GB2270191A

GB2270191A - Improvements in and relating to language teaching.

Info

Publication number: GB2270191A
Application number: GB9317300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Anthony Carew Short
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-27
Filing date: 1993-08-19
Publication date: 1994-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-19
Also published as: GB9317300D0; GB2270191B; GB9218222D0; AU4728593A; WO1994006107A1

Abstract

Method and apparatus for recording a lesson such as a language teaching programme on a video tape, wherein picture and sound signals of the teacher are recorded by the NICAM recording technique in interlaced relationship on a video tape, another sound track on the tape available for dubbing or editing being inhibited during recording so that this track is left free for use by the student during playback of the lesson tape. The other sound track may be used to record student attempts at tasks set by the teacher on the videotape. The original lesson and student attempts may be monitored either by student or teacher. By playing the video tape, the student can study the mouth and lip movements made by the teacher, and mimic these movements when making his or her own recording. Singing and the playing of musical instruments may be taught by the above method and apparatus.

Description

Title: Improvements in and relating to language teaching Field of the invention This invention relates to language teaching, particularly the teaching of foreign languages and although applicable to language laboratory applications is also applicable to individual self-learning situations.

Background of the invention It is known to provide language tuition facilities in which a pupil can listen to a pre-recorded or live lesson using headphones and then using a hear and say technique record his or her own attempt at speaking the language using tape recording techniques. By replaying the recorded material the pupil or the teacher can compare the pupil's attempt with the original spoken phrase or word and correct any mistakes in pronunciation which are detected. Where the lesson is pre-recorded, typically one track of a two track tape is employed for the lesson leaving the other track free for the pupil to record his or her own attempt so that the original lesson cannot be affected by the recording of the pupils attempt at pronunciation. The pupils track can be erased and recorded on many times whilst the pre-recorded lesson remains untouched.In this way a pre-recorded tape can be used many times by many different students.

Speaking a language involves more than hearing and speaking. The learning process is considerabiy accelerated if the student can see the teacher's face so that they are also able to see the way the lips and mouth are used to for different words so that in turn the student can mimic the facia ovements thereby facilitating the mimicing of the sound produced by the teacher. In a live situation the student can see the teacher's face and can observe the way in which the lips and mouth and jaw are moved.It has therefore been proposed to replicate the visual advantage of a live lesson by pre-recording not only the sound but also the appearing of the teacher as the teacher speaks the words the student is to hear, and to replay both sound and picture using an appropriate television screen with loudspeaker or headphones as appropriate. A student can thus see the teacher on the television screen and observe the way in which the mouth and lips are moved as well as hear the teacher's voice through the loudspeaker or headphones.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the same listen and record facility associated with earlier sound only learning systems with a combined audio and visual system.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pre-recorded video tape in which the picture and recorded sound track are separate from another recording track which can be used by a pupil for recording his or her own efforts during a lesson.

Summary of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention a method of recording a lesson such as for example for teaching inter alia the pronunciation of a foreign language, comprises the steps of recording on a first track on a 5 tandard \1CR cassette bot" tne sui and picture signals derived fro a camera set to scan a teacher whilst the latter is delivering the lesson which is to be taught and leaving blank a second track on the tape on which sound signals can subsequently be recorded whilst the tape is being replayed so as to enable a pupil to record thereon his or her own attempt at the set task so that during subsequent replay both the picture and sound of the original lesson and the pupil's attempts can be monitored either by the pupil or a teacher.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the tape is recorded using the normal so-called NICAM (Regional Trade Mark) recording technique except that instead of recording the two audio channels to enable stereo sound to be produced when the tape is replayed, the sound signal produced by the teacher is recorded as a monaural signal on the audio channel which is interlaced by the NICAM system with the picture signal as it is recorded on the tape. Typically the second NICAM audio channel is de-activated during the recording of the lesson so that no signal is stored on the normal audio track on the tape thereby leaving that track available for the student to record his or her attempt during subsequent replay of the tape in a teaching mode.

Alternatively, using the modified NICAM (Regional Trade Mark) recording technique, both embedded sound channels interlaced with the recorded picture signal may be used to record the teacher's voice, leaving the editing track free for use by the student.

The advantage of the invention is that by utilising the interlaced track or tracks for recording the sounds produced by the teacner the track on tne tape which can have applied thereto the sound signals separate fro tne original video signal is left free for the student to use, and recording or erasing sound signals from the student track has no effect on the picture and sound signal recorded elsewhere on the tape.

Such a tape can be used with a conventional NICAM VCR which includes dubbing facilities so that no modified or special purpose apparatus has to be produced in order to enable the student to replay the lesson tape and record his or her efforts on the tape using a microphone connected to the dubbing input.

Although it is not essential, according to a preferred feature of the invention, apparatus may be provided for interacting with a conventional NICAM VCR which provides a single multi-way connector for connection to an integrated headset comprising headphones and microphone so that only a single lead and single connection needs to be made by the student. Typically the said apparatus is adapted to be connected to the audio output and dubbing input of the said VCR by way of appropriate flying leads and plugs.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, a NICAM VCR adapted specifically for use with tapes as aforesaid may include means for inhibiting the recording of video signal so that a tape containing a lesson thereon located in the VCR cannot accidentally be erased by running the machine in its record mode. This advantage may be obtained by the known feature of recording prevention tags associated with conventional cassettes in which a small wall section of the cassette is rendered removable. If reproves circuit means within a VCR senses trat the wall sectior nas been removed and inhibits the recording mode of the VCR so that accidental erasure by over-recording cannot occur.Where this facility within a VCR also inhibits the recording of a sound track on the conventional tape soundtrack, the recorder is preferably modified so as to enable the sound recording channel at all time to enable sound to be recorded assuming the dubbing mode of the recorder does not permit this in any case.

Alternatively over-recording can be prevented by means of a simple mechanical interlock which prevents the VCR from being switched to its record mode, assuming audio dubbing is possible during replay.

Again, the pcb track within the VCR may be cut adjacent the recording switch to disable this facility at the student position, given that dubbing is possible during replay.

Other preferred modifications to the VCR comprise means to force correct track selection of audio tracks during playback, means to force correct routing of the audio signal from the student's microphone in the audio dubbing mode, and the disabling of remote control receivers to eliminate possible spurious effects produced by stray signals from remote controllers.

Thus, in the case of a JVC HRD860EK video recorder, resistors taken to VCC and to ground from pin 57 of IC3 force audio track selection, a diode being added in series with the output line from the pcb to avoid any possible adverse effects due to addition of the resistors. Correct student's microphone routing is ensured by cutting and strapping to earth pins 34 and 52 of IC3.

The invention is not limited to the learning of language but can also be adapted for teaching singing, teaching a musical instrument or teaching any other human function which entails the production or making of a sound, which can be recorded, to allow an iterative learning process to be performed in which the student attempts to mimic what is being taught and can then replay his or her attempt to detect whether it satisfactorily replicates the sound which the lesson relates to. To this end the invention provides a learning programme recorded on a video cassette in which a picture and sound signal comprising the lesson are stored simultaneously on a first track leaving a second sound track associated with the tape available for subsequent recording of a student's attempts during a lesson to mimic the sounds indicated during the lesson.

The invention is also applicable to more advanced teaching techniques in which a visual record of the student's attempt is also made for replay in addition to the sound which the student has produced. VCR machines are available which can be synchronised so that one machine runs at precisely the same speed as another and tape cassettes can be indexed so that one machine can be operated from signals derived from a tape that is being run in another machine, so that the two tapes can be run in true synchronism on an incremental point-by-point basis.By utilising a video camera set up to view an area occupied by the student and a microphone for detecting any sound produced by the student, and by synchronously operating a VCR set to record video and sound signals relating to the student along with a VCR set to replay a pre-recorded lesson from a lesson cassette contained therein, so an iterative learning programme can be established in which a student is able not only to listen but also to see his or her attempts at mimicing not only the sound but also the physical movement of the teacher.

This more complex process may be employed for teaching foreign languages but is of perhaps greater importance in teaching a student how to play a musical instrument where deportment, movement of the head, hand, fingers or arms may be critical to the production of tone or even the actual production of some of the very high or very low frequency notes on stringed instruments and blown instruments such as the flute, clarinet and oboe.

According to another aspect of the present invention, apparatus for recording a learning programme as aforesaid on a standard VCR cassette comprises a NICAM VCR modified so that the sound channel which is normally recorded on the tape on the track to be available for dubbing or editing is inhibited during normal record mode so that signals from a microphone associated with the other stereo channel or channels, which when recorded are stored in an interlaced manner with the picture signal, will be recorded along with the picture signal in the said interlaced manner on the tape. The resulting recorded tape will therefore have a blank track available for audio recording alongside the integrated recording of sound picture on the tape produced in accordance with the NICAM technique.

It will be appreciated that the same effect can be obtained if separate inputs are provided for recording on two tracks and the audio input to the non-interlaced track is inhibited during the recording of the lesson and the sound signal associated with the lesson is supplied to the interlaced audio input of the VCR.

In a language laboratory situation, it may be desirable for lesson tapes to be produced using a conventional VCR which is not necessarily a NICAM VCR. If so, the advantages of the invention can be obtained by rerecording the tape produced on a NICAM recorder in the above-described manner, providing the picture and sound signals from the first recorder can be separated and supplied to the appropriate inputs of the NICAM recorder during re-recording, as aforesaid.

Where a NICAM recorder is used for recording the lesson in the first place preferably a single microphone is connected to the appropriate audio input and a camera is connected to the appropriate video input as aforesaid.

Where this is not desirable or the input connections on the NICAM VCR do not enable access to two audio channels to be obtained, the VCR may be operated in a perfectly conventional manner provided identical signals are available for supply to the two stereo channels (as will be the case from the single microphone), and after the lesson has been recorded, the master tape so produced is then re-recorded via a second NICAM VCR which does include separate access to two audio recording channels so that audio signals are not recorded on a separate audio track on the cassette, as required by the invention.

In a language laboratory situation, it may be appropriate for the master tape to be replicated on a large number of VCRs simultaneously and to this end appropriate signal ampllfication means may be provided and parallel paths !rtade available between the amplifying means and each of the VCRs on which bland tapes have been inserted for recording so that appropriate picture and sound signals are supplied to each of the VCRs simultaneously from the replay of the master tape on the first mentioned VCR and by employing modified VCRs (or VCRs operating in a modified mode so that the sound signal supplied thereto is only recorded on the tape in the interlaced track associated with the recording of the picture signal). In this way each of the blank tapes will be converted into a lesson tape with the picture and sound signals associated with the lesson recorded in an interlaced manner on the tape in accordance with the NICAM principle thereby leaving the ordinary audio track on each tape in each cassette available for subsequent recordal of a student's attempts during an interative learning process. During the latter the cassette containing the programme is replayed by the student in his own way and in his own time.

The same principle applies whether the student position contains a single VCR on which the student can record his or her attempts at pronunciation or sound production as well as student positions containing two VCRs and a video camera in which not only sound but also visual recording can be made of the student's attempts to replicate the lesson.

Description of ebodiLsent For further exemplification of the invention, reference is made to the acco,npanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the general layout of a teacher's recording booth; Figure 2 shows the general layout of a student's learning booth; Figure 3 illustrates a re-recording step; and Figure 4 shows a learning tape production step.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown one possible layout of a booth in which the teacher produces a master tape.

This booth comprises a generally soundproof cubicle 10 equipped with a seat 12 ere the teacher sits in front of a monoaural microphone 14 with a remote controller 16 for a NICAM VCR 18 and a remote control switch 19 for a video camera 20 positioned and adjusted to view the teacher in close up. The cubicle is equipped with a power supply 22 for both the VCR and the camera. A single lead 24 connects the microphone to the first audio input 26 of the VCR 18, in particular the input for the sound channel which is recorded interlaced with the picture signal. The second audio input 28 of the VCR 18, for the noninterlaced second charnel, normally used for dubbing or editing, is unused. The audio output of the carera 20 is connected to the video input or the VCR 18 by lead 30.

In use, when the teacher is ready, he or she records a iesson, in particular an oral language iesson, after switching on both crera and VICE.

With the WICAM recording technique, the result is a cassette containing the stored lesson on the interlaced video and audio tracks, but with the second audio track left empty.

If the VCR available in the teacher's booth is not a NICA:.4 VCR, but a VCR having only single audio input, it is nevertheless possible, as indicated in Figure 3, to record the lesson as aforesaid, and then re-record the vision and sound on tape from the original VCR 18A on to a master tape in a NICAM VCR 32, the whole audio output of the original tape being fed into the first audio input 26A of the second VCR, the second audio input 28A remaining unused.

Moreover, as indicated in Figure 4, a set of learning tapes for use by students may be made simultaneously by playing back the master tape on a VCR 38 linked to a multiplicity of NICAM VCRs 40.

The lesson tape produced by the teacher as aforesaid, or copy thereof, is played back by the student in a student's booth, one possible layout of which is shown in Figure 2.

This booth comprises a sound-proof cubicle 42 having a seat 44 for a student equipped with a microphone and earpiece headset 46. The student has available to him or her, for operation as desired, a VCR 47 containing the lesson tape and a monitor 48 lined to the VCR by line 50 to display the vision track. The audio ouput of the VCR 47 is received into the student's headset 46. This connection is effected by means of flying leads and plugs 49 which correct the headset era pieces t the audio output 50 of the VCR and the microphone to the second audie input 28B which serves the non-interfaces sound channel, the first audio input 26B how being unused.

In use, therefore, the sudent is able, during playback, to make his or her attempts at pronunciation by recording them on the non-interlaced sound track normally used for editing or dubbing, whilst at the same time watching on the monitor the mouth movements made by the teacher.

Later, this non-interlaced sound track can be played back to evaluate the student's attempts.

Claims

1. A method of recording a lesson such as for example for teaching inter alia the pronunciation of a foreign language, compr-ises the steps of recording on a first track on a standard VCR cassette both the sound and picture sigals derived from a camera set to scan a teacher whilst the latter is delivering the lesson which is to be taught and leaving blank a second track on the tape on which sound signals can subsequently be recorded whilst the tape is being replayed so as to enable a pupil to record thereon his or her own attempt at the set task so that during subsequent replay both the picture and sound of the original lesson and the pupil's attempts can be monitored either by the pupil or a teacher.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tape is recorded using the normal so-called NICAM (Regional Trade Mark) recording technique except that instead of recording the two audio channels to enable stereo sound to be produced when the tape is replayed, the sound signal produced by the teacher is recorded as a monaural signal on the audio channel which is interlaced by the NICAM system, with the picture signal as it is recorded on tne tape.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the second NICAM audio channel is de-activated during the recording of the lesson so that no signal is stored on the normal audio track on the tape thereby leaving that track available for the student to record his or her attempt during subsequent replay of the tape in a teaching mode.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tape is recorded using the modified NICAM recording technique, with embedded sound channels interlaced with the recorded picture signal being used to record the teacher's voice and the editing track being de-activated during said recording to leave it free for use by the student.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein interaction with a conventional NICAM VCR is provided by a single multi-way connector for connection to an integrated headset comprising headphones and microphone for use by the student.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the NICAM VCR is inhibited against the recording of video signals in such a manner that a tape containing a lesson thereon located in the VCR cannot accidentally be erased by running the machine in its record mode.

7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a second VCR machine synchronised with the first so that the machines run at precisely the same speed as one another, in conjunction with cassettes indexed so that the second machine can be operated from signals derived from a tape that is being run in the first machine, is employed to receive signals from a video camera set up to view an area occupied by the student and from a microphone for detecting any sound produced by the student, whereby, by synchronously operating the second VCR set to record video and sound signals relating to the student along with the first VCR set to replay a pre-recorded lesson from a lesson cassette contained therein, an iterative learning programme can be established in which a student is able not only to listen but also to see his or her attempts at mimicing not only the sound but also the physical movement of the teacher.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein lesson tapes are initially produced using a conventional VCR which is not a NICAM VCR, and the conventionally produced tape is then recorded on a NICAM recorder by separating the picture and sound signals from the first recorder and supplying said signals to the appropriate inputs of the NICAM recorder during rerecording.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein, for replicating a master lesson tape on a large number of VCRs simultaneously, signal amplification means are provided and parallel paths made available between the amplifying means and each of the replicating VCRs in which blank tapes have been inserted for recording so that appropriate picture and sound signals are supplied to each of the VCRs simultaneously from the replay of the master tape on a first VCR, the replicating VCRs being modified so that the sound signal supplied thereto is only recorded on the tape in the interlaced track associated with the recording of the picture signal.

10. Apparatus for recording a learning programme as aforesaid on a standard VCR cassette comprises a NICAM VCR modified so that the sound channel which is normally recorded on the tape on the track which is available for dubbing is inhibited during normal record mode, so that signals from a microphone associated with the channel or channels which when recorded are stored in an interlaced manner with the picture signal, will be so recorded along with the picture signal in ne said tern aces manner on the tape, and the resulting recorded tape will have blank audio recording track alongsl@@ the integrated recording of sound picture on the tape produced in accordance with the NICAM technique.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein separate inputs to the VCR are provided for recording the audio input and the non-interlaced track is inhibited during the recording of the lesson and the sound signal associated with the lesson is supplied to the other audio input of the VCR.

12. A video cassette having recorded thereon a learning programme comprising picture and sound signals stored in interlaced relationship on a first track, leaving another sound track associated with the tape available for subsequent recording of a student's attempts during a lesson to mimic the sounds indicated during the lesson.

13. A method of recording a lesson substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. Apparatus for recording a lesson substantially as hereinbefore described.

15. A video cassette bearing a recorded lesson substantially as hereinbefore described.