Method and apparatus for providing an interactive language tutor

A computer readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for providing speech-feature feedback, said method comprising the steps of:

• presenting a reference utterance;
• displaying graphically a speech-feature associated with speech of said reference utterance;
• receiving a user utterance that represents speech of said reference utterance by a user;
• and
• displaying graphically a speech-feature associated with speech of said user utterance.

Apparatus for providing speech-feature feedback, said apparatus comprising:

• means for presenting a reference utterance;
• means for displaying graphically a speech-feature associated with speech of said reference utterance;
• means for receiving a user utterance that represents speech of said reference utterance by a user;
• and
• means for displaying graphically a speech-feature associated with speech of said user utterance.

A handheld device, comprising:

• a voice input port for receiving a voiced utterance that represents speech of a reference utterance;
• a display device for displaying at least pronunciation scoring information;
• a memory for storing software instructions representing an articulation scoring engine, a duration scoring engine, an intonation scoring engine, and a plurality of reference utterances;
• and
• a processor for executing said software instructions representing said scoring engines to derive thereby a pronunciation score for said received utterance.