Development of online exercises and tests for German speaking ability, and a management system for its evaluation.

The purpose of this research was to develop a variety of online exercises and tests for training German speaking ability，and to combine them with a kind of sound file management system，which on the one hand makes it possible for learners to record and submit sound files easily，while on the other hand makes it possible for teachers to sort and check them easilily to record and submit sound files easily，while on the other hand makes it possible for teachers to sort and check them easily.During research over a three-year period，we have variety of trible for teachers to sort and checkes and this and researchThese components consist of the following subcategorized parts：1.Alphabet；2.Pronunciation of consonants and vowels；3.Accents at word level；4.Sentence·melodies；5.Changes in pronunciation in spoken language；6.Problems in pronunciation peculiar to Japanese learners；7.Numbers；8.Classroom expressions；9.100 basic expressions in dialogue form that can be used in daily conations；10.Orading 11.And13.Answering questions orally after reading/listening texts or seeing pictures.We also have developed small recording software which learners can easily download and use for recording their own voices from computer terminals。Further more，we have made two websites：one is for learners，where they can upload their sound files to the sound server，and the other is for teachers，where they can manage submitted sound files。For making and uploading sound files，we have tried new methods such as using cellular phones instead of computers as recording interface.Some of these teaching materials have been used in German classes，and they are now open to the public at the following URL：http：//vu.flare.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/german/hatsuon/top.htm.

The purpose of this research was to develop a variety of online exercises and tests for training German speaking ability, and to combine them with a kind of sound file management system, which on the one hand makes it possible for learners to record and submit sound files easily, while on the other hand makes it possible for teachers to sort and check them easily.During research over a three-year period, we have developed tutorials with exercises which consist of three main components: (a) pronunciation and possible combinations of letters, (b) basic expressions that can 'be used in everyday life, and (c) exercises and tests. These components consist of the following subcategorized parts: 1. Alphabet; 2. Pronunciation of consonants and vowels; 3. Accents at word level; 4. Sentence ・melodies; 5. Changes in pronunciation in spoken language; 6. Problems in pronunciation peculiar to Japanese learners; 7. Numbers; 8. Classroom expressions; 9. 100 basic expressions in dialogue form that can be used in daily conversations; 10. Oral reading tasks; 11. Tasks that make variations on basic expressions; 12. Tasks with open-ended questions; and 13. Answering questions orally after reading/listening texts or seeing pictures.We also have developed small recording software which learners can easily download and use for recording their own voices from computer terminals. Further more, we have made two websites: one is for learners, where they can upload their sound files to the sound server, and the other is for teachers, where they can manage submitted sound files. For making and uploading sound files, we have tried new methods such as using cellular phones instead of computers as recording interface.Some of these teaching materials have been used in German classes, and they are now open to the public at the following URL: http://vu.flare.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/german/hatsuon/top.htm.