A cross-institutional study into speech recognition for language learners, analyzing usage patterns

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02714
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Ross Gary 金沢大学, 薬学系, 准教授 (10708142)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HENNEBERRY Stephen 島根県立大学, 総合政策学部, 講師 (30405477) ; STOCKWELL Glenn 早稲田大学, 法学部, 教授 (90367988) ; ERTL John 金沢大学, 外国語教育研究センー, 准教授 (30507380)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: autonomy / feedback / speech recognition / speech synthesis / testing / mobile

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The current study suggested that automatic feedback in an online language learning environment can lead to a possible increase in autonomy especially when coupled with speech recognition. However, direct [pushed] feedback, such as in an email, is unlikely to increase motivation. Learners appear to become more willing to engage in tasks when the the feedback is instant and appears objective and intelligent. A secondary result demonstrated that speech recognition could distinguish between a native speaker and a learner, but surprisingly, there was no detected correlation between speech levels graded by speech recognition and scores in a standardized written test.

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