Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you ever imagined speaking without using your voice?
- Would you feel nervous using a device connected to your brain?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- speech /speech/
- delay /dih-LEY/
- communicate /kuh-MYOO-ni-keyt/
- voice /vois/
- clinic /KLIN-ik/
[noun] – the ability to speak or the act of speaking
The teacher gave a short speech at the school event.
[noun] – a period of time when something is late or postponed
There were delays in the train schedule because of the heavy rain.
[verb] – to share or exchange information, thoughts, or feelings
People use hand signs to communicate during loud concerts.
[noun] – the sound a person makes when speaking or singing
She used a soft voice when reading the story to the children.
[noun] – a place where people receive medical treatment or advice
I went to the clinic to get my vaccination.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Scientists in California have developed a new brain-computer interface (BCI) that can quickly turn a person’s thoughts into spoken words. They tested it on a 47-year-old woman who lost her ability to speak after a stroke 18 years ago. As part of a medical trial, doctors placed the device in the part of her brain that controls speech. The results, published in Nature Neuroscience, showed that the device could successfully turn her thoughts into clear sentences. Unlike older devices that had delays, this BCI works smoothly and without stopping, making it easier for users to communicate. The system uses tiny electrodes to pick up brain signals when the woman silently thinks about speaking. Artificial intelligence reads these signals and turns them into spoken words. To make the voice sound natural, the team used a speech synthesizer trained on recordings of her voice before the stroke. The system processes brain signals every 80 milliseconds and creates speech in real time. Experts say this breakthrough could change how people with speech disabilities communicate. Although it is still being tested, it may be ready for clinic use in about ten years.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- The new system helped the woman say full sentences.
- The woman had to speak out loud for the device to work.
- A computer helped turn brain signals into speech.
- The system works in real time and makes speech quickly.
- Experts think this device will be in hospitals next year.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
speech | delays | communicate | voice | clinic |
- The ______ was busy with patients needing check-ups.
- After the ceremony, the coach made a ______ to thank the players.
- The flight had long ______ due to technical problems.
- He lost his ______ after cheering loudly at the game.
- We need to ______ clearly when working in a team.