Design and Implementation of Video-enabled Web-based Pronunciation Debugging System

This study reports the research findings on improving pronunciation learning by debugging practices. The mispronounced words usually uttered by learners are edited into conversations, and recorded on video. Students had to hear and comprehend the communication events to identify the mispronounced words. The debugging training has two purposes: (1) to identify and correct any mispronounced words, and (2) to enhance the pronunciation accuracy of the learners. To achieve these objectives, a video-enabled Web-based pronunciation debugging system is developed to facilitate this practice. Fourteen students utilized the system to assist pronunciation learning activities. The results of a paired-sample T test reveal that students did get improvement in pronunciation accuracy. Furthermore, students are found to have positive attitudes toward using the video-enabled Web-based pronunciation debugging system to facilitate pronunciation learning. Experimental results demonstrate that the debugging practices are effective in improving learners´ pronunciation accuracy.