Language study system and method employing multifaceted block device representation system

• US 9,208,695 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Ryu, Catherine Youngkyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/793,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20140255885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/08 Printed or written appliances, e.g. text books, bilingual letter assemblies, charts

Abstract

A composition in the target language is parsed into plural different linguistic components, including sound level, grammar level and at least one functional grammar level component. The linguistic components are then expressed on different facets of an n-sided block device representation system according to predefined sets of rules. The facets of the block device may then be selectively examined by the learner to visualize how the target language functions to express the composition with respect to the way sounds, grammar and functional grammar are used. The block device representation system may be computer-implemented, rendering the facets on display panels associated with physical blocks, or as computer-generated images upon a display device.

Claims

1. A method of teaching a language through literature study comprising the steps of:

furnishing a composition selected from the literature in the target language being taught,

parsing the composition into plural different linguistic component levels, the levels including a sound level, a grammar level and at least one functional grammar level;

providing an electronically configurable block system comprising a plurality of electronically intercommunicating physical blocks providing an electronic display that presents an electronically generated image representing a first facet, a second facet and a third facet

applying a predefined set of sound rules according to the target language to generate and display on said first facet a first visual representation that maps the parsed sound level of the composition to a first sequence of individual graphical symbols selected from a first group of symbols representing the sounds employed by the target language, the number of individual graphical symbols of said first sequence corresponding to the number of individual parsed sounds in the composition;

applying a predefined set of grammar rules according to the target language to generate and display on said second facet a second visual representation that maps the parsed grammar level of the composition to a second sequence of graphical symbols selected from a second group of symbols representing the grammatical parts of speech employed by the target language;

applying a predefined set of functional grammar rules according to the target language to generate and display on said third facet a third visual representation that maps the parsed functional grammar level of the composition to a third sequence of graphical symbols selected from a third group of symbols representing the function of grammatical structures employed by the target language being taught;

using said electronically configurable block system to define plural n-sided blocks, each block having plural facets onto which the first, second and third visual representations may be applied;

selecting a number of said blocks equal in number to the number of individual parsed sounds in the composition and applying said first sequence of individual graphical symbols to first facets of said number of blocks and aligning the blocks to maintain the order of first sequence;

while retaining the alignment of said number of blocks, applying said second sequence of graphical symbols to second facets of said number of blocks;

while retaining the alignment of said number of blocks, applying said third sequence of graphical symbols to third facets of said number of blocks;

selectively viewing the first, second and third facets of said number of blocks to visualize how the target language functions to express the composition with respect to way the sounds, grammar and functional grammar are used.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the blocks each have a set of interfaces that enforce rules by which a first block may be sequentially associated with a second block.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural blocks are tangible, three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural blocks are three-dimensional cubes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a set of individual three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said device includes an electronic display and wherein the blocks are computer-generated representations of three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a computer to perform the step of parsing the composition.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a computer to generate at least one of said first, second and third visual representations.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a computer to apply at least one of said first, second and third sequences of graphical symbols to the facets of said number of blocks.

10. An apparatus for teaching a target language through literature study comprising,

a device defining plural electronically configurable blocks, each block having plural electronically configurable display facets onto which different visual representations may be applied;

a first collection of panels each displaying a graphical symbol selected from a first set of individual graphical symbols each corresponding to a different sound defined by the target language

a second collection of panels each displaying a graphical symbol selected from a second set of individual graphical symbols each corresponding to a different grammatical unit defined by the target language;

a third collection of panels each displaying a graphical symbol selected from a third set of individual graphical symbols each corresponding to a different grammatical functions defined by the target language;

the blocks each having a first facet that supports one of said first collection of panels,

having a second facet that supports one of said second collection of panels and having a third facet that supports one of said third collection of panels;

the blocks being positioned such that the first facet of each block are coplanar, the second facet of each block are coplanar and the third facet of each block are coplanar;

the blocks being sequentially arranged such that;

(a) the first facets display graphical symbols representing a sequence of sounds according to a composition selected from the literature in the target language,

(b) the second facets display graphical symbols representing a sequence of grammatical units according to a composition selected from the literature in the target language, and

(c) the third facets display graphical symbols representing a sequence of grammatical functions according to a composition selected from the literature in the target language.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the blocks each have a set of interfaces that enforce rules by which a first block may be sequentially associated with a second block.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plural blocks are tangible, three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plural blocks are three-dimensional cubes.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said device is a set of individual three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said device includes an electronic display and wherein the blocks are computer-generated representations of three-dimensional structures having facets comprising regular polygons.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further a computer programmed to parse the composition.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a computer programmed to generate at least one of said first, second and third visual representations.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a computer programmed to apply at least one of said first, second and third sequences of graphical symbols to the facets of said number of blocks.