Abstract
We describe a tool supporting the basic learning of the lexicon and writing in a foreign language, based on NaturalLanguage Processing and Linguistic knowledge. This tool, called “Dígalo” (for the Spanish “say it!”), has beendeveloped for Spanish, but we aim to expand its application to other languages of Costa Rica. “Dígalo” is a webapplication consisting in four specialized modules: First, Hable.pm manages data consistency; second, Hamin.pmdisplays the application itself; third, Lexadal.pm organizes the data structure; and Fips.pm communicates with theparser Fips at the University of Geneva’s Language Technology Laboratory (http://www.latl.unige.ch) to check user’sphrase productions. On the screen “Dígalo” has two parts, a lexicon and a form to write phrases in a foreign language.If the mouse’s arrow points over a word, a picture is displayed bringing a link between the word and its meaning (so, ahouse picture for “casa”). When the user clicks over the form, she can start writing a sentence including one or severalwords from the lexicon offered (which is divided in four categories: nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs). Once theuser has entered the phrase, its correctness is checked, via web, by Fips (Wehrli 2007). If the phrase is valid, the usercan write a new phrase. If the phrase is incorrect, an error message is shown up and the user is invited to try again.This methodology searches to improve user’s competence in foreign language at a beginner’s level. “Dígalo” providesa solution useful in supervised learning.