Thai Educators Network

Voice-recognition pronunciation-enhancing software for schools

On Tuesday, 14 July 2009, Thailand Educators Network (TEN) got together a few days later than usual, to listen to Malcolm Southern from Princeton Language School talk about voice-recognition pronunciation software and how it can be included in existing EFL programs to support and augment our efforts in helping Thai students to improve their pronunciation and reading skills.

“SpeaKIT Suite” Malcolm began, “includes set lessons or tailor-made materials that allows students to listen and then practice words, phrases and sentences.”

The program, using a computerized voice then gives students feedback and further practice with any phonemes, word or phrase not correctly produced giving our learners the chance to receive additional practice with any difficult English pronunciation.

Malcolm then went on to demonstrate how easy it is to input new materials into SpeaKIT Suite and produce supplementary lessons students could access on their own as one aspect of learner autonomy.

Concluding his talk, Malcolm listed ten key features that make SpeaKIT Suite and excellent addition to any schools supplementary materials as an added feature to be incorporated into existing or developing self-access pronunciation and reading practice labs.

1. Coaches students one-on-one as a dedicated teacher
2. Listens and verbally corrects students instantly
3. Employs any lesson or material students need
4. Corrects at the sound, word, thought-group and sentence level
5. Trains any student of any age or language ability
6. Captures and reports student progress while training and testing
7. Supplements class content taught by native or non-native speakers
8. Remains constantly ready and never impatient with students
9. Replaces one, if not more, full-time native speaker teaching staff
10. Offers schools more options to improve student English

Malcolm’s talk was followed by an informed discussion pronunciation software and the implications that it can, as an independent tool, solve a host of pronunciation concerns.

An interesting discussion, it provided many of the 25 attendees with an appreciation and a better understanding of the role pronunciation plays in EFL, and the role SpeaKIT Suite could play in supporting best practices.

However, it was agreed that while SpeaKIT Suite is a potentially beneficial tool in helping to improve student pronunciation, the key to its success in any school lies with the quality of the lessons created or employed and a realistic understanding of where pronunciation practice, be it in class or independently, fits into a successful EFL curriculum.