General-purpose automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems have improved in quality and are being used for pronunciation assessment. However, the assessment of isolated short utterances, such as words minimal pairs segmental approaches, remains an important challenge, even more so non-native speakers. In this work, we compare performance our own tailored ASR system (kASR) with one Google (gASR)...

We present a L2 pronunciation training serious game based on the minimal-pairs technique, incorporating sequences of exposure, discrimination and production, and using text-tospeech and speech recognition systems. We have measured the quality of users’ production during a period of time in order to assess improvement after using the application. Substantial improvement is found among users with...

For the purpose of developing Computer Assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT) technology with more informative feedbacks, we propose to use a set of narrowphonetic labels to annotate Chinese L2 speech database of Japanese learners. The labels include basic units of “Initials”, “Finals” for Chinese phonemes and diacritics for erroneous articulation tendencies. Pilot investigations were made on t...

We studied a group of immigrants who were following regular, teacher-fronted Dutch classes, and who were assigned to three groups using either a) Dutch CAPT, an ASR-based Computer Assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT) system that provides feedback on a number of Dutch speech sounds that are problematic for L2 learners b) a CAPT system without feedback c) no CAPT system. Participants were teste...

We demonstrate Visual Learning 2, an English pronunciation app for second-language (L2) learners and phonetics students. This iOS app links together audio, front and side video, MRI and ultrasound movies of a native speaker reading a phonetically balanced text. Users can watch and shadow front and side video overlaid with an ultrasound tongue movie. They are able to play the video at three spee...

For a tonal language such as Mandarin Chinese, accurate pronunciation of tones is critical to meaning, and research suggests that computer-based programs that allow for visualization of pitch contours are helpful for improving learners’ pronunciation (Chun, 1998; Hardison, 2004; Levis & Pickering, 2004). This paper reports on a pilot study using speech analysis software (Praat), which allowed L...

In this paper we describe the research that was carried out and the resources that were developed within the DISCO (Development and Integration of Speech technology into COurseware for language learning) project. This project aimed at developing an ASR-based CALL system that automatically detects pronunciation and grammar errors in Dutch L2 speaking and generates appropriate, detailed feedback ...

The effects of production inconsistencies and speaker’s accented production preferences on speech comprehension were investigated in an eyetracking experiment. Using the visual world paradigm, native speakers of German with L2 English listened to single English words produced by a German speaker that had their th either pronounced canonically or substituted with an /s/ or a /t/. Looks to the ta...