Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to language learning techniques. According to exemplary embodiments, a pronunciation dictionary and/or a verse dictionary may be provided. The pronunciation dictionary and/or verse dictionary may be used to train a student's pronunciation of words and phrases, particularly in cantillated languages. According to some embodiments, words appearing on a screen may be visually distinguished (e.g., highlighted) in a sequence of a text. The text may be made to change smoothly and continuously in a manner that allows the changes to be easily followed by a student with a disability. Further embodiments provide techniques for performing generalized forced alignment. For example, forced alignment may be performed based on a phonetic analysis, based on an analysis of pitch patterns, and/or may involve breaking a large audio file into smaller audio files on a verse-by-verse basis.

Abstract: A method for teaching a Hebrew Bible trope lesson, comprising: accessing, using a computing device, a symbolic representation of the Hebrew Bible trope lesson, comprising either Torah tropes or Haftorah tropes or Five Scrolls tropes, each according to a lesson plan; accessing, using a computing device, an audio recording of a human chanting the Hebrew Bible trope lesson; accessing, using a computing device, a first boundary time, denoting a word boundary within said audio recording; accessing, using a computing device, a second boundary time, denoting a word boundary within said audio recording; playing, using an electronic device, said audio recording of said human at the first boundary time, until the second boundary time; displaying the symbolic representation, said displaying comprising: visually distinguishing said symbolic representation, said visually distinguishing being synchronized with the playing of said audio recording of said human using said first boundary time and said second boundary time.