Learn to Listen: Second Langauage Speech Perception Traininng System for English

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目将为英语作为第二语言/外语（ESL）学习者开发一个多媒体语音感知评估和培训系统。众所周知，学习者的母语和英语之间的干扰会对他们理解流利语言的能力产生负面影响，从而减少他们的教育和工作机会。ESL学习者通过使用语境和一般知识（自上而下的加工）来弥补他们受损的语音感知技能（自下而上的加工），尽管这种策略不能保证良好的理解。然而，流行的语言培训系统侧重于生产技能，而不提供充分的感知培训。拟议的项目将开发一个系统来全面评估感知问题，并为ESL学习者提供全面、结构化的听觉训练。因此，训练将与训练前评估中确定的感知误差密切相关。训练将从音节层面强化自底向上的处理技能开始，然后逐步引入自底向下的连接语音处理要求。在第一阶段，将评估来自四个L1背景的ESL学习者的英语音节语音感知问题。根据评估结果，将编制培训模块，并进行培训研究。在第一阶段，我们还将开发一种新的任务，用于识别载体句中的单词，并对其可行性进行测试。在第二阶段，音节水平的评估和培训模块将得到充分发展。他们将与来自不同语言背景的ESL学习者一起接受测试。如果发现使用载体句的新任务是可行的，那么在第二阶段将开发具有更多变体的载体句、说话者和目标词的材料。此外，第二阶段系统还将具有呈现噪音退化语音的能力（例如背景噪音，和竞争的说话者），以及使用谨慎和随意说话风格的短语，句子和段落的语音训练。最后的系统将被一组非母语的ESL学习者使用，以证明在ESL教学计划中包括外显知觉训练的有效性。综上所述，最终的产品将是一个完整的感知训练系统，它将帮助第二语言学习者在现实生活中准确地处理英语，并通过改进的感知更好地监控自己的发音。该项目的最终目标是开发一个多媒体系统，用于评估和训练英语作为第二语言/外语学习者的语音感知。最终的产品将改善美国和世界各地不同母语的人之间的英语交流。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will develop a multimedia speech perception assessment and training system for learners of English as a second/foreign language (ESL). It is well known that interference between a learner's native language and English negatively impacts their ability to understand fluent speech and therefore reduces their educational and job opportunities. ESL learners compensate for their impaired phonetic perceptual skills (bottom-up processing) through use of context and general knowledge (top-down processing), even though such strategies cannot guarantee good comprehension. However, popular language training systems focus on production skills and do not provide adequate perception training. The proposed project will develop a system for comprehensive assessment of perceptual problems and for comprehensive, structured auditory training for ESL learners. Thus training will be closely linked to the perceptual errors determined in pre-training assessment. Training will begin by strengthening the bottom-up processing skills at the syllable level and then gradually introduce demands for top-down processing in connected speech. In Phase I, speech perception problems for English syllables will be assessed for ESL learners from four L1 backgrounds. Based on the assessment results, a training module will be developed and a training study will be conducted. A novel task for the identification of words within carrier sentences will also be developed in Phase I and will be tested for its feasibility. In Phase II the assessment and training modules at the syllable level will be fully developed. They will be tested with ESL learners from a variety of language backgrounds. If the novel task using carrier sentences is found feasible, materials with more variation in carrier sentences, speakers, and target words will be developed in Phase II. In addition, the Phase II system will also have the capability of presenting noise- degraded speech (e.g. background noise, and competing talkers), as well as speech training using phrases, sentences, and passages in careful and casual speaking styles. The final system will be used by a group of non-native ESL learners to demonstrate the effectiveness of including explicit perceptual training in a program of ESL instruction. Summarizing, the final product will be a complete perception training system with demonstrated effectiveness that will help L2 learners to accurately process English in real life and to better monitor their own pronunciation using improved perception. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a multimedia system for the assessment and training of speech perception by learners of English as a second/foreign language. The final product will improve English communication between persons with different native languages in the U.S. and throughout the world.