ERIC Number: EJ956333
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-May
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-7778
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Using ASR Technology in Language Training for Specific Purposes: A Perspective from Quebec, Canada
Walker, Nicholas R.; Trofimovich, Pavel; Cedergren, Henrietta; Gatbonton, Elizabeth
CALICO Journal, v28 n3 p721-743 May 2011
For many patients throughout the world, access to healthcare depends on the patients" and healthcare providers' ability to communicate efficiently in each other's language. One way to reduce linguistic barriers to healthcare access is to increase the number of linguistically and culturally competent healthcare professionals. Conspicuously absent in the literature on second language (L2) training of healthcare professionals, however, is the use of technology that combines meaningful interaction, feedback, simulation, and asynchronous access. The goal of this paper is to fill this gap by describing and evaluating the "Virtual Language Patient," a computer-based L2 training module for healthcare professionals. The module employs automatic speech recognition technology, pronunciation assessment, and video clips of a simulated medical history interview with a minority language patient. Five nurses-in-training at a French-language nursing college in Quebec reported that the module was easy to operate and that it addressed their anticipated language learning needs. More importantly, analysis of the data file automatically generated by the module revealed improvements in acceptability of the nurses' pronunciation of the medical interview questions. These findings suggest that the module can be effective in language training for healthcare professionals. Implications for the improvement of virtual dialogue systems are discussed. (Contains 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Video Technology, Feedback (Response), Nurses, Patients, Foreign Countries, Pronunciation Instruction, Access to Health Care, Second Languages, Intercultural Communication, Cultural Awareness, Second Language Learning, Simulation, Computer Assisted Instruction, Language Minorities, Interviews, Nursing Education, French, Second Language Instruction
Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium. 214 Centennial Hall, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666. Tel: 512-245-1417; Fax: 512-245-9089; e-mail: info@calico.org: Web site: http://calico.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A