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

项目描述（申请人提供）：本项目将为英语作为第二语言/外语（ESL）的学习者开发一个多媒体语音感知评估和训练系统。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讲话的能力产生负面影响，从而减少他们的教育和就业机会。ESL学习者通过使用语境和一般知识（自上而下的处理）来弥补他们受损的语音感知技能（自下而上的处理），即使这些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，并没有提供足够的感知训练。该项目将为ESL学习者开发一个全面的感知问题评估和全面的结构化听觉训练系统。因此，训练将与训练前评估中确定的感知错误密切相关。训练将开始，加强自下而上的处理技能在音节水平，然后逐步引入的要求，自上而下的处理连接的讲话。在第一阶段，将评估来自四个母语背景的ESL学习者对英语音节的语音感知问题。根据评估结果，将开发一个培训模块，并进行一项培训研究。在第一阶段还将开发一个识别载体句子中的单词的新任务，并将测试其可行性。在第二阶段，将全面制订音节一级的评估和培训单元。他们将与来自各种语言背景的ESL学习者一起进行测试。如果发现使用载体句子的新任务是可行的，则在第二阶段开发载体句子、说话人和目标词变化更多的材料。此外，第二阶段系统还将具有呈现噪声降级语音（例如，背景噪声和竞争讲话者）的能力，以及使用谨慎和随意讲话风格的短语、句子和段落进行语音训练的能力。最终的系统将被一组非母语ESL学习者使用，以证明在ESL教学计划中包括明确的感知训练的有效性。总而言之，最终产品将是一个完整的感知训练系统，其有效性将被证明，这将有助于L2学习者在真实的生活中准确地处理英语，并使用改进的感知来更好地监控自己的发音。本计画的最终目标是开发一个多媒体系统，以评估和训练英语作为第二语言/外语的学习者的语音感知能力。最终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.