Devices and related methods for teaching languages to young children

• US 20090111075A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sofia Midkiff
• Original Assignee: Sofia Midkiff
• Inventors: Midkiff, Sofia
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,421 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

Abstract

To help young children and other individuals learn a language while playing and having fun a novel card or device is presented that includes, on one side, a word in a first (e.g., non-English) language on its surface along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word and an image of the word, and on an opposite side a translation (e.g., into English) of the word along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word. The device may also include means to secure it to a physical object similar to that shown in the image.

Claims

1. A card for teaching a child to learn a language comprising:

a front side including a word in a non-English, language on its surface along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word and an image of the word; and

a back side comprising an English translation of the non-English language word; and

securing means for securing the card to an object similar to that shown in the image.

2. The card in claim 1 further comprising a touch area, wherein upon being touched the area causes an audible output of a pronunciation of the non-English language word, spelling of the word or some combination of the two.

3. The card in claim 1 further comprising a touch area, wherein upon being touched the area causes a visual indicator to emit light.

4. The card in claim 1 further comprising memory for storing a selection of audible sounds that may be used to audibly output a pronunciation of the non-English language word.

5. The card as in claim 4 further comprising a processor for controlling a type and sequence of sounds or light patterns output from the card.

6. The card as in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive.

7. The card as in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a magnet.

8. The card as in claim 1 further comprising one or more characters in an International Phonetic Alphabet.

9. The card as in claim 1 further comprising a passageway through a surface of the card.

10. The card as in claim 1 wherein the backside further comprises a pronunciation guide associated with the word.

11. A device for teaching a person to learn a language, the device comprising:

a first side including a word in a first language on its surface along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word and an image of the word; and

a second side comprising a translation into a second language of the word.

12. The device in claim 11 further comprising securing means for securing the device to an object similar to that shown in the image.

13. The device in claim 11 further comprising a touch area, wherein upon being touched the area causes an audible output of a pronunciation of the word, spelling of the word or some combination of the two.

14. The device in claim 11 further comprising a touch area, wherein upon being touched the area causes a visual indicator to emit light.

15. The device in claim 11 further comprising memory for storing a selection of audible sounds that may be used to audibly output a pronunciation of the word on the first side.

16. The device in claim 15 further comprising a processor for controlling a type and sequence of sounds or light patterns output from the device.

17. The device in claim 12 wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive.

18. The device in claim 12 wherein the securing means comprises a magnet.

19. The device as in claim 11 further comprising one or more characters in an International Phonetic Alphabet.

20. The device as in claim 11 further comprising a passageway through a surface of the device.

21. The device as in claim 11 wherein the second side further comprises a pronunciation guide associated with the word.

22. A method for teaching a child to learn a language comprising:

showing the child a card that includes, on a front side, a word in a non-English language on its surface along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word and an image of the word, and on a back side, an English translation of the non-English language word; and

securing the card to an object similar to that shown in the image.

23. The method as in claim 22 wherein the backside further comprises a pronunciation guide associated with the word.

24. A method for teaching a person to learn a language comprising:

showing the person a device that includes, on a first side, a word in a first language on its surface along with a pronunciation guide associated with the word and an image of the word, and on a second side a translation into a second language of the word.

25. The method in claim 24 further comprising securing the device to an object similar to that shown in the image.

26. The method in claim 24 further comprising touching a touch area to cause an audible output of a pronunciation of the word on the first side.

27. The method in claim 24 further comprising touching a touch area to cause a visual indicator to emit light.

28. The method as in claim 24 further comprising placing a passageway through a surface of the device.