An audiovisual feedback system for acquiring L2 pronunciation and L2 prosody

In recent years the application of computer software to the learning process has been acknowledged an indisputably effective tool supporting traditional teaching methods. A particular focus has been put on the application of computational techniques based on speech and language processing to second language learning. At present, a number of commercial self-study programs using speech synthesis and recognition are available. Most of them, however, focus on segmental features only. The paper presents technical and linguistic specifications for the Euronounce project [1] which aims at creating an intelligent tutoring system with multimodal feedback functions for acquiring not only foreign languages’ pronunciation but also prosody. The project focuses on German as a target language for native speakers of Polish, Slovak, Czech and Russian and vice versa. The paper outlines the Euronounce feedback system and presents the Pitch Line program which can be implemented in the prosody training module of the Euronounce tutoring system.