WO2006059858A1 - Method and system for interactive foreign language education - Google Patents

Method and system for interactive foreign language education Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006059858A1
WO2006059858A1 PCT/KR2005/004046 KR2005004046W WO2006059858A1 WO 2006059858 A1 WO2006059858 A1 WO 2006059858A1 KR 2005004046 W KR2005004046 W KR 2005004046W WO 2006059858 A1 WO2006059858 A1 WO 2006059858A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
educatee
voice
moving image
sentence
information
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PCT/KR2005/004046
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Young-Rim Ahn
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Young-Rim Ahn
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Publication of WO2006059858A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006059858A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B7/00—Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G06Q50/20—Education
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B19/00—Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass
    • G09B19/06—Foreign languages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates, in general, to a method and a system for foreign language education and, more particularly, to a method and a system capable of teaching educatees foreign languages via the Internet or using computers.
  • a student and a teacher have a one-to-one face-to-face class through a bilateral communication means, such as a video phone.
  • the above- described method achieves the effect of classroom education under a condition in which a student and a teacher are remote from each other.
  • This method allows a teacher to promote a student's participation in an educational process.
  • this method is defective in that it incurs high personnel expenses for teachers due to one- to-one face-to-face classes, and is problematic in that classes are given in different manners depending on teachers, so that the performance of learning of all students cannot be objectively compared with each other and evaluated.
  • the role-playing-type method is a method in which, in the performance of foreign language education, when a previously stored teacher's moving image file is executed and the execution of the moving image is terminated, an educatee selects one from among previously memorized answers and responds with the selected answer.
  • the scripts of corresponding sentences are provided to educatees, as in the former methods, in a process of previously memorizing sentences required for conversation, the educatees answer the teachers' questions while thinking of the shapes of letters corresponding to the sentences rather than thinking of situations related to the content of the answers.
  • Conversation performed through the above-described process produces harmful side effects in foreign language education, resulting in a great obstacle to the use of foreign languages, like native languages.
  • the above method is a method of selecting one from among routine answers in response to a given question, the method has a disadvantage in that educatees cannot apply the method to real-life situations and cannot use it in real life. Moreover, there is no feedback related to the determination of whether the pronunciation of the educatees is correct.
  • the present invention has been devised to overcome the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for interactive foreign language education which is capable of promoting the participation of educatees in foreign language education, thereby increasing the performance of learning of a foreign language.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for interactive foreign language education which are capable of providing a sentence memorizing method, which is applicable to real life, through a sentence-image association process.
  • a method for interactive foreign language education including the steps of (a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee; (b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof; (c) providing image input means to the educatee; and (d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence.
  • the step (a) is preferably the step of displaying the incomplete sentence having the at least one blank and text and/or a picture corresponding to the word to be entered into the at least one blank; and the step (b) is preferably the step of storing the complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank being entered into the blank when the educatee inputs the word to be entered into the blank by selecting the text and/or image corresponding to the word.
  • step (b) and before the step (c) the step of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee is preferably further included.
  • step (e) of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee is preferably further included.
  • the steps of (f) providing voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and (g) when the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee are preferably further included.
  • the step (g) may be the step of, when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
  • the step (g) may include the steps of (gl) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, determining whether a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and a native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) falls within a predetermined error range; (g2) if the time of the voice and/or moving image exceeds the predetermined time or the difference between the intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and the native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) exceeds the predetermined error range, providing the voice and/or image input means to the educatee; and (g3) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that
  • step (h) of displaying the educatee's voice and/or moving image stored at the step (g) may be further included.
  • a computer- readable recording medium storing a program for executing a method, the method including the steps of (a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee; (b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof; (c) providing image input means to the educatee; and (d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence.
  • a system for interactive foreign language education in which educatees directly participate through terminals, including a web server for providing an incomplete sentence display page and required pages based on each educatee's educational course to the educatee's terminal in response to access of the educatee's terminal; an incomplete sentence DataBase (DB) for storing incomplete sentences each having at least one blank in association with information about educational courses; a word reception module for receiving a word corresponding to the blank from the educatee terminal and storing the work in association with information about the incomplete sentence information and the educatee; an image reception module for providing image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing an image transmitted from the educatee's terminal in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee; a complete sentence information DB for storing information about an complete sentence, in which the incomplete sentence is combined with the word corresponding to the blank, in association with information about the image and the educatee; and a control unit in charge of processing related to provision of interactive foreign language education, including causing the
  • the incomplete sentence DB includes a sample word DB for storing the incomplete sentences each having at least one blank, along with information about sample words to be entered into the blanks and information about educational courses, and storing text and pictures of the sample words, a native speaking DB for storing native speakers' voice/moving image information for the respective complete sentences, a native speaking provision module for reading a native speaker's voice/moving image information corresponding to each complete sentence from the native speaking DB and providing the native speaker's voice/moving image to the educatee's terminal, voice/moving image reception means for providing voice/moving image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing the educatee's voice/moving image related to the complete sentence received from the educatee's terminal, and a speaking examination module for determining whether a time of the educatee's voice/ moving image does not exceed a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and accent of the educatee's voice and an intonation and accent of the native speaker's voice falls within
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a system for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention.
  • the interactive foreign language education system 100 (hereinafter 'system 100') is associated with educatees' terminals (not shown) through an information and communication network (not shown), and includes a control unit 101, a web server 102, a word reception module 103, an image reception module 104; voice/moving image reception module 105; native speaking provision module 106; speaking examination module 107.
  • the interactive foreign language education system has DBs, including an educatee information DB 111, an incomplete sentence DB 112, a sample word DB 113, a complete sentence information DB 114, and a native speaking DB 115.
  • the educatees' terminals refer to terminals that are connected to the system 100 by the educatees and are provided with a foreign language education service.
  • the educatees' terminals may be desktop computers, notebook computers, portable personal information terminals (Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)), cellular phones or Personal Communications Services (PCS) phones, the present invention is not limited to these.
  • the information communication network refers to a comprehensive data communication network that is connected by one of a variety of networks, including a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an intranet and a similar internal network, and provides access to the Internet.
  • the information communication network may include a wireless network, such as a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network or an International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2000 network, as well as a wired network, such as a dedicated network or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
  • a wireless network such as a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network or an International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2000 network
  • IMT International Mobile Telecommunications
  • PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
  • the control unit 101 takes charge of various education service provision-related processing, such as directing the web server 102 to provide a login page and an incomplete sentence page to an educatee's terminal (not shown), calling for the word reception module 103 and the image reception module 104 and directing them to store words and images in the complete sentence information DB 114, calling for the native speaking provision module 106 and directing it to provide native speaking voice and/or a native speaking moving image to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and directing the speaking examination module 107 to determine whether the complete sentence- related voice/image, which is received from the educatee's terminal (not shown) by the voice/moving image reception module 105, meets predetermined conditions.
  • various education service provision-related processing such as directing the web server 102 to provide a login page and an incomplete sentence page to an educatee's terminal (not shown), calling for the word reception module 103 and the image reception module 104 and directing them to store words and images in the complete sentence information DB 114, calling for the native speaking provision module 106 and
  • the 102 provides the educatee's terminal (not shown) with pages necessary for the educatee's curriculum, such as a login page, and incomplete sentence indication and sample word display pages based on the educatee's curriculum, to the educatee's terminal (not shown) in response to the access.
  • the word reception module 103 is a module for receiving a word corresponding to the blank of an incomplete sentence from the educatee's terminal (not shown) and storing it in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching it to an incomplete sentence IDentification (ID) code or the educatee's ID code.
  • ID incomplete sentence IDentification
  • the term "word” does not refer only to a single word, but comprehensively refers to several words, phases and clauses.
  • Sample words related to the incomplete sentence, along with the incomplete sentence, are provided to the educatee's terminal (not shown), a sample word ID code (for example, w79531) is stored when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank by selecting one from among the sample words, and word text (for example, "lemons”) is stored when the educatee directly input a word.
  • a sample word ID code for example, w79531
  • word text for example, "lemons”
  • the word reception module 103 searches the native speaking DB 115 using incomplete sentence information and word information, and a native speaker's sentence ID code, along with the above information, is stored in the complete sentence information DB 114 if a native speaker's complete sentence, matching the incomplete sentence and the word, exists.
  • the existence of the native speaker's complete sentence implies that a native speaker's voice/moving image information corresponding to a sentence completed by the educatee exists.
  • the image reception module 104 provides an image input means to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and stores an image in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching the image to the complete sentence information and the educatee information when the educatee inputs the image through the image input means.
  • the image input by the educatee refers to an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence. For example, once the sentence "I want some apples" is completed, the educatee draws a picture corresponding to a situation while thinking of the situation of desiring to eat apples.
  • the image input means that is provided to the educatee's terminal (not shown) refers to a graphics program that allows the educatee to draw and edit pictures.
  • the graphics program may be Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, the present invention is not limited to these.
  • the voice/moving image reception module 105 provides a voice/moving image input means to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and stores voice/a moving image in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching them to the complete sentence information and the educatee information when the educatee inputs the voice/ moving image through the voice/moving image input means.
  • the voice/ moving image input by the educatee are voice, with which the educatee reads the complete sentence, and a moving image, in which the educatee who is reading the complete sentence.
  • the native speaking provision module 106 is a module that searches the native speaking DB 115 and provides a native speaker's voice/moving image to the educatee's terminal (not shown) when a native speaking utterance corresponding to the sentence completed by the educator exists.
  • the speaking examination module 107 is a module for determining whether the difference between the voice/moving image of the educatee received through the voice/moving image reception module and the voice/moving image of a native speaker falls within a predetermined error range. In particular, whether the time of the voice/ moving image of the educatee falls within a predetermined time and whether the difference between the stress (accent) and/or intonation of the voice of the educatee and the stress (accent) and/or intonation of the voice of the native speaker falls within a predetermined error range are determined.
  • the difference between the voice of the educatee and the voice of the native speaker can be ascertained using a method of integrating the differences between outputs and frequency waveforms for respective time bands.
  • the present invention is not limited to this. If the difference falls within the predetermined error range, the voice/ moving image of the educatee is stored in the complete sentence information DB 114.
  • the educatee information DB 111 stores information about educatees who are provided with the education service by the system 100.
  • information including educatees' ID codes, educatees' passwords PW, addresses and contact information, may be stored in the educatee information DB 111, and information about education courses with which educatees are being provided (for example, level ID codes) are preferably stored therein, together with the above information.
  • the incomplete sentence DB 112 stores information about sentences having blanks, which are provided to educatees.
  • the information includes incomplete sentence ID codes (for example, L124s298), incomplete sentence text (for example, "I want some "), the ID codes of education courses to which the incomplete sentences belong (for example, L124), and sample word ID codes (for example, w79531, w85213, and w53511).
  • sample word refers to example words that may be entered into the blanks of incomplete sentences.
  • the educatees may select the words from among the sample words, or may input the words by directly typing the words.
  • the sample word DB 113 is a DB in which information about sample words appropriate for the blanks of incomplete sentences is stored.
  • Sample word ID codes for example, w79531, w85213 and w53511)
  • sample word text for example, "bread", “apples” and "pizza”
  • the pictures of the sample words for example, "a picture of bread", “a picture of an apple” and "a picture of pizza”
  • word also refers not only to a single word but also to several words, phases and clauses.
  • the complete sentence information DB 114 is a DB in which information about sentences (for example, "I want some apples"), completed by the educatees entering appropriate words (for example, apples) into incomplete sentence (for example, "I want some "), is stored.
  • complete sentence ID codes, educatee ID codes, incomplete sentence ID codes, sample word ID codes (or general word text (for example, "lemons”)), and native speaker sentence ID codes are stored therein.
  • the general word text refers to word text in the case where educatees do not select sample words provided as examples but directly input words.
  • the native speaker sentence ID codes are stored in the complete sentence information DB 114 in the case where the voice/moving images of native speakers corresponding to sentences completed by the educatees exist.
  • the native speaking DB 115 is a DB in which information about the voice/moving image of native speakers corresponding to complete sentences is stored.
  • native speaker sentence ID codes for example, c53142
  • native speaker sentence text for example, "I want some apples”
  • native speaker voice/moving image files are stored therein.
  • the present invention is provided with the above-described construction and, therefore, provides an interactive education service that promotes educatees' participation, thereby increasing the performance of learning.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating a method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention.
  • the method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention may be implemented on the interactive foreign language education system 100 and the educatees' terminals (not shown), or may be implemented on educatees' terminals (not shown) using a computer program for performing the method. Since the former has been described above in detail, a description of the latter will be given below.
  • the method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention is divided into a sentence completion process A, an image fabrication process B, a sentence-image association process C and a sentence memorization process D based on the concept of education methodology, and the respective processes include steps Sl 10 to S440 in detail. The respective steps will be described in detail below.
  • an incomplete sentence display page corresponding to an educatee's education course is displayed at step SI lO.
  • the educatee's educational course refers to an educational course at a level at which the educatee performs learning. It is preferable to provide appropriate incomplete sentences to the educatee according to the educational course.
  • the incomplete sentence display page it is preferred that text and/or a picture, which may be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, along with an incomplete sentence, be displayed.
  • An example of an incomplete sentence and sample word display page is illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • a method of inputting a word includes a method in which the educatee selects one from among sample words and a method in which the educatee inputs a word by directly typing the word using an input device.
  • the educatee can participate in the educational process by inputting words that are not presented as sample words but are desired to be used.
  • a native speaker's voice and/or moving image at step S 140.
  • the educatee can listen to the correct pronunciation corresponding to the sentence completed by the educatee.
  • a page may be constructed such that, when an icon having a speaker shape is clicked upon, a native speaker's voice and/or moving image is provided.
  • the educatee After the educatee has completed the sentence through the sentence completion process A (steps Sl 10 to S 140), the educatee fabricates an image related to the complete sentence through the image fabrication process B (steps S210 to S240).
  • the image input means is provided to the educatee at S210.
  • the image input means refers to a graphics program capable of drawing and editing pictures, as described above.
  • An example of an image input means provision page is illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence using the image input means at step S220. For example, when the complete sentence is "I want some apples", the educatee inputs an image related to a situation while thinking of the situation of "desiring to eat apples”.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the image and the complete sentence display page.
  • step S230 it is preferable to provide a native speaker's voice/moving image, as after step S 130, at S240.
  • the sentence-image association process C is a process of memorizing the sentence while associating the sentence with the image fabricated by the educatee in the image fabrication process B.
  • Step S310 is the step at which the image and the complete sentence are displayed.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a voice/moving image input means provision page.
  • the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image representing the pronunciation of the sentence, which is completed in the sentence completion process A, using the voice/moving image input means at step S320.
  • the educatee's voice/moving image having passed through the speaking ex- animation step S330, is stored in a DB, in association with the complete sentence information and the educatee information, at step S340.
  • the educatee can memorize the sentence while associating the sentence with the image by pronouncing the associated sentence while viewing the image fabricated by the educatee, through the sentence-image association process C (steps S310 to S340).
  • the sentence memorization process D is a process in which the educatee memorizes the sentence while thinking of the sentence, based on the viewing of the image.
  • the image fabricated in the image fabrication process B is displayed at step S410.
  • a plurality of images fabricated in the image fabrication process B may be displayed. For example, in the case where one sentence is learned each day in each period from Monday to Friday, images corresponding to a total of five sentences are displayed.
  • An example of a page on which an image is displayed is illustrated in FIG. 9, while an example of a page on which a plurality of images is displayed is illustrated on FIG. 10.
  • the voice/ moving image input means is provided to the educatee.
  • the educatee inputs the voice/moving image using the voice/moving image input means at step S420, as at step S320. Then, speaking examination step S430, at which whether the educatee's voice/moving image meets a predetermined condition is determined, is performed.
  • the educatee's voice/moving image input at step S320 is compared with a native speaker's voice/moving image related to the same sentence, and analyzed at step S332.
  • technologies disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-362292, Korean Unexamined Patent No. 2002-30515 and Korean Patent No. 10-405061 may be employed to analyze pronunciation.
  • the difference between the educatee's voice and the native speaker's voice may be acquired using a method of integrating the differences between outputs and frequency waveforms for respective time bands.
  • the present invention is not limited to this method.
  • the predetermined time refers to the time that deviates from the time of the native speaker's voice/moving image by less than a certain error range. If, as a result of the determination at step S334, the time of the educatee's voice/moving image is determined to fall within the predetermined time, whether the difference between the intonation and stress (accent) of the educatee's voice and the native speaker's accent and intonation falls within the certain error range is determined at step S336. If the difference falls within the range at step S336, the speaking examination of the educatee's voice/moving image is terminated. If the time does not fall within the certain time at step S334, it is preferable to return to the sentence speaking steps S320 and S420 and receive voice and/or an image from the educatee again.
  • the educatee's voice/moving image having passed through the speaking examination step S430, is stored in an DB in association with the complete sentence information and the educatee information at step S440.
  • the educatee can listen to or view the educatee's voice/moving image, which is stored as described above, again.
  • the educatee can memorize the sentence while viewing the image capable of reminding the educator of the sentence through the sentence memorization process D.
  • the present invention promotes educatees' direct participation in education processes, and allows educatees to memorize sentences while thinking of situations, rather than thinking of the shapes of characters, through the image- sentence association process.
  • educatees are impelled to repeat speech until the educatees' pronunciation resembles native speakers' pronunciation, thereby allowing the educatees to achieve accurate pronunciation at an appropriate speed.
  • an effect similar to that of a one-to-one face-to-face class can be achieved while personnel expenses are con- siderably reduced.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a system for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention
  • FIGS. 2 and. 3 are flowcharts illustrating a method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a view of an example of an incomplete sentence and sample word display page
  • FIG. 5 is a view of an example of a complete sentence display page
  • FIG. 6 is a view of an example of an image input means provision page
  • FIG. 7 is a view of an example of an image and complete sentence display page
  • FIG. 8 is a view of an example of a voice/moving image input means provision page
  • FIG. 9 is a view of an example of an image display page
  • FIG. 10 is a view of a several images display page.
  • FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a speaking examination step.

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Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to a method and system for foreign language education and, more particularly, to a method and system capable of teaching educatees foreign languages via the Internet or using computers. According to the present invention, the performance of learning of a foreign language can be increased by promoting the participation of educatees in foreign language education, and a sentence memorizing method applicable to real life can be provided through a sentence-image association process.

Description

Description
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE FOREIGN
LANGUAGE EDUCATION
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a method and a system for foreign language education and, more particularly, to a method and a system capable of teaching educatees foreign languages via the Internet or using computers.
[2]
Background Art
[3] Currently, as the Internet is very popular across the nation, along with remarkable developments in the information and communications industry, various efforts to use the Internet and computers also for foreign language education and learning have been attempted.
[4] The contents of language education materials, previously published in the form of books, are now fabricated and sold in the form of multimedia CD-ROM titles, or educational materials, fabricated in the form of electronic files, are provided to users through Internet sites. However, such education schemes are problematic in that they provide education in a unilateral manner and educatees rarely participate in the education, similar to existing foreign language education materials in book form, so that educatees' motivations to learn foreign languages are not stimulated and they are not helpful in enhancing the ability to speak foreign languages, that is, the chronic weakness of Koreans.
[5] Meanwhile, a bilateral English education method using the characteristics of the
Internet was proposed. In detail, a student and a teacher have a one-to-one face-to-face class through a bilateral communication means, such as a video phone. The above- described method achieves the effect of classroom education under a condition in which a student and a teacher are remote from each other. This method allows a teacher to promote a student's participation in an educational process. However, this method is defective in that it incurs high personnel expenses for teachers due to one- to-one face-to-face classes, and is problematic in that classes are given in different manners depending on teachers, so that the performance of learning of all students cannot be objectively compared with each other and evaluated.
[6] A role-playing-type foreign language education method that blends the above- described two methods together has been proposed. The role-playing-type method is a method in which, in the performance of foreign language education, when a previously stored teacher's moving image file is executed and the execution of the moving image is terminated, an educatee selects one from among previously memorized answers and responds with the selected answer. However, since the scripts of corresponding sentences are provided to educatees, as in the former methods, in a process of previously memorizing sentences required for conversation, the educatees answer the teachers' questions while thinking of the shapes of letters corresponding to the sentences rather than thinking of situations related to the content of the answers. Conversation performed through the above-described process produces harmful side effects in foreign language education, resulting in a great obstacle to the use of foreign languages, like native languages. Furthermore, since the above method is a method of selecting one from among routine answers in response to a given question, the method has a disadvantage in that educatees cannot apply the method to real-life situations and cannot use it in real life. Moreover, there is no feedback related to the determination of whether the pronunciation of the educatees is correct.
[7]
Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[8] The present invention has been devised to overcome the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for interactive foreign language education which is capable of promoting the participation of educatees in foreign language education, thereby increasing the performance of learning of a foreign language.
[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for interactive foreign language education which are capable of providing a sentence memorizing method, which is applicable to real life, through a sentence-image association process.
[10]
Technical Solution
[11] In order to achieve the above-described objects, a method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention, including the steps of (a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee; (b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof; (c) providing image input means to the educatee; and (d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence. [12] In the present invention, the step (a) is preferably the step of displaying the incomplete sentence having the at least one blank and text and/or a picture corresponding to the word to be entered into the at least one blank; and the step (b) is preferably the step of storing the complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank being entered into the blank when the educatee inputs the word to be entered into the blank by selecting the text and/or image corresponding to the word.
[13] In the present invention, after the step (b) and before the step (c), the step of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee is preferably further included.
[14] In the present invention, after the step (d), the step (e) of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee is preferably further included.
[15] In the present invention, after the step (d), the steps of (f) providing voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and (g) when the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee are preferably further included.
[16] In the present invention, the step (g) may be the step of, when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[17] In the present invention, the step (g) may include the steps of (gl) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, determining whether a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and a native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) falls within a predetermined error range; (g2) if the time of the voice and/or moving image exceeds the predetermined time or the difference between the intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and the native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) exceeds the predetermined error range, providing the voice and/or image input means to the educatee; and (g3) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[18] In the present invention, after the step (g), the step (h) of displaying the educatee's voice and/or moving image stored at the step (g) may be further included.
[19] In the present invention, after the step (d), the steps of (i) displaying the image; (j) providing the voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; (k) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range may be further included.
[20] In the present invention, after the step (d), the steps of (1) repeating the steps (a) to
(d); (m) displaying images stored at the step (1); (n) providing voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and (o) when the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range are preferably further included.
[21] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer- readable recording medium storing a program for executing a method, the method including the steps of (a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee; (b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof; (c) providing image input means to the educatee; and (d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence.
[22] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for interactive foreign language education in which educatees directly participate through terminals, including a web server for providing an incomplete sentence display page and required pages based on each educatee's educational course to the educatee's terminal in response to access of the educatee's terminal; an incomplete sentence DataBase (DB) for storing incomplete sentences each having at least one blank in association with information about educational courses; a word reception module for receiving a word corresponding to the blank from the educatee terminal and storing the work in association with information about the incomplete sentence information and the educatee; an image reception module for providing image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing an image transmitted from the educatee's terminal in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee; a complete sentence information DB for storing information about an complete sentence, in which the incomplete sentence is combined with the word corresponding to the blank, in association with information about the image and the educatee; and a control unit in charge of processing related to provision of interactive foreign language education, including causing the web server to provide the incomplete sentence page to the educatee's terminal, calling for the word reception module and the image reception module, and causing the word reception module and the image reception module to store a word and an image in the DB.
[23] In the present invention, the incomplete sentence DB includes a sample word DB for storing the incomplete sentences each having at least one blank, along with information about sample words to be entered into the blanks and information about educational courses, and storing text and pictures of the sample words, a native speaking DB for storing native speakers' voice/moving image information for the respective complete sentences, a native speaking provision module for reading a native speaker's voice/moving image information corresponding to each complete sentence from the native speaking DB and providing the native speaker's voice/moving image to the educatee's terminal, voice/moving image reception means for providing voice/moving image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing the educatee's voice/moving image related to the complete sentence received from the educatee's terminal, and a speaking examination module for determining whether a time of the educatee's voice/ moving image does not exceed a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and accent of the educatee's voice and an intonation and accent of the native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range; and the complete sentence information DB stores information about the complete sentence, in which the incomplete sentence is combined with the word corresponding to the blank, in association with the image, information about the educatee, and the educatee's voice/moving image.
[24] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and words used in the present specification and the attached claims must not be interpreted as having typical or dictionary meanings, but must be interpreted as having meanings and concepts appropriate for the technical concept of the present invention, based on the principle in which an inventor can define the concepts of terms appropriately so as to describe his or her invention in the best way. Accordingly, the embodiments described in the present specification and the constructions illustrated in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical spirit of the present invention. As a result, it should be appreciated that various equivalents and variations capable of replacing the embodiments may exist at the time of filing the present application.
[25] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a system for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the interactive foreign language education system 100 (hereinafter 'system 100') is associated with educatees' terminals (not shown) through an information and communication network (not shown), and includes a control unit 101, a web server 102, a word reception module 103, an image reception module 104; voice/moving image reception module 105; native speaking provision module 106; speaking examination module 107. The interactive foreign language education system has DBs, including an educatee information DB 111, an incomplete sentence DB 112, a sample word DB 113, a complete sentence information DB 114, and a native speaking DB 115.
[26] In the above case, the educatees' terminals (not shown) refer to terminals that are connected to the system 100 by the educatees and are provided with a foreign language education service. Although the educatees' terminals may be desktop computers, notebook computers, portable personal information terminals (Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)), cellular phones or Personal Communications Services (PCS) phones, the present invention is not limited to these.
[27] Meanwhile, the information communication network refers to a comprehensive data communication network that is connected by one of a variety of networks, including a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an intranet and a similar internal network, and provides access to the Internet. In this case, it should be understood that the information communication network may include a wireless network, such as a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network or an International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2000 network, as well as a wired network, such as a dedicated network or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
[28] The control unit 101 takes charge of various education service provision-related processing, such as directing the web server 102 to provide a login page and an incomplete sentence page to an educatee's terminal (not shown), calling for the word reception module 103 and the image reception module 104 and directing them to store words and images in the complete sentence information DB 114, calling for the native speaking provision module 106 and directing it to provide native speaking voice and/or a native speaking moving image to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and directing the speaking examination module 107 to determine whether the complete sentence- related voice/image, which is received from the educatee's terminal (not shown) by the voice/moving image reception module 105, meets predetermined conditions.
[29] When the educatee's terminal (not shown) accesses the system 100, the web server
102 provides the educatee's terminal (not shown) with pages necessary for the educatee's curriculum, such as a login page, and incomplete sentence indication and sample word display pages based on the educatee's curriculum, to the educatee's terminal (not shown) in response to the access.
[30] The word reception module 103 is a module for receiving a word corresponding to the blank of an incomplete sentence from the educatee's terminal (not shown) and storing it in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching it to an incomplete sentence IDentification (ID) code or the educatee's ID code. In the present invention, the term "word" does not refer only to a single word, but comprehensively refers to several words, phases and clauses. Sample words related to the incomplete sentence, along with the incomplete sentence, are provided to the educatee's terminal (not shown), a sample word ID code (for example, w79531) is stored when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank by selecting one from among the sample words, and word text (for example, "lemons") is stored when the educatee directly input a word.
[31] Furthermore, the word reception module 103 searches the native speaking DB 115 using incomplete sentence information and word information, and a native speaker's sentence ID code, along with the above information, is stored in the complete sentence information DB 114 if a native speaker's complete sentence, matching the incomplete sentence and the word, exists. The existence of the native speaker's complete sentence implies that a native speaker's voice/moving image information corresponding to a sentence completed by the educatee exists.
[32] The image reception module 104 provides an image input means to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and stores an image in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching the image to the complete sentence information and the educatee information when the educatee inputs the image through the image input means. In this case, the image input by the educatee refers to an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence. For example, once the sentence "I want some apples" is completed, the educatee draws a picture corresponding to a situation while thinking of the situation of desiring to eat apples. The image input means that is provided to the educatee's terminal (not shown) refers to a graphics program that allows the educatee to draw and edit pictures. Although the graphics program may be Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, the present invention is not limited to these.
[33] The voice/moving image reception module 105 provides a voice/moving image input means to the educatee's terminal (not shown), and stores voice/a moving image in the complete sentence information DB 114 while matching them to the complete sentence information and the educatee information when the educatee inputs the voice/ moving image through the voice/moving image input means. In this case, the voice/ moving image input by the educatee are voice, with which the educatee reads the complete sentence, and a moving image, in which the educatee who is reading the complete sentence.
[34] The native speaking provision module 106 is a module that searches the native speaking DB 115 and provides a native speaker's voice/moving image to the educatee's terminal (not shown) when a native speaking utterance corresponding to the sentence completed by the educator exists.
[35] The speaking examination module 107 is a module for determining whether the difference between the voice/moving image of the educatee received through the voice/moving image reception module and the voice/moving image of a native speaker falls within a predetermined error range. In particular, whether the time of the voice/ moving image of the educatee falls within a predetermined time and whether the difference between the stress (accent) and/or intonation of the voice of the educatee and the stress (accent) and/or intonation of the voice of the native speaker falls within a predetermined error range are determined. In order to analyze the stress (accent), intonation and speed of pronunciation, the technologies disclosed in Korean Pat. No. 10-362292, Korean Unexamined Pat. Publication No. 2002-30515 and Korean Pat. No. 10-405061 may be used. After the voice of the educatee and the voice of the native speaker have been analyzed using one of the above-described technologies, the difference between the voice of the educatee and the voice of the native speaker can be ascertained using a method of integrating the differences between outputs and frequency waveforms for respective time bands. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the difference falls within the predetermined error range, the voice/ moving image of the educatee is stored in the complete sentence information DB 114.
[36] The educatee information DB 111 stores information about educatees who are provided with the education service by the system 100. In particular, information, including educatees' ID codes, educatees' passwords PW, addresses and contact information, may be stored in the educatee information DB 111, and information about education courses with which educatees are being provided (for example, level ID codes) are preferably stored therein, together with the above information.
[37] The incomplete sentence DB 112 stores information about sentences having blanks, which are provided to educatees. In particular, the information includes incomplete sentence ID codes (for example, L124s298), incomplete sentence text (for example, "I want some "), the ID codes of education courses to which the incomplete sentences belong (for example, L124), and sample word ID codes (for example, w79531, w85213, and w53511). In this case, the term sample word refers to example words that may be entered into the blanks of incomplete sentences. When inputting words to be entered into the blanks, the educatees may select the words from among the sample words, or may input the words by directly typing the words.
[38] The sample word DB 113 is a DB in which information about sample words appropriate for the blanks of incomplete sentences is stored. Sample word ID codes (for example, w79531, w85213 and w53511), sample word text (for example, "bread", "apples" and "pizza"), the pictures of the sample words (for example, "a picture of bread", "a picture of an apple" and "a picture of pizza") may stored therein. In this case, the term "word" also refers not only to a single word but also to several words, phases and clauses.
[39] The complete sentence information DB 114 is a DB in which information about sentences (for example, "I want some apples"), completed by the educatees entering appropriate words (for example, apples) into incomplete sentence (for example, "I want some "), is stored. In particular, complete sentence ID codes, educatee ID codes, incomplete sentence ID codes, sample word ID codes (or general word text (for example, "lemons")), and native speaker sentence ID codes are stored therein. In this case, the general word text refers to word text in the case where educatees do not select sample words provided as examples but directly input words. The native speaker sentence ID codes are stored in the complete sentence information DB 114 in the case where the voice/moving images of native speakers corresponding to sentences completed by the educatees exist.
[40] The native speaking DB 115 is a DB in which information about the voice/moving image of native speakers corresponding to complete sentences is stored. In particular, native speaker sentence ID codes (for example, c53142), native speaker sentence text (for example, "I want some apples"), and native speaker voice/moving image files are stored therein.
[41] The present invention is provided with the above-described construction and, therefore, provides an interactive education service that promotes educatees' participation, thereby increasing the performance of learning.
[42] FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating a method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention. [43] The method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention, as described above, may be implemented on the interactive foreign language education system 100 and the educatees' terminals (not shown), or may be implemented on educatees' terminals (not shown) using a computer program for performing the method. Since the former has been described above in detail, a description of the latter will be given below.
[44] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention is divided into a sentence completion process A, an image fabrication process B, a sentence-image association process C and a sentence memorization process D based on the concept of education methodology, and the respective processes include steps Sl 10 to S440 in detail. The respective steps will be described in detail below.
[45] Referring to FIG. 2, an incomplete sentence display page corresponding to an educatee's education course is displayed at step SI lO. The educatee's educational course refers to an educational course at a level at which the educatee performs learning. It is preferable to provide appropriate incomplete sentences to the educatee according to the educational course. When the incomplete sentence display page is provided, it is preferred that text and/or a picture, which may be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, along with an incomplete sentence, be displayed. An example of an incomplete sentence and sample word display page is illustrated in FIG. 4.
[46] After the educatee has viewed the incomplete sentence and sample word display page, the educatee inputs a word that will be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence at step S 120. A method of inputting a word includes a method in which the educatee selects one from among sample words and a method in which the educatee inputs a word by directly typing the word using an input device. The educatee can participate in the educational process by inputting words that are not presented as sample words but are desired to be used.
[47] Then, a complete sentence in which the word input by the educatee is entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence is stored, and is then displayed at step S 130. An example of a complete sentence display page is disclosed in FIG. 5.
[48] Once the sentence is completed under the participation of the educatee, it is preferable to provide a native speaker's voice and/or moving image at step S 140. Through this step, the educatee can listen to the correct pronunciation corresponding to the sentence completed by the educatee. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a page may be constructed such that, when an icon having a speaker shape is clicked upon, a native speaker's voice and/or moving image is provided.
[49] After, via steps Sl 10 to S 140, the educatee has completed a sentence by filling the incomplete sentence, which is presented by the educational course, with a selected word, the educatee can listen to a native speaker's correct pronunciation corresponding to the complete sentence.
[50] After the educatee has completed the sentence through the sentence completion process A (steps Sl 10 to S 140), the educatee fabricates an image related to the complete sentence through the image fabrication process B (steps S210 to S240).
[51] First, the image input means is provided to the educatee at S210. The image input means refers to a graphics program capable of drawing and editing pictures, as described above. An example of an image input means provision page is illustrated in FIG. 6.
[52] Then, the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence using the image input means at step S220. For example, when the complete sentence is "I want some apples", the educatee inputs an image related to a situation while thinking of the situation of "desiring to eat apples".
[53] When the input of the image is completed, the image is stored in association with complete sentence information and educatee information and then the image and the sentence are displayed together at step S230. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the image and the complete sentence display page.
[54] After step S230, it is preferable to provide a native speaker's voice/moving image, as after step S 130, at S240.
[55] The sentence-image association process C is a process of memorizing the sentence while associating the sentence with the image fabricated by the educatee in the image fabrication process B.
[56] Step S310 is the step at which the image and the complete sentence are displayed.
At this time, it is preferable to display an icon with which the educatee can request the input of the voice/moving image, along with the image and the complete sentence. When the educatee requests the input of the voice/moving image, the voice/moving image input means is provided to the educatee. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a voice/moving image input means provision page.
[57] The educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image representing the pronunciation of the sentence, which is completed in the sentence completion process A, using the voice/moving image input means at step S320. In this case, it is preferable to determine whether the difference between the educatee's pronunciation and the native speaker's pronunciation falls within a predetermined error range in terms of the speed, stress (accent) and intonation of the pronunciation at step S330. Since the speaking examination step S330 is the same as speaking examination step S430, a detailed description of this step will be described in detail in conjunction with step S430.
[58] The educatee's voice/moving image, having passed through the speaking ex- animation step S330, is stored in a DB, in association with the complete sentence information and the educatee information, at step S340.
[59] The educatee can memorize the sentence while associating the sentence with the image by pronouncing the associated sentence while viewing the image fabricated by the educatee, through the sentence-image association process C (steps S310 to S340).
[60] The sentence memorization process D is a process in which the educatee memorizes the sentence while thinking of the sentence, based on the viewing of the image. First, the image fabricated in the image fabrication process B is displayed at step S410. At this time, a plurality of images fabricated in the image fabrication process B may be displayed. For example, in the case where one sentence is learned each day in each period from Monday to Friday, images corresponding to a total of five sentences are displayed. An example of a page on which an image is displayed is illustrated in FIG. 9, while an example of a page on which a plurality of images is displayed is illustrated on FIG. 10. At this time, it is preferable to display an icon with which the educatee can request the input of voice and/or a moving image, along with the sentence and the image. When the educatee requests the input of the voice/moving image, the voice/ moving image input means is provided to the educatee.
[61] The educatee inputs the voice/moving image using the voice/moving image input means at step S420, as at step S320. Then, speaking examination step S430, at which whether the educatee's voice/moving image meets a predetermined condition is determined, is performed.
[62] The speaking examination steps S330 and S430 are described in detail below with reference to FIG. 11. First, the educatee's voice/moving image input at step S320 is compared with a native speaker's voice/moving image related to the same sentence, and analyzed at step S332. As described above, technologies disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-362292, Korean Unexamined Patent No. 2002-30515 and Korean Patent No. 10-405061 may be employed to analyze pronunciation. After the analysis of the educatee's voice and the native speaker's voice, the difference between the educatee's voice and the native speaker's voice may be acquired using a method of integrating the differences between outputs and frequency waveforms for respective time bands. However, the present invention is not limited to this method. Thereafter, whether the time of the educatee's voice/moving image falls within a predetermined time is determined at step S334. In this case, the predetermined time refers to the time that deviates from the time of the native speaker's voice/moving image by less than a certain error range. If, as a result of the determination at step S334, the time of the educatee's voice/moving image is determined to fall within the predetermined time, whether the difference between the intonation and stress (accent) of the educatee's voice and the native speaker's accent and intonation falls within the certain error range is determined at step S336. If the difference falls within the range at step S336, the speaking examination of the educatee's voice/moving image is terminated. If the time does not fall within the certain time at step S334, it is preferable to return to the sentence speaking steps S320 and S420 and receive voice and/or an image from the educatee again.
[63] The educatee's voice/moving image, having passed through the speaking examination step S430, is stored in an DB in association with the complete sentence information and the educatee information at step S440. The educatee can listen to or view the educatee's voice/moving image, which is stored as described above, again.
[64] The educatee can memorize the sentence while viewing the image capable of reminding the educator of the sentence through the sentence memorization process D.
[65] Through the above-described steps, the present invention promotes educatees' direct participation in education processes, and allows educatees to memorize sentences while thinking of situations, rather than thinking of the shapes of characters, through the image- sentence association process.
[66] As described above, although the present invention has been described using limitative embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to these. Various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention and a range equivalent to claims to be described later below.
[67]
Advantageous Effects
[68] According to an aspect of the present invention, educatees are impelled to directly complete incomplete sentences, so that the educatees' participation is promoted, thereby increasing the educatees' interest in learning and considerably increasing the educatees' performance of learning of a foreign language.
[69] According to another aspect of the present invention, educatees repeatedly learn sentences while thinking of situations through a sentence-image association process, rather than thinking of the shapes of letters, so that the educatees can be equipped with a foreign language conversation ability that can be applied to real life and can have a good command of a foreign language, similar to native speakers.
[70] According to still another aspect of the present invention, educatees are impelled to repeat speech until the educatees' pronunciation resembles native speakers' pronunciation, thereby allowing the educatees to achieve accurate pronunciation at an appropriate speed.
[71] According to still another aspect of the present invention, an effect similar to that of a one-to-one face-to-face class can be achieved while personnel expenses are con- siderably reduced. [72]
Brief Description of the Drawings
[73] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a system for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention; [74] FIGS. 2 and. 3 are flowcharts illustrating a method for interactive foreign language education according to the present invention; [75] FIG. 4 is a view of an example of an incomplete sentence and sample word display page;
[76] FIG. 5 is a view of an example of a complete sentence display page;
[77] FIG. 6 is a view of an example of an image input means provision page;
[78] FIG. 7 is a view of an example of an image and complete sentence display page;
[79] FIG. 8 is a view of an example of a voice/moving image input means provision page;
[80] FIG. 9 is a view of an example of an image display page;
[81] FIG. 10 is a view of a several images display page; and
[82] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a speaking examination step.

Claims

Claims
[1] A method for interactive foreign language education, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee;
(b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof;
(c) providing image input means to the educatee; and
(d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence.
[2] The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the step (a) is the step of displaying the incomplete sentence having the at least one blank and text and/or a picture corresponding to the word to be entered into the at least one blank; and the step (b) is the step of storing the complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank being entered into the blank when the educatee inputs the word to be entered into the blank by selecting the text and/or image corresponding to the word.
[3] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step (b) and before the step (c), the step of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee.
[4] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step (d), the step
(e) of providing a native speaker's voice and/or moving image corresponding to the complete sentence to the educatee.
[5] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step (d), the steps of:
(f) providing voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and
(g) when the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee.
[6] The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step (g) is the step of, when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[7] The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step (g) comprises the steps of:
(gl) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, determining whether a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and a native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) falls within a predetermined error range;
(g2) if the time of the voice and/or moving image exceeds the predetermined time or the difference between the intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and the native speaker's intonation and stress (accent) exceeds the predetermined error range, providing the voice and/or image input means to the educatee; and (g3) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[8] The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, after the step (g), the step
(h) of displaying the educatee's voice and/or moving image stored at the step (g).
[9] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step (d), the steps of:
(i) displaying the image;
(j) providing the voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and (k) when the educatee inputs the voice and/or moving image related to the utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[10] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step (d), the steps of:
(1) repeating the steps (a) to (d); (m) displaying images stored at the step (1);
(n) providing voice and/or moving image input means to the educatee; and (o) when the educatee inputs voice and/or a moving image related to utterance of the complete sentence through the voice and/or moving image input means, storing the voice and/or moving image in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee, on condition that a time of the voice and/or moving image falls within a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and stress (accent) of the voice and an intonation and stress (accent) of a native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range.
[11] A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing a method, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying an incomplete sentence having at least one blank based on an educational course of an educatee;
(b) when the educatee inputs a word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence, storing a complete sentence with the word to be entered into the blank of the incomplete sentence being entered into the blank thereof;
(c) providing image input means to the educatee; and
(d) when the educatee inputs an image capable of reminding the educatee of the complete sentence through the image input means, storing the image in association with information about the complete sentence and the educatee, and then displaying the image and the complete sentence.
[12] A system for interactive foreign language education in which educatees directly participate through terminals, comprising: a web server for providing an incomplete sentence display page and required pages based on each educatee's educational course to the educatee's terminal in response to access of the educatee's terminal; an incomplete sentence DataBase (DB) for storing incomplete sentences each having at least one blank in association with information about educational courses; a word reception module for receiving a word corresponding to the blank from the educatee terminal and storing the work in association with information about the incomplete sentenceD information and the educatee; an image reception module for providing image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing an image transmitted from the educatee's terminal in association with the information about the complete sentence and the educatee; a complete sentence information DB for storing information about an complete sentence, in which the incomplete sentence is combined with the word corresponding to the blank, in association with information about the image and the educatee; and a control unit in charge of processing related to provision of interactive foreign language education, including causing the web server to provide the incomplete sentence page to the educatee's terminal, calling for the word reception module and the image reception module, and causing the word reception module and the image reception module to store a word and an image in the DB. [13] The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein: the incomplete sentence DB comprises: a sample word DB for storing the incomplete sentences each having at least one blank, along with information about sample words to be entered into the blanks and information about educational courses, and storing text and pictures of the sample words, a native speaking DB for storing native speakers' voice/moving image information for the respective complete sentences, a native speaking provision module for reading a native speaker's voice/moving image information corresponding to each complete sentence from the native speaking DB and providing the native speaker's voice/moving image to the educatee's terminal, voice/moving image reception means for providing voice/moving image input means to the educatee's terminal, and storing the educatee's voice/moving image related to the complete sentence received from the educatee's terminal, and a speaking examination module for determining whether a time of the educatee's voice/moving image does not exceed a predetermined time and a difference between an intonation and the stress (accent) of the educatee's voice and an intonation and the stress (accent) of the native speaker's voice falls within a predetermined error range; and the complete sentence information DB stores information about the complete sentence, in which the incomplete sentence is combined with the word corresponding to the blank, in association with the image, information about the educatee, and the educatee's voice/moving image.
PCT/KR2005/004046 2004-11-30 2005-11-29 Method and system for interactive foreign language education WO2006059858A1 (en)

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