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Improving English pronunciation: an automated instructional approach

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Sugata Mitra, Professor James Tooley, Professor Pauline Dixon

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Abstract

This paper describes an experiment in which groups of children attempted to improve their English pronunciation using an English-language learning software, some English films, and a speech-to-text software engine. The experiment was designed to examine two hypotheses. The first is that speech-to-text software, trained in an appropriate voice, can act as an evaluator of accent and clarity of speech as well as help learners acquire a standard way of speaking. The second is that groups of children can operate a computer and improve their pronunciation and clarity of speech, on their own, with no intervention from teachers. The results of the experiment are positive and point to a possible new pedagogy. (c) 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Technologies and International Development.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Mitra S, Tooley JN, Inamdar P, Dixon P

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Information Technologies and International Development

Year: 2003

Volume: 1

Issue: 1

Pages: 75-84

Date deposited: 26/10/2007

ISSN (print): 1544-7529

ISSN (electronic): 1544-7537

Publisher: MIT Press

URL: http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/136

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