Construction of a Voice-Based Asynchronous Communication System Utilizing Speech Recognition and Its Potential for EFL Learners' Speaking Ability: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The present paper deals with the construction of an asynchronous voice-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) system for less confident English as a Foreign Language learners. The results from this pilot evaluation of the system are discussed in terms of its usability and effectiveness at reducing foreign language anxiety. The proposed system incorporates a browser-driven Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) into a blog to provide real-time feedback on their pronunciation before posting. With the results from the questionnaire survey conducted in this pilot study, we demonstrate that this system reduces foreign language anxiety in speaking and increases motivation for less motivated learners.