A classroom is seen in this file photo. (Mainichi/Buntaro Saito)
YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa — This east Japan city has become the first municipality in Kanagawa Prefecture to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered English-learning app at all of its municipal junior high schools.
The app allows students to practice English conversation with AI characters and receive automatic corrections to their English writing, enabling them to learn independently at their own pace.
The app, called “World Classroom,” was developed by a private company and introduced in September. Approximately 8,000 students at the 23 municipal junior high schools in Yokosuka can access it on tablet computers and other learning devices issued to them.
The app’s two main features focus on speaking and reading aloud in English, and presentation and writing practice. For speaking practice, the AI instantly scores the accuracy of the students’ pronunciation and word stress. The presentation function also allows students to create self-introduction videos in English.
The Yokosuka Municipal Government emphasized the significance of the initiative, saying, “Students can learn English outside of school as well, such as at home and in other places where they feel comfortable. We also expect that the app’s ease of use will help them develop the habit of speaking English independently and proactively.”
(Japanese original by Koichi Fukuzawa, Yokosuka Local Bureau)
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
