Devices and related methods for teaching languages to young children

• US 8,641,421 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sofia Midkiff
• Original Assignee: Sofia Midkiff
• Inventors: Midkiff, Sofia
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US12/235,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 434156-157
• 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 consisting of:

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

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

a processor for controlling a type and sequence of audible sounds or light patterns output from the card;

a memory for storing a selection of the sounds used to audibly output a pronunciation of the non-English language word;

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, and a visual indicator to emit a light pattern; and

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

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

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

4. The card in claim 1 further consisting of one or more characters in an International Phonetic Alphabet.

5. The card in claim 1 further consisting of a passageway through a surface of the card.

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

7. A device for teaching a person to learn a language, the device consisting of:

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

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

a processor for controlling a type and sequence of audible sounds or light patterns output from the device;

a memory for storing a selection of the sounds used to audibly output a pronunciation of the word in the first language; and

a touch area, wherein upon being touched the area causes an audible output of a pronunciation of the word in the first language, spelling of the word in the first language or some combination of the two, and a visual indicator to emit a light pattern.

8. The device in claim 7 further consisting of securing means for securing the device to an object similar to that shown in the image.

9. The device in claim 8 wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive.

10. The device in claim 8 wherein the securing means comprises a magnet.

11. The device in claim 7 further consisting of one or more characters in an International Phonetic Alphabet.

12. The device in claim 7 further consisting of a passageway through a surface of the device.

13. The device as in claim 7 wherein the second side further comprises a pronunciation guide associated with the word.