Course Description

Introduction to aspects of the tools and methods of studies in speech and natural language processing (NLP), with a focus on programming for NLP and speech applications, statistical methods for data analysis, and tools for displaying and manipulating data.

Instructor

Lane Schwartz - Office hours on Thursdays from 3:30-4:45pm in Foreign Languages Building, room 4019, and by appointment

TA Bill Bryce - Office hours on Wednesday from 1:00-2:00pm in Foreign Languages Building, room 3028, and by appointment

Time and place

Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:50pm, Illini Hall room 23

Required Texts and Tools

• The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction by William E. Shotts, Jr.

  This book is available for free in PDF form directly from the author under a Creative Commons license. If you want a paper, mobi, or epub copy, you can purchase this textbook in both paper and electronic formats directly from the publisher. This textbook can be read online through the UIUC library, but because the library's license with the publisher restricts the number of simultaneous users, you should not rely on this as your only mechanism for accessing the book.

• Natural Language Processing with Python by Steven Bird, Ewan Klein, and Edward Loper

  While the 1st edition of this textbook is available for purchase, this class will use the online version, which is more current.

• i>clicker

  This hardware can be purchased at the Illini Union Bookstore.

Schedule and Readings

Students are expected to regularly review the schedule of assigned readings and video lectures. This schedule is subject to change.

Learning Goals & Outcomes

Students are expected to attend class, attentively read assigned readings, attentively view assigned video lectures, regularly practice the presented tools and techniques, and complete all assigned work.

Students who do so are expected to attain the following learning goals and outcomes. Students are expected to read these goals and outcomes prior to the second day of class.

Grading

Students will be assessed on the extent to which they have attained the learning goals & outcomes. This assessment will be primarily hands-on, assessed through a combination of daily quizzes, practical exercises, homework assignments, and projects.

Grades will be assessed on a 10-point fixed letter grade system. Grading on a curve will not be used.

Academic Integrity

This course follows the University of Illinois Student Code regarding Academic Integrity. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also has an excellent web page on the topic. You are expected to read these resources prior to the second day of class, and to understand your responsibilities with regard to Academic Integrity.

All work submitted for this class must be solely your own. Violations of Academic Integrity include, but are not limited to, copying, cheating, and unapproved collaboration. Violations will not be tolerated.

Absences and Late Work Policy

Students are expected complete all assigned readings and video lectures prior to the class for which they are assigned.

If a student will be absent from class for any reason, the student is expected to inform the course instructor by email ahead of time. Daily participation and quiz credit for excused absences may, at the discretion of the instructor, be made up by means of additional assignments.

If a student has a disability or condition that requires special consideration, the student is expected to present the requisite letter from the University Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services no later than the beginning of the second day of class.

Homework assignments are expected to be turned in on time. Homework turned in late will be docked 5 percentage points per day late (this corresponds approximately to half of a letter grade per day late). However, it is understood that illness and other extraordinary events do occur from time to time. In order to accommodate such extraordinary events, students will be allotted a budget of five penalty-free late days for which no late penalty will be assessed. If a student wishes to make use of a penalty-free late day, the student must email the instructor (using the subject heading "Penalty-free late day") prior to the assignment deadline. Penalty-free late days are intended to accommodate unforeseeable extraordinary events, not poor planning or poor time management.

For some or all homework assignments, the correct solution will be presented to the class after the homework deadline. Under no circumstances will late work be accepted after the solution has been presented to the class.