Japañol, a Computer Assisted Pronunciation Tool for Japanese Students of Spanish Based on Minimal Pairs

Abstract

There are many software tools that rely on speech technologies for providing to users L2 pronunciation training in the field of Computer Assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT) [1]. Currently the most popular mobile and desktop operating systems grant users a free access to several Text-To-Speech (TTS) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems. The combination of adequate teaching methods and gamification strategies are expected to increase user engagement, provide an adequate feedback and, at the same time, keep users active and comfortable. This study describes the "Japañol" mobile application, a specific and controlled version of TipTopTalk! , a serious game for anywhere anytime self-learning, especially designed for Japanese learners of Spanish as a foreign language, that allows users to train and to test their pronunciation skills using their own Android mobile phones or Windows PCs.