1. A method for using a computer to teach language reading skills comprising: selecting a subset of stored internal speech patterns containing at least one correct internal speech pattern which corresponds to a correct response and at least one internal speech pattern corresponding to an incorrect response, from a set of stored internal speech patterns, using a computer program, wherein said correct internal speech pattern is readily differentiable from each of said internal speech patterns corresponding to an incorrect response by a comparison subprogram; presenting a visual image to a user that corresponds to said correct internal speech pattern, obtaining a speech response segment from the user; comparing, using the comparison subprogram, said speech response segment to the subset of stored internal speech patterns and determining the degree of matching to each internal speech pattern in the subset of internal speech patterns; and presenting to the user a response to the speech segment based on the results of the step of comparing.