Emotion recognition and communication for reducing second-language speaking anxiety in a web-based one-to-one synchronous learning environment

Abstract

In the language education field, many studies have investigated anxiety associated with learning a second language, noting that anxiety has an adverse effect on the performance of those speaking English as a second language. Accordingly, this study develops an embedded human-emotion-recognition system based on human pulse signals for detecting three human emotions-nervousness, peace, and joy-to help teachers reduce language-learning anxiety of individual learners in a one-to-one synchronous Web-based learning environment. Experimental results indicate that the proposed embedded human-emotion- recognition system is helpful in reducing language-based anxiety and promotes instruction effectiveness in English conversation classes. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.