Techniques for language instruction and teaching are described. Methods focus on the sound distinctions that learners have trouble discriminating. Learners practice discriminating these sounds. A learning system is developed using databases of speech from people discriminating these sounds. An embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure can utilize sets of words that differ by only a single syllable containing a sound that is difficult to pronounce, as a way to teach the pronunciation of a word. The sets of similar words can be of a desired number or have a desired number of constituent members. Embodiments of systems can include user interfaces and a automated speech recognition system, including suitable automated speech recognition software, that can interact with a user, e.g., in a pedagogical setting. Related software products including computer-readable instructions resident in a computer-readable medium are described. HMM and DTW algorithms may be used for the embodiments.