Role-play tasks have long been used by researchers and practitioners to observe L2 (Second language) speaking performance. This social-situated simulation allows students to employ their language skills to converse about real-life themes. While role-plays are highly plausible to actively engage students in interactive learning environments, it has…

Describes the use of EXPER SIM (experimental simulation) as an instructional tool in speech communication research. Several sample models are offered along with a discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of using the computer for social science research. (JMF)

Research efforts to model speech perception in terms of a processing system in which knowledge and processing are distributed over large numbers of highly interactive--but computationally primative--elements are described in this report. After discussing the properties of speech that demand a parallel interactive processing system, the report…