Method and device for teaching language

• US 5,649,826 A
• Filed: 03/19/1996
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Language Universe Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sum Total Incorporated
• Inventors: West, Stephen G., Meade, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROVNAK, JOHN EDMUND
• Application Number:
  US08/618,364
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 434/157, 434/156, 283/46
• US Class Current: 434/157
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04

Abstract

A method and device for teaching a given language to one or more users in an entertaining manner is provided utilizing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, particularly young children. The media series contains the given language as well as language other than the given language and is made up of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of the given language. A user is progressively exposed to the media series by exposing the user to the series lessons in sequential fashion beginning with a first series lesson containing a lowest percentage of the given language and ending with a last series lesson containing a highest percentage of the given language. The given language to be learned is utilized and presented strategically such that the meaning of the given language can be readily and intuitively understood and wherein no supervision is necessary.

Claims

1. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users; and

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson.

2. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising sequentially exposing each user to a plurality of series lessons incorporating a given language and language other than said given language wherein said given language is utilized in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by each user and wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language with a first of said series lessons containing up to thirty percent (30%) of said given language and a last of said series lessons containing eighty percent (80%) or more of said given language.

3. A device for teaching a given language to one or more users comprising:

A. a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language; and

B. said media series having a plurality of series lessons wherein said given language is utilized in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users, said series lessons sequentially containing an increasing percentage of said given language.

4. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material which can be read by a user and wherein exposing each user to said media series comprises each user reading said printed material.

5. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material and exposing each user to said media series comprises each user reading said printed material, and wherein each user first reads a first series lesson containing only language other than said given language.

6. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material and exposing each user to said media series comprises each user reading said printed material, and wherein each user first reads a first series lesson at least five percent (5%) of which is in said given language.

7. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein each user is lastly exposed to a last series lesson one hundred percent (100%) of which is in said given language.

8. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises electronically stored sound material on an audio cassette, video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette or digital video disc which can be electronically accessed to hear said sound material, and wherein exposing each user to said media series comprises each user electronically accessing said audio cassette, video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette or digital video disc to listen to said sound material.

9. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material which can be read by a user and a digital audio chip which can be electronically activated to produce sound, and wherein exposing each user to said media series comprises each user reading said printed material and electronically activating said digital audio chip to listen to sound from said digital audio chip.

10. A method for teaching a given language to one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language and said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language and which each utilize said given language in context such that its meaning can be obviously and intuitively understood by said one or more users;

B. exposing each user to said media series by progressively exposing each user to said series lessons in sequential fashion wherein each series lesson sequentially contains an increasing percentage of said given language, whereby the meaning of said given language can be understood by each user obviously and intuitively in each series lesson; and

C. wherein said media series comprises electronically stored sound and visual material on a video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette, or digital video disc which can be electronically accessed to hear said sound material and view said visual material, and wherein exposing each user to said media series comprises each user electronically accessing said video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette, or digital video disc to listen to said sound material and view said visual material.

11. A device for teaching a given language to one or more users comprising:

A. a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language;

B. said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material which can be read by a user.

12. A device for teaching a given language to one or more users comprising:

A. a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language;

B. said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language; and

C. wherein said media series comprises electronically stored sound material on an audio cassette, video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette or digital video disc which can be electronically accessed by a user to hear said sound material.

13. A device for teaching a given language to one or more users comprising:

A. a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language;

B. said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language; and

C. wherein said media series comprises printed material which can be read by a user and electronically stored sound material on digital audio chips which can be electronically activated by a user to hear said sound material.

14. A device for teaching a given language to one or more users comprising:

A. a media series for teaching a given language to one or more users, said media series comprising said given language and language other than said given language;

B. said media series having a plurality of series lessons which sequentially contain an increasing percentage of said given language; and

C. wherein said media series comprises electronically stored sound and visual material on a video cassette, compact disc, computer diskette or digital video disc which can be electronically accessed by a user to hear said sound material and view said visual material.