Improving Accuracy in Imitating and Reading Aloud via Speech Visualization Technology

Authors

  • Xiaobin Liu School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University
  • Diying Wu School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University
  • Yiwen Ye School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University
  • Manfei Xu School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University
  • Jianli Jiao
  • Wenheng Lin Guangzhou Nansha Dongchong Middle School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i08.11475

Keywords:

Speech Visualization Technology, English pronunciation, speech

Abstract


This article reports on a teaching experiment that uses speech visualization technology to facilitate EFL (English as a foreign language) learners’ ability of imitating and reading aloud (IRA). Traditional practice of “listen and repeat” used in pronunciation and intonation training often only hazily illustrates some salient speech features, such as pitch and intensity, etc., making it difficult for learners to accurately differentiate the features of pronunciation and capture the subtlety of intonation of the target language . As speech visualization transforms aural information into visual graphics and illustrates it in a clearer way, it can highlight the most important phonetic features of utterances. Such technology was used in a three-month teaching experiment carried out in a senior middle school in southern China for the purpose of reducing learners’ phonetic errors and enabling them to perceive sense groups appropriately.The results indicated that this approach was effective in increasing accuracy in pronunciation while did not have a significant effect on the fluency and rhythm in speech.

Author Biographies

Xiaobin Liu, School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University

Associate professor of School of Foreign Studies at South China Normal University. His research interests include educational technology & EFL teacher development, computer assisted language learning.

Diying Wu, School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University

Master student of School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University.

Yiwen Ye, School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University

Master student of School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University.

Manfei Xu, School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University

Associate professor of School of Foreign Studies at South China Normal University. Her research interests include corpus application in language teaching and teacher education. She is also a corresponding author of this paper.

Jianli Jiao

Professor of School of Information Technology in Education at South China Normal University.

Wenheng Lin, Guangzhou Nansha Dongchong Middle School

English teacher of Guangzhou Nansha Dongchong Middle School.

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Published

2020-04-24

How to Cite

Liu, X., Wu, D., Ye, Y., Xu, M., Jiao, J., & Lin, W. (2020). Improving Accuracy in Imitating and Reading Aloud via Speech Visualization Technology. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 15(08), pp. 144–160. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i08.11475

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Section

Papers