JPH03283035A - Tape reproducing device for language study - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a blank properly in response to each teaching material having a different blank period by setting a blank discrimination time in response to an average blank period obtained from each blank period of a prescribed number closest to the number at present among the blank periods detected in the past. CONSTITUTION:A reproduced voice signal (a) fed to an input terminal 31, rectified and smoothed into a signal (b) by a rectifier 33 and a smoothing capacitor 34. The signal (b) is compared with a signal at a prescribed level by a level comparator 35 to obtain a detection pulse going to a high level for a period of a voice signal (c) only. That is, a period at a low level of a detection pulse is a blank period. Thus, the blank discrimination time is set in response to the average blank period obtained at each blank period of a prescribed number closest that at present is set among the blank periods detected in the past. Thus, the proper blank is detected in response to each teaching material with a different blank period and the blank between sentences is accurately detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a tape playback system for language learning used in a group learning device consisting of a console device for a teacher and a plurality of booth devices for students connected to the console device. Regarding equipment.

(Conventional technology) Language such as English and French
Laboratory, Learning Lab
In group learning devices used in classes, etc., one center system (console device) on the teacher side performs two-way communication with multiple terminal devices (booth devices) on the student side connected to it. It controls the whole thing.

In the group learning device described above, the teaching material tape (master tape) is played back by the master hoop recorder (MTR) of one console device on the teacher's side, and the teaching material tape (master tape) is played back by the master hoop recorder (MTR) of one console device on the teacher's side, and the material tape is recorded on the booth tape recorder (BTR) of the booth device on each student's side. The so-called "student dubbing" is performed.

After that, each student ``performed self-study J'' by ■ operating their own BTR to listen to the teaching materials, and ■ recording their own voice (pronunciation) while listening to the teaching materials.

Among the above ``self-study'' methods, student teaching tapes (student-dubbed tapes) used for learning by listening to teaching materials (listening learning) consist of multiple consecutive sentences separated by blanks. and was recorded.

When carrying out the above-mentioned ``listening learning J,'' students learn by repeatedly listening to each sentence in the teaching material.As shown in Figure 5, blanks between sentences on the teaching material tape are detected by the BTR's audio detector; By storing the tape position (tape counter value) according to the timing of the detection pulse in advance, for example, by repeatedly pressing the switch while playing the sentence (before reaching the next blank), the BTR can be set.
rewinds the tape to the beginning of sentence III, and then again,
You can repeat reproducing the sentence ■.

In addition, among the above “self-study” items, ■your own voice (pronunciation)
A teaching material tape for students used for recording and learning (pronunciation learning) is obtained by first performing "student dubbing" on a console device based on a master tape that is master-dubbed from a commercially available teaching tape.

In master dubbing, a commercially available teaching tape as shown in Figure 6(a) is played back on one of the two master tape recorders (MTR) installed in the console device, and the other one is played back.
This is done by recording on a separate tape on a stand.

During master dubbing, when a blank between sentences in the teaching material on the playback side is detected during dubbing, the tape running of the VTR on the playback side is temporarily stopped, as shown in Figure 6 (b).
As shown in FIG. 2, a blank period of approximately the same length (time) is automatically created next to one sentence on the master tape that has been master dubbed. Therefore, by dubbing this master tape for students, a teaching material tape for students recorded with a similar blank period can be obtained.

Then, ■ "Pronunciation learning (self-study) J" mentioned above is performed while playing the teaching material track (first track) of the teaching material tape for students, and playing the generated sound track (second track) in the next blank period of the sentence. ) by recording your voice (pronunciation).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in both the above-mentioned ``listening study J'' and the master dubbing of commercially available teaching tapes, detection of blanks between sentences is important.

The current blank detection between sentences unconditionally determines that the tape position is a blank between sentences when a blank period longer than a predetermined time period continues.

The blank period (time) between sentences in the above-mentioned teaching material tapes varies greatly depending on the teaching material, and in general, harder teaching materials (for example, materials with a high learning level for university students) have shorter blank periods, and conversely, easier teaching materials have shorter blank periods (time). Teaching materials (for example, teaching materials with low stroke level for junior high school students) require a long blanking period. For example, if the blank period is 400m se
c, and 1400m5ec (1,4s
ec).

Therefore, when detecting blanks between sentences, if blanks are always detected at a fixed time determined by KU in advance as described above, blanks may not be detected in teaching materials with short blanks, or conversely, blanks may not be detected in teaching materials with long blanks. In this case, errors may occur in which not only blanks between sentences but also spaces between words are detected as blanks.

In addition, VTRs or BTRs have multiple types of setting times (discrimination times) for detecting blanks between sentences, and teachers can choose from among them the one that is empirically considered appropriate depending on the teaching material. The setting time (judgment time) is selected and set.

In this case, since the setting time (judgment time) is selected based on the teacher's experience, there is variation in the selection judgment depending on the teacher, making it difficult to make an appropriate selection.

Furthermore, the operation is cumbersome, such as having to make a selection every time the teaching material changes.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problems of the conventional technology described above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape playback device for language learning that can perform appropriate blank detection according to each teaching material with different blank periods.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention plays back a teaching tape in which a plurality of sentences are consecutively recorded with blanks as delimiters, and based on a set blank discrimination time. The tape playback device for school opening learning that determines the presence or absence of a blank includes blank detection means for detecting a blank period of the teaching material tape, and a predetermined number of blank periods that are closest to the present among the blank periods detected in the past by the blank detection means. Write down each blank period of I! a calculating means for calculating an average blank period from each of the blank periods stored in the storing means; and a setting means for setting the blank discrimination time in accordance with the average blank period calculated by the calculating means. The present invention provides a tape playback device for studying academics.

(Function) In the Eisaku Gakuen tape playback device configured as described above,
The blank discrimination time is set in accordance with the average blank period obtained from a predetermined number of blank periods closest to the present among blank periods detected in the past.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the candy learning tape playback device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a group learning device including an embodiment of a tape playback device for language learning according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the group learning device consists of a console device A on the teacher's side and a booth device @B on the student's side.

Two master tape recorders M are installed at the console @
It includes TR1, MTR2, a central control section 1, and an audio control section 2.

Booth device B includes n booth tape recorders BTR1 to BTRn (n is a positive integer).

In FIG. 1, master tape recorders MTR1,
In the MTR2 and the booth tape recorder BTRn, only blocks necessary for explaining the contents are displayed, and the others are omitted from illustration.

The central control unit 1 controls the entire system, and also includes data input means (operation buttons) for the teacher to operate, but these are not shown.

This central control unit 1 performs BTRI processing through data communication between a data input means and a plurality of (n units) BTR1 to BTRn.
~ Perform state III m of B engineering Rn.

Audio I11611 part 2 is master tape recorder MT
It also includes an audio switching device that allows the teacher to selectively send the R2 audio to each student or to all students at once, and to monitor the learning status of each student.

In the master tape recorder MTRI, a teaching material head 3 is connected to a master control circuit (M-CPU) 6 via a reproduction amplifier 4 and an audio detector 5. M-CPU6
A memory 7, a timer 8, and an MTR drive 9 are connected to the M-CPU 6, and the M-CPU 6 is further connected to the central control unit 1.

The output terminal of the playback amplifier 4 is connected to the recording amplifier 12 of the VTR 2.
connected to.

In VTR2, M-CP U 10 is M-CP
It is connected to the central control unit 1 similarly to U6. Kyougetsu head 1
1 is connected to a recording amplifier 12 and a reproduction amplifier 13 via a changeover switch 14. The reproduction amplifier 13 is connected to the audio control section 2.

On the other hand, in BTR1-n, the teaching material head 21 is connected to a booth control circuit (B-CPU) 24 via a reproduction amplifier 22 and an audio detector 23. The B-CplJ24 has a memory 25. A timer 26 and a BTR drive 27 are connected, and the B-CPtJ 24 is further connected to the central control unit 1. An output terminal of the reproduction amplifier 22 is connected to the audio control section 2 via an amplifier 28.

In addition, 29 indicates headphones for monitoring.
TRI~n all have the same mechanism, and here BTR
Only the contents of n are shown.

In the above configuration, first, the operation of master dubbing will be explained.

The signal from a commercially available teaching tape played back by the MTRI teaching head 3 is amplified by the playback amplifier 4, and the playback output is sent to the VTR.
The data is supplied to the teaching material head 11 through the recording amplifier 12 of No. 2 and the changeover switch 14 switched to the recording amplifier 12 side, and is recorded on another tape and master-dubbed.

During this master dubbing, the MT on the playback side during dubbing.
When the speech detector 5 of Rl detects a blank between sentences in the teaching material, the detection pulse is supplied to the M-CPU 6,
- The CPLJ 6 controls the MTR drive 9 according to the timing of generation of the detection pulse to temporarily stop tape running. As a result, a master tape is obtained in which one sentence is followed by a blank period of approximately the same length (time) as shown in FIG. 6(b).

Next, the operation of listening learning, in which each student operates his or her own BTR and repeatedly listens to sentences in the teaching material, will be explained.

BTRn teaching material tapes dubbed by students (i.e., tapes in which multiple sentences are recorded consecutively, with blanks separated by dubbing commercially available teaching tapes).
The signal reproduced by the teaching material head 21 is amplified by the reproduction amplifier 22 and the reproduction output is supplied to the audio detector 23.

When the audio detector 23 detects a blank between sentences in the teaching material, the detection pulse is supplied to the B-CP LJ 24, and the B-CPU 24 determines the tape position according to the generation timing of the detection pulse (tape counter value). memory 25
to be memorized.

Each student presses a repeat switch (not shown) while playing a sentence (before reaching the next blank) to
- The CP LJ 24 controls the BTR drive 27 to rewind the tape to the beginning of the sentence, and then plays the same sentence again, which is repeated.

Next, MT in FIG. 1, which is an embodiment of the device of the present invention,
Detection of blanks between sentences by the voice detector 5 or 23 constituting RI or BTRn will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the voice detector 5 or 23.

In the figure, an input terminal 31 is connected to an amplifier 32 and a rectifier 3.
3 to the input terminal of the level comparator 35. A smoothing capacitor 34 is connected between the connection point between the rectifier 33 and the level comparator 35 and the ground.

The output end of the level comparator 35 is connected to an output terminal 36.

In the above configuration, the third
A reproduced audio signal as shown in FIG. 3(a) is amplified by an amplifier 32, and then rectified and smoothed by a rectifier 33 and a smoothing capacitor +j-34 to become a signal as shown in FIG. 3(b). is compared with a signal at a predetermined level by the level comparator 35, and the output terminal 3
6, H is set only during the period of the audio signal as shown in FIG. 3(C).
A detection pulse of high level is obtained. That is, the period when the detection pulse is at a low level becomes a blank period.

The detection pulse detected by the audio detector 5 or 23 as described above is transmitted to the MTRl or BTR in FIG.
n, M-CPU6 or B-CPU, respectively.
24, and the operation shown at 70-diaert in FIG. 4 is performed.

In the M-CPU 6 or the B-CPU 24, it is determined whether the reproduced sound small signal is a blank between sentences based on the low level period of the supplied detection pulse (step 51).

When the detection pulse reaches the 1ow level (Y in step 51)
es), timer 8 or 26 starts a low level period (i.e., a blank period) of time 1 (step 52).

When the detection pulse becomes High level and the LOW level period (hitting, blank period) ends, step 53
(Yes), the time count 1 shift is stored in the memory 7 or 25 as blank period data (step 54).

In this way, the count values (data) corresponding to each detected blank period are sequentially stored in the memory each time a blank period is detected, and the count values (data) corresponding to each detected blank period are sequentially stored in the memory, and the count values (data) that are closest to the present among the previously stored data are stored in the memory ( (N is a positive integer) is stored in the memory 7 or 25, and the previous data is sequentially replaced (or erased) with the latest data.

Then, the average value 3a of the data of the past N blank periods stored in the memory 7 or 25 is calculated using the following equation (step 55).

3a'' (S + 182 +--+SN) /N However, 81.82..., SN indicates data of each blank period.

Furthermore, based on the average value Sa of the obtained data, multiple types of setting times (discrimination times) tl for blank detection prepared in the VTR or BTR are determined.

t2. t3. t4. ... (approximately 4 to 5 steps), the value closest to Sa is set as the setting [1 (discrimination time)] for the next blank detection (step 56).

For example, N is suitably between 4 and 8.

tl, j2. t3. i4. ...is 400-140
It is set to about 0m5ec (1.4sec). Note that the small amount of blank space between words is usually 300 msec or less.

In the case of blank detection between sentences in English teaching materials,
The above settings are appropriate.

As described above, the voice detector 5 constituting MTR1 or BTRn in FIG. 1, which is an embodiment of the device of the present invention,
Or in 23, upon detection of each blank between sentences,
Always select the N closest to the present among the blank periods (time count value data) detected in the past from the time of detection.
Since each blank is detected using the blank discrimination time set according to the average value obtained from each blank period (data) of IBI, it is possible to perform appropriate blank detection according to each teaching material with different blank periods. blanks in between can be detected accurately.

Furthermore, since the teacher does not have to rely on experience to select a setting time that is considered appropriate, it is easier to use.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the ratio learning tape playback device of the present invention performs blanking according to the average blanking period determined from a predetermined number of blanking periods closest to the present after the blanking period detected in the past. Since the discrimination time is set, it is possible to perform appropriate blank detection according to each teaching material with different blank periods, and it is possible to accurately detect blanks between sentences, thereby improving usability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a group learning device including an embodiment of the language learning tape playback device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows an example of a specific configuration of a voice detector constituting the device of the present invention. Block diagram, Figure 3 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of each part of the voice detector in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a blank between sentences by the voice detector. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of detection and listening learning operations, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of master dubbing. A...Console device, B...Booth II, MTR
I, VTR2...Master tape recorder, BTR1
~BTRn...Booth tape recorder, 1...Central control unit, 2...Audio control unit, 3, 11.21...Educational material head, 4, 13.22...Reproduction amplifier, 5.23 ...Audio detector, 6.10...M-CPIJ, 7.25...
Memory, 8.26...Timer, 9...VTR drive, 12...Recording amplifier, 14...Selector switch,
24...B-CPU, 27...BTR drive, 2
8...Amplifier, 29...Headphones for monitoring, 3
1... Input terminal, 32... Amplifier, 33... Rectifier, 34... Smoothing capacitor, 35... Level comparator, 36... Output terminal. Patent Applicant: Japan Victor Co., Ltd. Representative Umiki
Kunio

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A language learning tape playback device that plays back a teaching material tape in which a plurality of sentences are consecutively recorded with blanks as delimiters, and determines the presence or absence of the blank based on a set blank discrimination time, comprising: Blank detection means for detecting a blank period of the teaching material tape; Storage means for storing a predetermined number of blank periods that are closest to the present among the blank periods detected in the past by this blank detection means; A tape playback device for language learning, comprising a calculation means for calculating an average blank period from each of the stored blank periods, and a setting means for setting the blank discrimination time according to the average blank period calculated by the calculation means. .