Video games and second language acquisition

哥白尼工作室（Copernicus Studios Inc.）正在开发一款颠覆性的语言游戏软件，帮助人们学习新语言。LANGA使用先进的语音识别和高端动画来创造独特而引人入胜的游戏体验。然而，LANGA不仅仅是闪光——它是与达尔豪斯大学的神经认知成像实验室（NCIL）合作开发的。这种工业-学术合作关系的建立是为了确保培训项目能够通过第二语言学习的研究获得信息，并且LANGA的有效性已经在实验室中得到验证。在NSERC ENGAGE基金的帮助下，该团队开发了一个概念验证原型，并证明它在用新语言教授人们基本词汇方面是有效的。在该项目的下一阶段，团队将利用从成千上万的在线用户中获得的“大数据”，完成创建市场就绪产品所需的研究，并在上市后继续提高功效。该项目将追求以下目标：1)使用自动语音识别技术确定最有效的游戏，内容和课程来教授词汇和语法；2)描述人们在语言学习能力上的差异，以及我们如何根据个人的需求和能力定制培训；3)发展大数据分析，使我们能够从基于实验室的研究扩展到快速迭代的在线数据收集和分析，从成千上万的用户；表征与语言学习成功相关的大脑信号，以开发用于语言训练的脑机接口为目标。全球语言自学市场的价值估计为320亿美元，第二语言培训对加拿大人和新移民在全球经济中取得成功越来越重要。这项研究将有助于开发一个在线、高效的第二语言培训平台，该平台由加拿大大西洋公司拥有和运营。

Copernicus Studios Inc. (CSI; Halifax, NS) is developing LANGA - disruptive LANguage GAming software to help people learn new languages. LANGA uses advanced speech recognition and high-end animation to create a unique and engaging gaming experience. However, LANGA is more than just flash - it has been developed in partnership with the NeuroCognitive Imaging Lab (NCIL) at Dalhousie University. This industrial-academic partnership was forged to ensure that the training programs are informed by research in second language learning, and that LANGA's effectiveness has been validated in the lab. With the help of NSERC ENGAGE funding, the team has developed a proof-of-concept prototype and demonstrated that it is effective in teaching people basic vocabulary in a new language. In the next phase of this project, the team will complete the research necessary to create a market-ready product, and continue to improve efficacy after launch, leveraging the "big data" obtained from thousands of online users. This project will pursue the following objectives:1) Determine the most effective games, content, and curricula to teach vocabulary and grammar using automated speech recognition technology;2) Characterize how people differ in their language learning abilities, and how we can customize training to the needs and abilities of individuals;3) Develop Big Data Analytics that enable us to scale from lab-based research to rapid, iterative cycles of on-line data collection and analysis from tens of thousands of users;4) Characterize brain signals associated with language learning success, with the goal of developing a brain-computer interface for language training.The value of the language self-study global market is estimated at $32 billion, and second language training is increasingly essential for Canadians and new immigrants to succeed in the global economy. This research will contribute to the development of an on-line, highly-effective second language training platform owned and operated by an Atlantic Canada-based company.