Text-to-Speech Synthesis in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zöe Handley
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis

The Potential of Text-to-Speech Synthesis in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

2020 ◽  
pp. 149-169
Author(s):  
Neasa Ní Chiaráin ◽  
Ailbhe Ní Chasaide
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Auditory Feedback ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Written Form ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis

This chapter describes the potential of text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) as a tool that can transform CALL platforms. Illustrating this point, a specific platform, An Scéalaí, is presented. By incorporating TTS, this platform facilitates the training of literacy skills, writing, and reading, with an emphasis at all times on the spoken language. The platform is described, as is the way in which it functions as a personalised tutor, prompting the learner towards self-correction. The prompts are delivered in both spoken/auditory form (using TTS voices) and in written form. The auditory feedback enables prooflistening, as well as spoken instructions pertaining to specific errors not picked up in the prooflistening process. The learner's progress is monitored throughout and records of the process are harvested for future research. The language in focus is Irish, and the linguistic complexities being targeted in the present implementation are explained, along with the relevant sociolinguistic context.

scholarly journals Foghlaim ríomhchuidithe teanga-chliste agus teicneolaíocht na hurlabhra: Féidearthachtaí do theagasc/d’fhoghlaim na Gaeilge

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neasa Ní Chiaráin
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Trinity College Dublin ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
Synthetic Voices

Tá an córas sintéiseach téacs-go-hurlabhra, ABAIR (www.abair.ie), á fhorbairt sa tSaotharlann Foghraíochta agus Urlabhra i gColáiste na Tríonóide le roinnt blianta anuas agus tá na guthanna sintéiseacha ar fáil anois sna trí mhórchanúint – Canúint na Mumhan (baineann agus fireann), Canúint Connacht (fireann) agus Canúint Uladh (baineann). Tá obair thaighde ar siúl sa tSaotharlann le blianta beaga anuas chun féachaint ar na feidhmeanna ar féidir a bhaint as na guthanna seo. Tá an páipéar seo dírithe ar an úsáid a d'fhéadfaí a bhaint astu i réimse Fhoghlaim Ríomhchuidithe Teangacha-Chliste (FRT-Chliste) agus go háirithe ar an úsáid a d'fhéadfaí a bhaint astu i bhforbairt ardán a cheadódh don fhoghlaimeoir idirghníomhaíocht phearsanta a dhéanamh leis an ríomhaire, rud a chabhródh le foghlaim fhéinriartha na Gaeilge. Léirítear féidearthachtaí na teicneolaíochtaí seo i gcomhthéacs an ardáin phíolótaigh, An Scéalaí, atá á fhorbairt faoi láthair. Text-to-speech synthesis systems are being developed as part of the ABAIR initiative (www.abair.ie), in the Phonetics and Speech Laboratory in Trinity College Dublin. Synthetic voices are now available in the three major dialects - Munster (female and male), Connacht (male) and Ulster (female). This paper gives an overview of the Irish synthetic voices and focuses on their use in the context of Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning (iCALL) and in particular their use in the development of interactive language learning platforms for the self-directed learning of Irish. The potential of this technology is demonstrated in the context of a new iCALL platform, An Scéalaí (‘the Storyteller’), currently under development.

scholarly journals Assessing the quality of TTS audio in the LARA learning-by-reading platform

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Elham Akhlaghi ◽  
Anna Bączkowska ◽  
Harald Berthelsen ◽  
Branislav Bédi ◽  
Cathy Chua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Human Voice ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Learning By Reading

A popular idea in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is to use multimodal annotated texts, with annotations typically including embedded audio and translations, to support L2 learning through reading. An important question is how to create the audio, which can be done either through human recording or by a Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesis engine. We may reasonably expect TTS to be quicker and easier, but humans to be of higher quality. Here, we report a study using the open-source LARA platform and ten languages. Samples of LARA audio totaling about three and a half minutes were provided for each language in both human and TTS form; subjects used a web form to compare different versions of the same item and rate the voices as a whole. Although human voice was more often preferred, TTS achieved higher ratings in some languages and was close in others.

Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) materials in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms: perspectives of teachers and students in United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Integrating scaffolding-learning technologies has been recognized for its potential to create intellectual and engaging classroom interactions. In the United Arab Emirates, having language teachers employ computers as a medium of new pedagogical instrument for teaching second languages generated the idea of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) as a medium of an innovative pedagogical instrument for facilitating and scaffolding language learning, with an aspiration that it will lead to improved English language attainment and better assessment results. This study aims at investigating the perspectives of students and teachers on the advantageous and disadvantageous impacts of CALL on learning and teaching English as a second language in one public school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The results show that CALL has a facilitating role in L2 classroom and that using CALL activities is advantageous in reducing English learning tension, boosting motivation, catering for student diversity, promoting self-directed language learning and scaffolding while learning English. The results additionally report that numerous aspects like time constraints, teachers’ unsatisfactory computer skills, insufficient computer facilities, and inflexible school courses undesirably affect the implementation of CALL in English classrooms. It is recommended that further studies should be undertaken to investigate the actual effect of CALL on students’ language proficiency. 

Integrating Articulatory Information in Deep Learning-Based Text-to-Speech Synthesis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beiming Cao ◽  
Myungjong Kim ◽  
Jan van Santen ◽  
Ted Mau ◽  
Jun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis
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