Troubleshooting Microphone and Pronunciation Issues

Occasionally, users of Speakable may face certain challenges related to pronunciation recognition and microphone usage. This guide aims to outline the common issues and provide helpful solutions to ensure you and your students can effectively engage with the platform.

Homonyms and Pronunciation Recognition

One of the challenges in pronunciation recognition comes from homonyms, words with the same pronunciation but different spellings. In these cases, it's difficult for the speech recognition system to determine the intended word. For example:

• accept - except
• real - reel
• right - write
• ring - wring
• road - rode

Solution: To tackle this, use the "OR" function symbolized by a "+" in a repeat card. This will accept both spellings of the homonym. For instance, entering 'real + reel' into a repeat card will result in a successful pronunciation for both words.

Noisy Rooms or Soft Voices

In classroom settings with multiple students practicing pronunciation simultaneously, background noise can interfere with the speech recognition's focus on a single student's voice. This issue can also occur with students whose voices naturally blend with other sounds due to their soft tone.Solution: Encourage students to use headphones when completing speaking exercises. This brings the microphone closer to their mouths and reduces feedback noise within the classroom.

Microphone Troubleshooting

Users might encounter issues with their microphones while using Speakable. Here are some steps to resolve these issues:

1. Refresh the page: A simple refresh can resolve temporary glitches and restore the application's proper functioning.
2. Clear the browser's cache: Your browser's cache might interfere with your microphone. Clear the cache to prevent any conflicts. For Google Chrome, click on the three-dot menu > 'More tools' > 'Clear browsing data.' Choose 'Cached images and files' and click 'Clear data.'
3. Check microphone permissions: Make sure your browser has the necessary permissions to access your microphone. For Google Chrome, click on the lock icon to the left of the address bar, find the 'Microphone' option, and change the setting from 'Block' to 'Allow.'
4. Consult your IT department: Your organization's IT department might have restrictions that prevent access to your microphone. Make sure applications like Speakable are not being blocked.
5. Update your browser: An outdated browser can cause compatibility issues. Always use the latest version of your browser.
6. Test your microphone: Use other applications or websites to test your microphone and rule out hardware issues. If problems persist, try a different microphone or check your audio settings to ensure the correct input device is selected.

If you're still unable to access the microphone after following these steps, please contact us at andrew@speakableapp.com. We're here to help you ensure the smooth running of Speakable in your classroom.