--- Forwarded Message from "Tina Deveny Oestreich" <[log in to unmask]> --- >From: "Tina Deveny Oestreich" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'" <[log in to unmask]> >References: <[log in to unmask]> >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: RE: #8694 speech cognition and cultural video/image for French and Italian >Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 10:34:18 -0500 >Thread-Index: AcgiGCCBfR6yuRzdRQu3McuqDLDYwQAAFz/w Dear Takeshi and others, A Japanese instructor here is interested in pronunciation programs for Japanese. She is interested in a program that will allow students to hear and repeat longer utterances to practice pronunciation and intonation. She does not think there is anything on the market that will meet her requirements and is interested in developing something. I would be interested in knowing if any of you have been using pronunciation programs in your labs, and what your experience has been. Thank you, Tina P.S. Takeshi - have you checked out MERLOT for materials? http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 10:00 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: #8694 speech cognition and cultural video/image for French and Italian --- Forwarded Message from "Takeshi Sengiku" <[log in to unmask]> --- >Subject: speech cognition and cultural video/image for French and Italian >Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 16:26:53 -0500 >Thread-Topic: speech cognition and cultural video/image for French and Italian >Thread-Index: AcghhOp3YQgpe+ALSBGt+qPZ5RKwPQ== >From: "Takeshi Sengiku" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Cc: "Takeshi Sengiku" <[log in to unmask]> [Apologies for cross-postings] Dear colleagues, I have two questions I am hoping to get some information on, regarding the materials and programs for French and Italian. The French/Italian Department at my institution asked me if there are any self-guided pronunciation programs for French and Italian and I was wondering if anybody can recommend any software programs. As far as I search the website and software available at our Language Resource Center, there are three programs which have speaking activities - Tell Me More, Rosetta Stone, and Learn French now. However, I think Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone are focusing on recognizing pitch and intonation, not much on phonetic sounds themselves. I think 'Native Accent' by Carnegie speech could do the recognition more in depth. But I haven't explored it yet. My sense is that the faculty members may be looking for some program for students to practice and train producing [r]'francais' or 'merci' in French, for example. Do you know any other software programs which incorporate speech recognition or speaking activities? Another question is on the collection of cultural video clips/pictures/images for French and Italian classes? If you know or use any materials as such that you use for classes in your institution, please let me know. Any information is appreciated. Thank you in advance. Sincerely Takeshi ++++++ Takeshi Sengiku Director of Language Resource Center Lecturer in Asian Studies Department Coordinator for Self-Instructional Arabic Language program Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA Email: [log in to unmask] Phone: 717-337-6340 ++++++ *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning (http://iallt.org/), and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://www.languageconsortium.org/). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************