DS English training software increases students' vocabulary
by John Bardinelli 
{ May 25th 2007 at 11:01AM }
Junior high schools in Kyoto, Japan recently reported a sharp improvement in English language skills thanks to the Nintendo DS. The Yawata Municipal Board of Education distributed DS systems with copies of Chuugaku Eitango Target 1800 DS, an English training program, to English classes across the district's schools. Over the course of five months, students' vocabulary increased between 300 and 400 words, bumping them up to the equivalent of level 3 in the Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency held by only 30% of junior high school students in Japan.Nintendo has long touted the non-gaming possibilities of the touch screen-enabled system. It seems Japan is the only region to benefit from these edutainment programs, however. Would language training software fly in Europe or the States? How about DS yoga lessons and gardening tips?
[Via Gamasutra]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Crono @ May 25th 2007 11:05AM
I would almost kill for Japanese training in the States.
dave @ May 25th 2007 11:10AM
If they had a Rosetta Stone type language program on the DS i would buy it in a heartbeat. It would be great to get a Portuguese lesson in on my commute to work.
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2007 11:15AM
I need this software...
student @ May 25th 2007 11:18AM
Honestly, this is a great sign and a huge market that can open up. As someone said in another post, Nintendo just needs to release an SAT prep game in the US and it'll go like wildfire. So many students spend hundreds of dollars on classes. Why not spend 20 dollars instead on a fun, interactive course on the DS?
I'll also second the language trainers in the US. It would be a fun way to keep my spanish fresh after all these years.
HaloBreaker @ May 25th 2007 11:20AM
I would almost kill for English training in the States.
C. Grant @ May 25th 2007 11:21AM
Crono: agreed. Make it happen, Nintendo
cc123 @ May 25th 2007 11:29AM
@F Rocker
You and I finally agree on something.
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2007 11:34AM
Because am latin... my main languaje is spanish, but at least I try...
I can read 90% in english, but I can write like 20% in english
Crono @ May 25th 2007 11:35AM
ROFL halobreaker.
Doug Kaplan @ May 25th 2007 12:26PM
It's amazing because the Rosetta Stone software is so expensive yet I would love nothing more than to learn Japanese if I could afford the training software. I think the DS is the perfect platform because not only can you learn the language in general, but you can learn to write it and speak it because of the built-in microphone.
I have been pretty down on DS releases lately but if they started with language trainers, I would be there in a heartbeat! You know someone at Nintendo or Ubisoft is thinking about hitting the casual market with this!
pangit @ May 25th 2007 2:03PM
thats where all the damn DSs are in japan.
anyways, i also think secondary language trainers would be great in the states. 2nd languages interest me a lot, but picking up a book or taking classes are just...blah.
steve @ May 25th 2007 2:33PM
Like I've said repeatedly to anyone who'd listen. DS enabled SAT prep software would make a fortune
Rubang B @ May 25th 2007 3:08PM
I'd buy any Japanese trainer for the DS. I've got gigs of lessons on my iPod but listening alone doesn't do it for me. I need some touchscreen action to write some kana and kanji to stay on top of my game.
required @ May 25th 2007 4:16PM
any day now Nintendo will attempt to rip-off Sony's talkman:
http://www.talkmanpsp.com/
Sendai @ May 25th 2007 4:52PM
@Rubang 8
Dude, if lessons on the iPod aren't helping you to learn Japanese, then how is the DS going to possibly help you?
The DS could help you learn the written language, sure, but for listening it's obviously inferior to an iPod. Not that there is any real software for the DS that actually teaches the spoken language beyond how to say the words and syllables.
Silent Xenocide @ May 25th 2007 6:27PM
Rosetta stone sorta sucks. I have it, it doesn't teach jack.
Rubang B @ May 25th 2007 7:30PM
@Sendai, the iPod definitely helps for listening comprehension and vocabulary, and I repeat everything as I listen, but I'm still worried about reading and writing. I'm going to Japan soon and there's no better way to pick up speaking skills and listening comprehension than to totally immerse yourself in the language, which is what I'll be doing. But I don't get any good interactive practice with the kanji. I can write them over and over all day (which I do), and use flash cards, but I'd like something with a touchscreen to quiz me and keep me on my toes. Or some sort of robot. I'm pretty confident I'll be able to get around talking to people but my dream is to some day be able to read their newspapers.
Megaqwerty @ May 26th 2007 1:57AM
On the topic of Rosetta Stone, I think the program is fairly useful. Many libraries have it licensed so that you can access Rosetta Stone online (although admittedly a free version probably won't have Japanese). However, if you actually bought Rosetta Stone, well...they charge way too much money.
So, yeah, beg someone, anyone, to port Power Japanese to DS. That program came out in, what was it?, 1995? It wouldn't be terribly hard to get the DS to run it.
t_m @ May 26th 2007 6:35AM
there are already like, a million, learn english programmes for the DS in japan, plus ones for other languages, plus dozens of learn-japanese ones.
For over 2 years people have been saying on these comments that this is a great market, and (DS users in particular) would love to learn japanese and other languages.
Companies over here just don't seem to get it.