ELLA is a virtual laboratory that provides activities to the English learning as a foreign language. It is being developed in the context of the degree course in English Language at a distance, of the Federal University of Uberlandia to meet the student’s need to have more opportunities to practice speaking in English. Emphasizing, therefore, the production and the oral comprehension in the language, ELLA presents themes, materials and assorted exercises that can be accessed and practiced by the student in the study time they prefer, using their own computers and where they are, and can receive immediate feedback of their participation. The feedbacks are generated by the ELLA system, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In ELLA, the AI analyzes and responds to the oral productions (acoustic materials) and the movements and facial expressions of the users. In addition to AI, the innovation in ELLA also refers to English teaching approach, which focuses on translingual and transmodal communication strategies and makes enunciable social, cultural and linguistic issues relevant to English teacher training.
ELLA is a transdisciplinary research and innovation project involving researchers from the following areas: Applied Linguistics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Radio and Television and International Relations.
