Using voice recognition software in learning of Chinese pronunciation.

Abstract

This paper is based on the notion that what matters most in language learning is communication. We argue that if a learner can speak what can be understood by native speakers while at the same time understanding what the native speaker say then we can conclude that this learner has successfully acquired the target language. We present a set of ideas based on the voice recognition exercise which was done with 20 students from different African countries who had studied Chinese language for 3 months at Hebei University. Voice recognition application on smart phones and tablets was used for pronunciation practice purpose in order to boast students’ confidence in spoken Chinese. In this exercise the phone acts as the decoding person and it represents how a native Chinese speaker will decode the learner’s speech. The results showed that during the exercise students become more and more conscious of their errors and adjust their pronunciation. Apart from that, voice recognition applications helps to determine whether or not the learner’s pronunciation is stable. Based on the results of the exercise we concluded that it is possible to turn voice recognition application on smart phones into a game that language learners can use to practice their spoken Chinese. This method is cheap and it promotes self-evaluation as well as boasting interest in learning Chinese language.