ERIC Number: EJ764905
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Apr
Pages: 20
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0958-8221
EISSN: N/A
Let's Chat: A Conversational Dialogue System for Second Language Practice
Stewart, Iain A. D.; File, Portia
Computer Assisted Language Learning, v20 n2 p97-116 Apr 2007
Early and intermediate second language (L2) learners often encounter difficulties when engaging in introductory social conversations, typically having had little opportunity to practise such interactions. This article describes a project to design and prototype a computer dialogue system, Let's Chat, which would allow learners to rehearse social conversations without a human partner. While most existing systems do not facilitate interactions of a sufficiently high quality to be useful for L2 acquisition, Let's Chat does so by relying on communication through pre-stored phrases, thereby steering clear of the technological limitations of conventional natural language processing. This approach is supported by research that suggests that the holistic assimilation of L2 sequences can boost the communicative capabilities and fluency of learners. By practising with Let's Chat, learners would acquire good target language input in the form of well-constructed, native-like utterances and thus be better-prepared, more confident participants during natural conversations. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Speech Communication, Linguistic Input, Language Processing, Natural Language Processing, Computer Assisted Instruction, Language Fluency, Second Language Instruction
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A