1. The VL3
A Project at the Crossroads between
Linguistics and Computer Science
Camelia Nunez
Antonio Jimenez-Mavillard

2. The Idea
IMPROVED
CHATTING IN COMMUNICATIVE
VIRTUAL
THE TARGET COMPETENCE FOR
ENVIRONMENT
LANGUAGE LANGUAGE
LEARNERS

3. Why?
solve a real problem in the area of foreign language
learning: lack of opportunity for language learners to
interact (native) speakers of the target language.

4. How?
Second Language
Linguistics
Acquisition
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
APPROACH
Natural Language
Pedagogy
Processing

5. Starting Point: Linguistics
Language
Syntax
Phonology
Morphology
Semantics
Pragmatics

6. Starting Point: SLA
Language Acquisition
Input
Interaction theories
Automaticity

7. Starting Point: Pedagogy
Language Teaching and Learning
Linguistic Competence vs. Communicative Competence
Limited opportunities for interaction in the TL

8. Starting Point: NLP
Natural language and computers
Natural language understanding
Natural language generation
Dialogue systems

9. The VL3
Virtual Assistant (Web Interface)
VL3 Engine
Lexicon
Grammar(s)
Conversation Scenarios
Conversation Goals
Error Feedback
Mobile Application

10. The VL3 Web Interface

11. The VL3 Users
Profiles
Teacher/Researcher
Student/Learner

12. The VL3 Engine
Technological platform for the VL3 requirements
Grammar Processor
Dialogue Manager
Response Generator

13. The VL3 Lexicon
Database with over 1,200,000 annotated words in Spanish

14. The VL3 Grammar(s)
How is “¡Buenos días!” interpreted by…
S = ADJ + NOUN
a) … a linguist? b) … a computer scientist?

15. The VL3 Conversation Scenarios

16. The VL3 Conversation Goals
Goals
Category Expected
Greetings and leavetakings at least one leave taking
Expressions of courtesy at least one courtesy expression
Identifying yourself and others saying name
Saying where you are from and asking where saying where he/she is from
others are from
Country list at least one country
Question words asking where someone is from
asking someone their name
“yo” form (soy)
The present tense of the verb ser. “él” form (es)
“tú” form (eres)
Reflexivity verb “llamarse” (1st and 2nd person)
Expressions of courtesy at least one courtesy expression

17. Error Feedback from the VL3

18. The VL3 App

19. Thank you!
Camelia Nunez
Antonio Jimenez-Mavillard
contact@cultureplex.ca