WordBricks: a virtual language lab inspired by Scratch environment and dependency grammars

摘要

This paper explains design decisions forming a foundation of WordBricks — an intelligent computer-assisted language learning environment, recently initiated at our institution. WordBricks is intended to serve as a “virtual language lab” that supports open experiments with natural language constructions. Being based on dependency grammars, this instrument illustrates the use of modern natural language processing technologies in language learning. The latest prototypes of WordBricks also show how dependency-styled constructions can be represented in a more natural sequential form that facilitates easier user interaction.