The Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC) is responsible for the American Language Program. DLIELC training materials are used in large-group classroom and individualized language laboratory instruction. Materials may include printed texts for students and instructors, lesson audio tapes, book quizzes, performance tests, and training aids. With recent advances in training and speech recognition technologies, it is now possible to augment such materials with interactive computer-based exercises that use multimedia and voice input to teach English as a second language more effectively. Interactive training that combines audio with full-motion video, still photos, and graphic or animated visual cues has been shown to increase learner motivation by actively involving learners and providing individualized feedback and remediation.

This paper describes a program in which speech recognition technology has been combined with multimedia scenarios that simulate real-life situations and draw the learner into active use of the language. Using speech recognition allows students to improve their speaking skills by requiring them to repeat words and phrases until they are proficient. The system recognizes over 50 words and phrases. The system is currently being evaluated in Saudi Arabia.