System and method for language instruction

• US 20050048449A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosetta Stone Limited (Rosetta Stone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rosetta Stone Limited (Rosetta Stone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stoltzfus, Allen G., Stoltzfus, John R., Sider, Duane M., Marmorstein, Jack A., Stoltzfus, Eugene H., Keim, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/157
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A system and method for language instruction is provided. In an embodiment, a method of language instruction is provided which comprises presenting a first description of an event responsive to a first perspective and presenting a second description of the event responsive to a second perspective, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are in a common language. The first and second descriptions of the event can be provided in a variety of formats, such as in audio format or as text.

Claims

1. A method of language instruction comprising:

presenting a first description of an event responsive to a first perspective; and

presenting a second description of the event responsive to a second perspective,

wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are in a common language.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a visual representation of the event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the audio form presentation is synchronized with the text form presentation of either the first description of the event or the second description of the event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented on a display monitor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first description of the event is presented adjacent to the second description of the event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises an interaction involving a first individual and a second individual.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first perspective is responsive to a perspective of the first individual, and the second perspective is responsive to perspective of the second individual.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting a third description of the event responsive to a third perspective.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third description of the event comprises a narration of the event.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the third description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising presenting a fourth description of the event responsive to a fourth perspective.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the third description comprises a narration of the event;

and wherein the fourth description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first description comprises a first word, and the second description comprises a second word, and the first word is a synonym of the second word.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in an active voice and the second phrase is in a passive voice.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in a first tense and the second phrase is in a second tense.

22. The method claim 1, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is synonymous with the second phrase.

23. A system for language instruction comprising:

a description presentation apparatus;

wherein the description presentation apparatus presents a first description of an event;

wherein the description presentation apparatus presents a second description of the event; and

wherein the first description of the event is responsive to a first perspective of the event and the second description of the event is responsive to a second perspective of the event; and

wherein both the first description of the event and the second description of the event are in a common language.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the description presentation apparatus further comprises a visual event presentation area, and wherein a visual presentation of the event is displayed in the visual event presentation area.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the description presentation apparatus further comprises a first text description presentation area and a second text description presentation area, and wherein the first description of the event is presented as a first text description in the first text description presentation area, and the second description of the event is presented as a second text description in the second text presentation area.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising an audio component, wherein the audio component presents an audio presentation of the first or second description.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the description presentation apparatus further comprises a first text description presentation area and a second text description presentation area, and wherein the first description of the event is presented as a first text description in the first text description presentation area, and the second description of the event is presented as a second text description in the second text presentation area.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising an audio component, wherein the audio component presents an audio presentation of the first or second description.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the description presentation apparatus comprises a computer screen.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the first text presentation area is adjacent to the second text presentation area.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the event comprises an interaction involving a first individual and a second individual.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first perspective is responsive to a perspective of the first individual, and the second perspective is responsive to a perspective of the second individual.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the description presentation apparatus presents a third description of the event.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the third description of the event comprises a narration of the event.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the third description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the description presentation apparatus presents a fourth description of the event.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the third description of the event comprises a narration of the event;

and wherein the fourth description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the first description comprises a first word, and the second description comprises a second word, and the first word is a synonym of the second word.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in an active voice and the second phrase is in a passive voice.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in a first tense and the second phrase is in a second tense.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is synonymous with the second phrase.

42. The system of claim 28, wherein the first text description of the event or the second text description of the event, is synchronized with the audio presentation.

43. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for instructing a computer system to:

present a first description of an event responsive to a first perspective; and

present a second description of the event responsive to a second perspective,

wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are in a common language.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer system is further instructed to:

present a visual representation of the event.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

47. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the audio form presentation is synchronized with the text form presentation of either the first description of the event or the second description of the event.

50. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented simultaneously.

52. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented on a display monitor.

53. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the first description of the event is presented adjacent to the second description of the event.

54. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the event comprises an interaction involving a first individual and a second individual.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the first perspective is responsive to a perspective of the first individual, and the second perspective is responsive to perspective of the second individual.

56. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the computer system is further instructed to present a third description of the event responsive to a third perspective.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the third description of the event comprises a narration of the event.

58. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the third description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

59. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the computer system is further instructed to present a fourth description of the event responsive to a fourth perspective.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the third description comprises a narration of the event;

and wherein the fourth description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

61. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the first description comprises a first word, and the second description comprises a second word, and the first word is a synonym of the second word.

62. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in an active voice and the second phrase is in a passive voice.

63. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in a first tense and the second phrase is in a second tense.

64. The computer program product claim 43, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is synonymous with the second phrase.

65. A system for language instruction comprising:

means for presenting a first description of an event responsive to a first perspective; and

means for presenting a second description of the event responsive to a second perspective, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are in a common language.

66. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for presenting a visual representation of the event.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in audio form.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the audio form presentation is synchronized with the text form presentation of either the first description of the event or the second description of the event.

72. The system of claim 65, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented in text form.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented simultaneously.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the first description of the event and the second description of the event are presented on a display monitor.

75. The system of claim 72 wherein the first description of the event is presented adjacent to the second description of the event.

76. The system of claim 65, wherein the event comprises an interaction involving a first individual and a second individual.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the first perspective is responsive to a perspective of the first individual, and the second perspective is responsive to perspective of the second individual.

78. The system of claim 77, further comprising

means for presenting a third description of the event responsive to a third perspective.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the third description of the event comprises a narration of the event.

80. The system of claim 78, wherein the third description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

81. The system of claim 78 further comprising

means for presenting a fourth description of the event responsive to a fourth perspective.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the third description comprises a narration of the event;

and wherein the fourth description of the event comprises a dialogue between the first and second individual.

83. The system of claim 65, wherein the first description comprises a first word, and the second description comprises a second word, and the first word is a synonym of the second word.

84. The system of claim 65, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in an active voice and the second phrase is in a passive voice.

85. The system of claim 65, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is in a first tense and the second phrase is in a second tense.

86. The system claim 65, wherein the first description comprises a first phrase, and the second description comprises a second phrase, and the first phrase is synonymous with the second phrase.