Opportunities for computer-aided instruction in phonetics and speech communication provided by the internet.

Spoken language engineering is starting to deliver technological products to the commercial market and has an important future role in supporting the multilingual structures of modern Europe. The field will be driven forward by basic science and applied research by experts drawn from a variety of backgrounds; among them: linguistics, psychology, computer science and electrical engineering. The wide range of expertise required in this discipline brings difficulties for our educational systems, but also challenges us to use our knowledge of technology and communication to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning. This paper investigates how resources currently available on the Internet could be exploited in the education of phonetics and speech communication. It discusses the technology, outlines the requirements for computer-aided learning in the field, gives a taxonomy of the available components with examples, and criticises the main weaknesses in the current provision

Podcasting: An Effective Tool for Honing Language Students’ Pronunciation?

This paper reports on an investigation of podcasting as a tool for honing pronunciation skills in intermediate language learning. We examined the effects of using podcasts to improve pronunciation in second language learning and how students\u27 attitudes changed toward pronunciation over the semester. A total of 22 students in intermediate German and French courses made five scripted pronunciation recordings throughout the semester. After the pronunciation recordings, students produced three extemporaneous podcasts. Students also completed a pre- and post-survey based on Elliott\u27s (1995) Pronunciation Attitude Inventory to assess their perspectives regarding pronunciation. Students\u27 pronunciation, extemporaneous recordings, and surveys were analyzed to explore changes over the semester. Data analysis revealed that students\u27 pronunciation did not significantly improve in regard to accentedness or comprehensibility, perhaps because the 16-week long treatment was too short to foster significant improvement and there was no in-class pronunciation practice. The podcast project, however, was perceived positively by students, and they appreciated the feedback given for each scripted recording and enjoyed opportunities for creativity during the extemporaneous podcasts. Future studies might seek to delineate more specific guidelines or examine how teacher involvement might be adapted to the use of podcasts as a companion to classroom instruction

Importance of Language Laboratory in Developing Language Skills

The present paper deals with the importance of language laboratory in developing language skills. It basically presents how language labs are useful in developing language skills of the learners. Apart from the classroom lectures that students attend, the practical classes held in language labs hone their ability to comprehend language in a better manner. The present paper discusses the importance of these labs, benefits the receivers receive and why there is an urgent need for more such labs in academic institutions

The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Teaching and Learning of English Language in Nigeria

The importance and impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on English language learning in Nigeria cannot be overemphasize as it has been acknowledged globally that the integration of ICT in language learning has become indispensable in modern day learning environment. This is because of the major role it plays in the advancement and development of the frontiers of knowledge in language learning. This is more so when the world is fast becoming a global village where the use of modern technological gadgets to improve language learning has become imperative. This paper examines the importance and use of ICT in language learning and highlights some of the prospects from the plethora of using ICT for optimal performance. Some of the problems which include no internet facilities, erratic power supply, overcrowded classrooms, lack of computer knowledge and so on facing the use of ICT in language learning in a developing country like Nigeria are also discussed. Teaching of computer courses, provision of internet facilities in schools, regular supply of electricity are some of the recommendations made to improve language learning through ICT. Keywords: Language, multimedia, gadgets, foreign language teaching (FLT), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Nigeria

Directions for the future of technology in pronunciation research and teaching

This paper reports on the role of technology in state-of-the-art pronunciation research and instruction, and makes concrete suggestions for future developments. The point of departure for this contribution is that the goal of second language (L2) pronunciation research and teaching should be enhanced comprehensibility and intelligibility as opposed to native-likeness. Three main areas are covered here. We begin with a presentation of advanced uses of pronunciation technology in research with a special focus on the expertise required to carry out even small-scale investigations. Next, we discuss the nature of data in pronunciation research, pointing to ways in which future work can build on advances in corpus research and crowdsourcing. Finally, we consider how these insights pave the way for researchers and developers working to create research-informed, computer-assisted pronunciation teaching resources. We conclude with predictions for future developments

Morpho-Phonological Misuse of English: A Cause of Poor Performance amongst Cameroonian Secondary School Students

This work sets out to undertake a modification of a research endeavour undertaken in 1987 on An Error analysis of the Spoken English of Cameroonian Undergraduates an M A thesis of the University of Ibadan which was never published and about three decades down the road the problem still persist and actually affects many users of English language in a multilingual community such as ours It became very pertinent when the situation of secondary school students in their speech and performance in English Language in examinations especially the G C E examination a prerequisite for entrance into the University remained poor Thus this work is revised to investigate the extent to which Anglophone students deviate in their Morpho-Phonological use of English and how these deviations contribute to their poor performance in English Language as well as impede communication between them and other users of the language The first thing to note is the fact that English is the medium of instruction in Anglophone schools in Cameroon In other words all school subjects are taught through the medium of Englis