The computer as an aid to phonetic correction

Phonetic correction – class time does not always allow it, and perhaps near enough is good enough from a communicative point of view. Language laboratories allow students to work at their own pace using reliable models, but teacher monitoring and correction tend to be fleeting and intermittent. Computers can provide stimulating presentation and immediate feedback, but it is difficult to talk to them. This paper discusses the constraints imposed on phonetic correction in the classroom, and proposes a solution through the establishment of individual student pronunciation profiles coupled with computer and language laboratory exercises.