GB2254725A

GB2254725A - Language learning tool

Info

Publication number: GB2254725A
Application number: GB9107883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy John Watts; David Fletcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-12
Filing date: 1991-04-12
Publication date: 1992-10-14
Also published as: GB9107883D0

Abstract

A language learning tool contains two solid state digital storage areas to allow a student to capture and re-listen to examples of sounds, words, phrases and sentences from both an integral cassette tape containing such examples and a microphone for the students own attempt to say such examples. Each capture or relisten operation is controlled by a single user control action. Thus a sound signal from either an audio cassette player 10 or microphone 11 is converted into digital form, and held in one of the digital storage means 15, 16. The signal can be retrieved from these means and reconverted into analogue form for playing through loudspeaker or personal headphones. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOL This invention relates to an electrical language learning tool.

The use of magnetic tape recorders and personal audio cassette players is common place in language learning. The recordings may be prepared by a teacher or student or form part of a published language course.

General purpose tape recorders and personal cassette players are cumbersome to use for this purpose because of the need to repeat sections at the students discretion for comprehension and self-examination. This requires the tape to be re-wound a small amount each time a repetition is required.

A common problem encountered when learning languages, is self-examination, because it is difficult to be objective about ones pronunciation while speaking; a problem well known to theatrical impersonators.

According to the present invention there is provided an electrical language learning tool comprising an audio cassette mechanism, microphone and circuitry for digitally storing the most recent audio signals from either of the aforementioned sources and retrieving these audio signals to be output via loudspeaker or personal headphones, each of these operations being selected by a single user control action.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a flow of student actions;and Figure 2 shows the flow of audio signal in analogue and digital form between the electronic sub-sections.

At the start of a session 1 of learning using the language learning tool, a cassette containing a combination of sounds, words, phrases and sentences is in place in the audio cassette mechanism 10.

The student plays the next section of tape 2 by a single control action, the period of the section is determined by and the same as the period for which the control action is maintained.

During this period the audio cassette mechanism 10 plays the tape, the resultant audio output is fed through analogue switch 19 and amplifier 20 to the loudspeaker or headphones 21 so that it may be heard by the student and is also fed through analogue switch 12 and converted to digital form by the analogue to digital converter 13, the resultant data is then passed through the digital switch 14 and stored in the off tape audio solid state digital storage 15. When this storage 15 is full, the oldest data is replaced with new data so that the most recent period of audio output from the tape is stored.

In order to attempt to say the example 4 for subsequent comparison the student performs a single control action and repeats the example to the microphone lithe control action is maintained for the period required to say the example 4. The audio signal from the microphone is fed through analogue switch 12 and converted to digital form by the analogue to digital converter 13, the resultant data is then passed through the digital switch 14 and stored in the microphone audio solid state digital storage 16. When this storage 16 is full the oldest data is repiaced with new data so that the most recent period of output from the microphone is stored.

In order to compare the example with the attempt the student is able to listen to either.

In order to listen to the attempt 5 the student performs a single control action; the data in the microphone audio solid state digital storage 16 which was stored during the most recent attempt to say example 4 is fed through the digital switch 17 and converted to analogue form by the digital to analogue converter 18, the analogue signal is fed via the analogue switch 19 and the amplifier 20 to the loudspeaker or headphones 21 so that it may be heard by the student.

In order to listen to the example 3 the student performs a single control action; the data in the off tape audio solid state digital storage 15 which was stored during the most recent play the next section of tape 2 is fed through the digital switch 17 and converted to analogue form by the digital to analogue converter 18, the analogue signal is fed via the analogue switch 19 and the amplifier 20 to the loudspeaker or headphones 21 so that it may be heard by the student.

The student may then wish to attempt to say the example 4 again for the purpose of improvement or may be happy to move on 6 to play the next section of tape 2 or end the session 7.

Claims

An electrical language learning tool comprising an audio cassette mechanism, microphone and circuitry for digitally storing the most recent audio signals from either of the aforementioned sources and retrieving these audio signals to be output via loudspeaker or personal headphones, each of these operations being selected by a single user control action.
2 An electrical language learning tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the interruption of the playing of the audio cassette mechanism to partition the audio signal into sounds, words, phrases and sentences is caused by the detection of control signals within the audio signal itself.
3 An electrical language learning tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where the four operations store audio signal from tape, store audio signal from microphone, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from tape, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from microphone are controlled by four corresponding momentary action switches or buttons.
4 An electrical language learning tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where the four operations store audio signal from tape, store audio signal from microphone, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from tape, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from microphone are controlled by two bias switches.
5 An electrical language learning tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where the four operations store audio signal from tape, store audio signal from microphone, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from tape, retrieve audio signal previously obtained from microphone are controlled by one bias switch.
6 An electrical language learning tool as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5, where the microphone and or speaker does not form part of the unit but is connected to it via external connector(s).
7 An electrical language learning tool substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.