A., & Scott, B. (2013). Software That Listens: It’s Not a Question of Whether, It’s a Question of How. CALICO Journal, 16(3), 253-276. https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v16i3.253-276

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