This document discusses using smartphones to help Japanese students improve their English pronunciation skills through voice recognition apps. It notes that students have little opportunity to interact with native English speakers. The document recommends using the voice recognition capabilities of apps already on students' phones like Siri, Google, Notes and LINE to record and check pronunciation of words, phrases and passages. It provides examples of pronunciation exercises and discusses advantages like immediate feedback and developing technology skills, and disadvantages like needing an internet connection and voice recognition's intolerance of variance.

1. Talk to Me:
Pronunciation Practice with an
iPhone
Ross Miller
Otemon Gakuin Japan
miller@otemon.ac.jp
International Conference on Education 2015
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Problem Area:
• Small Private University
• Little Opportunity to
Interact with Native
English Speakers
• Often Reluctant to
Speak English to other
Japanese

3. One other difficulty…
• As a general statement, it can be said that Japanese students are…

4. The question:
Considering these factors, how can
students take charge of their own
pronunciation practice and receive
accurate feedback?

5. The answer: Use the technology students
carry in their pockets.
Apollo 11
• Dimensions: 24 x 12.5 x 6.5
inches
Weight: 70 pounds
Processor speed: 1 MHz
Memory: 2,048 words (32,768
bits or roughly 4kB)
Display: Seven-segment numeric
Price: $150,000 (est.)
iPhone 5s
• Dimensions: 4.87 inches x 2.31
inches
Weight: 3.95 ounces
Processor speed: 1.3GHz, dual-
core
Memory: 64GB
Display: 4-inch diagonal Multi-
Touch display, 1136 x 640 pixel
resolution at 326 ppi
Price: $399
http://www.thedailycrate.com/2014/02/01/geek-tech-apollo-guidance-computer-vs-iphone-5s/

6. The answer: Use the technology students
carry in their pockets.

7. It’s pretty easy to do…

8. How do I set up my phone?
iPhones
• For Siri
• The language of the phone must
be set to the target language
And you NEED to be
connected to a
network.

9. How do I set up my phone?
iPhones
• For other apps
• If the correct language keyboard
has been installed and selected,
voice recognition will work.
And you NEED to be
connected to a
network.

10. Android Phones…
Seems to depend on the maker,
and in my experience, voice
recognition usually relies on
GOOGLE.

11. Now that my phone is set up, how do I use it?
There is one
quality in an
app that my
students find
to be the most
important.

12. I use 4 basic apps:
Siri can be used for information
gathering.
Examples:
What time is it in London?
How long is the Nile river?
What is 23,515 feet in meters?Siri

13. I use 4 basic apps:
For Android users, this often works
as a good replacement for Siri.
Google

14. I use 4 basic apps:
Notes
Notes can be used for dictation.
Words.
Phrases.
Simple sentences.
Longer Passages.
Tongue Twisters.
Etc.
This also forces students to be more aware of punctuation.

15. I use 4 basic apps:
LINE
LINE is a social networking app (free).
• It allows you to message
individuals.
• It also allows for the formation of
groups.
• It is great for classes, and allows
for a variety of activities that can
be interactive between students
and teacher.

16. Sample Task: Check your pronunciation
• Say the following into your
phone:
• 33
• I think the sink is dirty.
• She likes the red light.
• How much wood would a
woodchuck chuck if a
woodchuck could chuck
wood?

17. What to make of this type of practice?
ADVANTAGES
• Students get immediate
feedback.
• In addition to language skills, it
can help develop technology
skills.
• It’s fun for the students.
Usually…
DISADVANTAGES
• Voice Recognition requires a
network connection
• Little toleration for variance.
• Potential to have a negative
impact on students’ confidence
and/or attitudes.

18. Questions and Discussion

19. Thank you for your attention!
Feel free to download this
presentation at:
http://tinyurl.com/ICE2015Miller