CASTLE : a computer-assisted sentence stress teaching and learning environment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
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Date
2010
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Massey University
Abstract
A Computer-Assisted sentence Stress Teaching and Learning Environment (CASTLE)
is proposed and developed, in order to help learners of English as a Second Language
(ESL) to perceive and produce English stress correctly.
Sentence stress plays an important role in English verbal communication. Incorrect
stress may confuse listeners, and even break down a conversation. Stress is also
challenging for ESL learners to master. It is neither easy for them to produce nor easy to
perceive stress. Learners tend to transfer the stress patterns of their first language into
English, which is not always appropriate. However, stress has been overlooked in
English language teaching classes, due to the time limits of a class and teachers’ lack of
confidence of teaching stress. Thus, CASTLE is intended to help ESL learners to use
sentence stress correctly.
There are three modules in CASTLE: an individualised speech learning material
providing module, a perception assistance module and a production assistance module.
Through conducting an investigation into which voice features (i.e. gender, pitch and
speech rate) makes a teacher’s voice preferable for learners to imitate, we find that
learners’ imitation preferences vary, according to many factors (e.g. English
background and language proficiency). Thus, the speech material providing module of
CASTLE can provide individualised speech material for different learners, based on
their preferred voice features.
In the perception assistance module of CASTLE, we propose a set of stress
exaggeration methods that can automatically enlarge the differences between stressed
and unstressed syllables in teachers’ voice. These stress exaggeration methods are
implemented by the manipulation of different prosodic features (i.e. pitch, duration and
intensity) of the teachers’ voice. Our experimental results show that all our proposed
exaggeration methods could help ESL learners to perceive sentence stress more
accurately.
In the production assistance module of CASTLE, we propose a clapping-based sentence
stress practice model that is intended to help ESL learners to be aware of the rhythm of
English language. By analysing the limitation of conventional categorical representation
of stress, we propose a fuzzy representation which is intended to better represent the
subjective nature of stress. Based on the fuzzy representation of stress, we propose three
feedback models in order to help the learners correct their stress errors.
In addition to the development of CASTLE, we also propose an enhanced fuzzy linear
regression model which can overcome the spreads increasing problem encountered by
previous fuzzy linear regression models.
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Keywords
Computer-assisted learning