Methods and systems for language learning based on a series of pitch patterns

Abstract

A method for teaching a language, comprising: accessing, using a processor of a computer, an audio recording corresponding to a series of pitch patterns; accessing a cantillation representation of said series of pitch patterns, said cantillation representation comprising a plurality of cantillations; processing said audio recording to match the pitch patterns to the cantillations in said cantillation representation; calculating, using said processor, a start time and an end time for each of the series of cantillations as compared to said audio recording; outputting, using said processor, an aligned output representation comprising an identification of each of the cantillations, an identification of the start time for each of the cantillations, and an identification of the end time for each of the cantillations; receiving a request to play a requested pitch pattern; looking up said requested pitch pattern in said aligned output representation to retrieve one or more requested start times and one or more requested end times for said requested pitch pattern; and outputting said requested pitch pattern, said outputting comprising: playing said audio recording at the one or more requested start times until the one or more requested end times to output one or more instances of said requested pitch pattern from said audio recording, and displaying a textual representation of said audio recording, said displaying comprising: visually distinguishing a word of the textual representation to the audio recording, said visually distinguishing being performed based at least in part on said aligned output representation.