Development of an Environmental ICAI System for English Conversation Learning using Speech Recognition and Synthesis Techniques

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In this report, we describe the development of an environmental ICAI system, "HyperEnglish", for conversation learning which is centered upon a situation presented through simulation. The system has a free learning environment which allows students to use initiative in learning and unobtrusively guides them through the control of the simulation progress.The remarkable progress which has been made in the field of multimedia recently has make it possible to construct simulations which utilize sounds and graphics to form a realistic learning environment, or quasi-environment for language learning. Therefore, current CAI systems equipped with a multimedia learning environment can be an efficient substitute for real conversation experiences. However, the use of multimedia techniques in the presentation of simulations will not guarantee learning. Without an appropriate methodology, we cannot expect the same learning effects as those which can occur with a human teacher.In our research, we have considered a learning environment which for English conversation learning and proposed an architecture of an Environmental ICAI system which equipped with a role-playing game style simulation environment. For a realization of the environment, we have proposed a knowledge representation, "Dialogue Graph", which for a construction of dialogue simulations. This knowledge representation can realize a "system dialogue progress controls" of the simulation as an educational function. The simulation control is based on an induction strategy which attempts to induce the learner's failure. By referencing the learners operation history and a diagnosis of the their abilities in fundamental knowledge, situation recognition and phrase generation etc., the system selects appropriate utterances and replies utilizing this induction strategy.We have implemented the system using HyperCard^<TM> and C language on a Macintosh^<TM> computer.