A computer-aided Chinese pronunciation training program for English-speaking learners

This paper introduces a pilot study on incorporating effective teaching methods in computer-aided pronunciation training (CAPT) programs to help English-speaking learners acquire Mandarin lexical tones by using speech analysis software. It is proved that CAPT programs help learners identify relevant acoustic cues and discern the four tones in Chinese language, which they found hard to differentiate and imitate. Acoustic analyses of the pitch track comparisons between pre- and post-training productions in the form of visual display of speakers' pitch curves (tracks) reveal the nature of the improving process for the learner. Acoustic images also indicate that post-training tone curves (tracks) approximate native norms to a greater degree than pre-training tone tracks. The methodology developed hereby may provide a platform for more efficient Chinese learning.