Date: 10-Jul-2008 From: Chris Brockett <Chris.Brockettmicrosoft.com> Subject: Microsoft Research ESL Assistant Prototype E-mail this message to a friend
Subscribers with interests in computer-assisted learning and TEFL/TESL might like to know that the Natural Language Processing Group at Microsoft Research has just launched a prototype web-based writing assistance service for people who have learned English as a second or foreign language. The MSR ESL Assistant uses statistical models to suggest corrections for a set of common learner error patterns that are not currently supported by the proofing tools in Microsoft Office products, and tries to help users judge whether the proposed modifications really are better by displaying actual writing examples returned by a web search.
Although the service is still at the prototype stage, we hope that both learners of English and TEFL/TESL professionals will experiment with it and will perhaps even find it useful in its present form. We look forward to feedback, and are especially interested in hearing from teachers who find ways to incorporate this service into their instruction.
linguistlist.org>
E-mail this message to a friend
