GB2137398A

GB2137398A - Language teaching device

Info

Publication number: GB2137398A
Application number: GB08402508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Toyohiro Kobayashi; Syunji Tsuboi; Mitsuru Murata; Shoji Mochizuki; Hideto Sakurai
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 1983-02-01
Filing date: 1984-01-31
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: HK91587A; GB8402508D0; DE3403475A1; GB2137398B

Abstract

A language teaching device is controlled by a microcomputer 5 and functions to display characters on a visual display unit 1 and to pronounce words on a voice output device 7. The display unit 1 will indicate a spelling of the word inputted by a learner and the correct spelling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Language teaching device This invention relates to a language teaching device which is very effective and helpful for a learner of a language to learn relations between pronunciation and spelling of individual words and more particu marly to a language teaching device which is controlled by a microcomputer to effect utterance and indication of a spelling of a selected word.

A language teaching device which has functions to effect indication of a spelling and utterance of a word is already on the market, for example, under a commodity name of "Speak and Spell" from Texas Instruments Corp. This teaching device selects a word at random from words stored in a memory device such as a magnetic memory or a mask ROM, and indicates the selected word only by utterance of the same. That is, only utterance of a word is given a learner as information asking a question or seeking his response. Such a teaching or learning method is not very effective for a learner who is not yet very familiar with the particular language since it is difficult for the learner to grasp a relation or connection between the utterance and the meaning of a word.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a language teaching device which can help a learner of a language to effectively learn utterance and understanding and preferably spelling of a word through the combined senses of hearing and sight.

In one aspect the invention provides a language teaching device including a microprocessor or the like and an imput device for inputting information to the microcomputer, the microcomputer being arranged to control a voice output device and a visual display unit such that a word uttered by the voice output device can be indicated on the visual display unit by reference to other viewable material and/or by spelling the word in the same or another language and/or by a picture or symbol.

Preferably the device can indicate the correct spelling of a word and display an accent indicating the correct pronnuciation of a word. It may indicate if the student has spelt the word incorrectly.

Embodiments of language teaching devices, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view schematically showing a panel face of a language teaching device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure2 is a block diagram showing a general construction of the language teaching device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a flowchart showing operations of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a front elevational view schematically showing a panel face of a language teaching device according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a flowchart showing operations of the device shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a block diagram showing a general construction of a language teaching device accord ing to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a table illustrating contents of a voice ROM employed in the device of Figure 6;; Figures 8A to 8D are block diagrams illustrating flows of signals from and to a microcomputer, a voice synthesizing LSI and the voice ROM of the device of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic front elevational view of a front panel of a language teaching device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the device of Figure 9; Figure 11 I 11 isaflowchartshowing operations of the device of Figures 9 and 10; Figure 12 to 14 show, in front elevational view, word lists each illustrating relations between words and numbers corresponding to such words; Figure 15 is a circuit diagram showing a power supply circuit which can be applied to a language teaching device ofthe present invention; and Figures 16 and 17 are circuit diagrams each showing part of a power supply circuit in a modified form.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring first to Figure 1 which shows a front face of a language teaching device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the language teaching device includes a display section 1, a keyboard 6 and a speaker 8 for uttering a word for a question.

Referring to Figure 2 which illustrates the language teaching device in detail, the display section 1 includes a representation or indication 2 of "BOOK No." and a display unit 3 including dot matrix display elements for indicating contents of the representation 2. The display unit 3 is adapted to indicate a number of a symbol which designates a location in a book where information is shown in the form of an illustration or picture corresponding to a word given as a question, and contents to be displayed are selected by operation of a microcomputer 5 and are provided to the display unit 3 by way of a driver 4. At the same time, the microcomputer 5 supplies signals respresentative of a pronunciation of the word selected to a voice output device 7 to utter the word by means of the speaker 8.

A learner will listen to the pronunciation of the uttered word for the question, and then if necessary, refer to information in the form of an illustration or the like in the book designated by the number of symbol indicated on the display unit 3, and input an answer obtained to the microcomputer 5 by way of a keyboard 6. The microcomputer 5 determines, in the similar manner as in the case of conventional language teaching devices, if the answer thus inputted is correct or in error, and the learner is informed of the result by way of indication on the display unit 3 and/or by way of utterance from the speaker 8.To obtain information in the form of a picture or the like related to a word given as a question is effective means for reminding a learner of spellings of words as well as for a learner to learn meanings of words, and is significantly effective for a learner not very familiar with the particular languageto make prog ress in learning of the language.

Reference is now had to Figure 3 which shows a flowchart of operations of the microcomputer 5 beginning with issuance of a question and ending with notifiation whether an answer is correct or in error. In particular, after starting, selection or deter mination of a question is made at a step 15, that is, a number is selected at random from numbers assigned to corresponding pictures or the like contained in the book. Then, at a next step 16, utterance of the word for a question thus selected is given from the speaker 8. Then at a subsequent step 17, the number for the picture corresponding to the word is indicated as shown in Figure 1. A learnerwill then input an answer by way of the keyboard 6 at a next step 18, and the answer thus inputted is received by the microcomputer 5 which then deter mines if the answer is correct or in error at a subsequent step 19.If the answer is correct at a step 19, indication and voice notification of this are given at steps 20 and 21 from the display section 1 and the speaker 8, respectively. On the contrary, if the answer is in error at the step 19, indication and voice notification of this are given similarly at steps 22 and 23, respectively. With such indication and voice notification, a series of operations is completed.

A language teaching device in another form of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 4. The language teaching device has a display section 11 including a display face on which correct spelling of a word and an accent mark to show a position of an accent in a pronunciation of the word are to be indicated. In the example illustrated, a group of characters "tomato" are indicated on the display section 11 and an accent mark is added above the character "a". Such an indicating function could be easily attained by addition of accent mark data to word data stored in a memory of the microcomputer 5 and by use, for the display section 11, of a display device which includes a segment or segments for indicating an accent mark. In this case, as seen from a flowchart of Figure 5, operations will proceed as follows.In particular, when the language teaching device is operated by a learner to select a master mode, a word is selected in accordance with a predetermined procedure at a step 24. Then, if the word data thus selected are those corresponding to "tomato", such data are transferred to a driver 4 of the language teaching device at a step 25, and then at a subsequent step 26, characters "tomato" are indicated on the display face of the display unit 3 and a mark ' which indicates a position of an accent is also indicated which is applied above the character "a" of the thus indicated word. Then, at following steps 27 and 28, the word data selected are transferred to a voice output device 4 to give pronunciation of the word with a correct accent.

The display section 11 can be composed of an LCD display board, fluorescent display tubes or other similar devices. Indication of an accent position of a word displayed on the display section 11 can also be attained otherwise, instead of the mark t a " either by flickering of a character at an accent position or by emphasis of a character by brighter indication thereof than the remaining characters of the word.

A construction of a further language teaching device having a function to indicate an accent position is shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figure 6, the language teaching device includes a microcom puter 31, an input section 32 including key switches, a driver 33, a display section 34, a voice synthesizing LSI 35, a speaker 36, and a voice ROM 37. The microcomputer 31 receives key information from the input section 32 including key switches and controls the display output driver 33 to selectively drive the display section 34 composed of liquid crystals or the like to illuminate for an intended indication. Also, the microcomputer 31 controls, at another output thereof, the voice synthesizing LSI 35 to drive the speaker 36 to pronounce or utter the word.The voice synthesizing LSI 35 is connected and designed to access, in response to input signals thereto from the microcomputer 31, the voice ROM 37 to effect voice synthesization and also to transfer data of an English word or the like with accent position data in the form of a character code to the microcomputer 31.

Operations of the device described just above will now be described with reference to Figure 7 which shows an example of contents of the voice ROM 37 and also to Figures 8(A) to 8(D) which illustrate a sequence of data transfer operations of the device.

Here, it must be mentioned that a character code contains a seven bit ASCII code (DO-D6) and an accent flag D7, as illustrated in Figure 6.

At first, the voice LSI 35 accesses the voice ROM 37 in response to an addressing signal AD from the microcomputer 31 as illustrated in Figure 8(A) and then transfers a character code CD to the microcomputer 31 as shown in Figure 8(B). Upon receipt of the character code CD, the microcomputer 31 controls the display output driver 33 to effect indication of a word with an acent mark applied thereto. Then, the voice LSI 35 provides a voice addressing signal VAD to the voice ROM 37 as shown in Figure 8(C) and receives voice data VD therefrom as shown in Figure 9(D) to drive the speaker 36 to effect pronunciation of the word.

In this manner, according to the embodiment of the invention, data of a word including an accent flag are all stored in the voice ROM 37. Accordingly, addition or replacement of words can be facilitated, for example, by putting such voice ROMS into a ROM pack.

Reference is now had to Figure 9 which shows an outer appearance of an electric language teaching device according to a still another embodiment of the invention. The language teaching device includes a dot matrix LCD display unit 41 including an LCD display board 41a, alphabet input keys 42 (hereinafter referred to as alphabet keys), numeral input keys 43 (hereinafter referred to as numeral keys) including an enter key 43a, and mode keys 44 including a store mode key 44a, a recall mode key 44b, and a questioning mode key 44c for allowing a learner to designate a desired control.

Reference is now had to Figure 10 which illustates a construction of the language teaching device of Figure 9, the language teaching device includes an LCD driver 45 for driving the LCD display board 41 a of the LCD display unit 41, a microcomputer 46 for control of the device, a key input section 47 of a key matrix construction, a nonvolatile memory 48 such as, for example, a semiconductor ROM which maintains stored information even upon disconnection or interruption of a power supply, and a volatile memory 49 such as, for example, a semiconductor RAM which has a characteristic reverse to that of the nonvolatile memory 48.The microcomputer 46 is connected to the LCD driver 45, key input section 47, nonvolatile memory 48, and volatile memory 49 so as to effect reading operations of contents of the ROM 48, writing and reading operations into and from the RAM 49, controlling of input of information from the key input section 47, and controlling of operations of the LCD driver 45. It is assumed here that the ROM 48 has stored therein a spelling of an English word represented by a combination of alphabetic characters in a digitally coded form and a number corresponding one to one to the particular word. Also, while the number of word stored in the ROM 48 depends upon the capacity of a ROM employed for the ROM 48, it is assumed that, for example, up to 100 words are stored in the memory of the embodiment of the invention.In addition, while the number of words which can be stored and registered depends upon the capacity of a RAM employed for the RAM 49, it is also assumed that such number of words is, for example, 10.

With the language teaching device of the embodiment of the invention as described just above, operations will now be described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. Figure 11 is a flowchart showing steps of operations of the device beginning with step 1 (Sl) and ending with step 15 (SIS).

At first at start S1, if a store mode key 44a among the mode keys is depressed, the microcomputer 46 enters into a store mode and is prepared to receive an input through numeric keys 43. Here, a learner will select up to 10 English words which he wants to store into the device from English words listed and numbered 1 to 100, for example, in an English word list 50 as shown in Figure 12 or in a word or picture card 51 as shown in Figure 13 and input the numbers correspondingly assigned to the words one after another by way of numeral input keys 43 (S2). Then, the microcomputer 46 writes the thus input numbers into the RAM 49 one after another and thus registers up to 10 such words therein (S3).After completion of registration of such ten words, the recall key 44b may be depressed (S4), (S5) whereupon the microcomputer 46 recalls a first one of the registered numbers from the RAM 49, refers to the ROM 48 to obtain a spelling of the English word corresponding to that number, to effect conversion of a spelling of the English word from the corresponding number, and causes the display unit 41 to indicate the word (S6). In this way, as the recall key 44b is depressed srepetitively, the ten words registered are recalled and indicated one after another until the tenth word is indicated (S7). In the meantime, if the questioning key 44c is depressed (S5), then one of the numbers registered in the RAM 49 is indicated on the LCD display unit (S8).

Here, the learner will look at a word card 51 as shown in Figure 13 or a Japanese word list 52 as shown in Figure 14 and input a spelling of a corresponding word by way of alphabet input keys 42 (S9). Then, the microcomputer 46 converts the registered number into a corresponding spelling and compared the spelling inputted by the learner with this correct spelling to determine if the spelling inputted by the learner is correct or not (S10), and if the result of the comparison proves that the answer is correct, then "notification that the answer is correct" is provided (S11). On the contrary, if the answer is not correct, "notification that the answer is in error" is provided (S12) and a correct spelling is indicated on the LCD display unit 41.After completion of such a series of steps of operations for the tenth question, the microcomputer 46 advances to the "end" step (S15), thus completing the program.

Reference is now had to Figure 15 which shows a power supply circuit of a language teaching device of the present invention. The power supply circuit includes a power source 61 composed of batteries or cells, a power supply connecting switch 62 for connecting the power source 61 which may be composed, for example, of a push switch, a switching transistor 63 for connecting and disconnecting a microcomputer 67 to and from the power source 61, and protective resistors 64, 65 and 66 for limiting an electric current to the microcomputer 67. The microcomputer 67 has a positive power supply voltage application terminal 67a, a negative power supply voltage application terminal 67b, an output port 67c, and a reset terminal 67d at which it receives a negative voltage to be reset thereby.The microcomputer 67 further has an input port 67e through which data input keys 73a, 73b and 73c are connected to the microcomputer 67. The power supply circuit further includes a resistor 68 and a capacitor 70 which are necessitated for power-on-resetting of the device. The power supply circuit further includes a diode 69 which allows the capacitor 70 to discharge its electric charge upon disconnection of the power source, and a protective resistor 71 for limiting discharging of the capacitor 70 when a power supply disconnecting switch 72 is operated. Operations of the power supply circuit will be described below.

At first, when the power supply switch 62 is operated into its closed condition, the transistor 63 is turned on and power is fed to the microcomputer 67 from the power source 61. In the meantime, the microcomputer 67 is brought into its reset condition through the power-on-resetting circuit including the resistor 68 and capacitor 70 to indicate its operation.

After then, a positive signal is outputted from the output port 67c of the microcomputer 67. As a result, even if the power supply switch 62 is turned off, supply of power from the power source 61 is maintained to continue such operation as described above since the transistor 63 is held on.

By the way, description has been given so far of the case in which the output port 67c of the microcomputer 67 provides a negative output when the microcomputer 67 is reset. Thus, by operation of the power disconnecting switch 72, the microcomputer 67 is reset and output from the output port 67c thereof now becomes in the negative. As a result, the tranistor 63 is turned off and the power source 61 is disconnected or interrrupted accordingly.Further, since a reset signal of the microcomputer 67 is a signal related to a hardware circuit within the microcomputer 67, even if a voltage of the power source which is applied to the microcomputer 67 after such interruption of the power source as described above drops below a range of voltage in which ordinary operation of the microcomputer 67 is assured, there will occur no runaway of the device, enabling assured interruption of the power source 61.

It is to be noted here that, while description has been given of the embodiment in which batteries are employed for a power source, they may be otherwise replaced by a system which involves rectification of an AC power into a DC power for power supply.

Further, while description has been given of the embodiment in which the output port 67c of the microcomputer 67 provides an output in the negative when the microcomputer 67 is reset. But, on the contrary, in the case of a power supply circuit in which the output port 67c provides an output in the positive when the microcomputer 67 is reset, a similar function could be easily attained by a modified circuit construction in which the resistor 65 connected in series ot the output port 67c of the microcomputer 67 of Figure 15 is replaced by a transistor 74 and resistors 75 and 76 connected commonly to the base of the transistor 74 as shown in Figure 16.

Also, where the microcomputer 67 is otherwise of a rather different type in which it has an input/output port 67f which acts as an input port when the microcomputer 67 is reset, a similarfunction could be easily attained either by addition or a pull up resistor 77 to the port 67f as shown in Figure 17 or by addition of a pull down resistor (not shown) to the port 67f.

According to a power supply circuit having such a construction as described above, the construction in which a power disconnecting switch is connected to a reset terminal of a microcomputer would allow employement for each of power connecting the disconnecting switches of a push switch which has same configuration as other data input data keys, and would allow easy and assured interruption or disconnection or power supply. Further, in the case of a battery-powered device, runaway of a microcomputer due to a fall of a voltage depending upon a life of batteries can be prevented by a power disconnecting switch without the necessity of removing such batteries.

As apparent from the foregoing description, since a language teaching device of the present invention provides an indication and correct pronunciation of a word in response to an operation of a learner, it will assure a high effect of learning to a learner who is familiar with a particular language.

Claims

1. A language teaching device including a microprocessor or the like and an imput device for inputting information to the microcomputer, the microcomputer being arranged to control a voice output device and a visual display unit, such that a word uttered by the voice output device can be indicated on the visual display unit by reference to otherviewable material and/or by spelling the word in the same or another language and/or by a picture or symbol.

2. A language teaching device in which a spelling of a word which is inputted by a learner using the input device will be indicated on said display device.

3. A language teaching device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the otherviewable material is a book or a card or else a CRT display.

4. A language teaching device according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the word pronounced is in English.

5. Alanguageteaching device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 said reference to other viewable material indicated on said display device is either a book number or a photograph number and/or one or more alphabet characters added to such a book or photograph number.

6. A language teaching device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is arranged to display an indication of a spelling of a word corresponding to a word pronounced in that or another language or to a symbol or picture displayed or referenced.

7. A language teaching device according to Claim 6 having additional means arranged to display an accent indicating correct pronounciation of the word.

8. A language teaching device according to Claim 7 which includes means for outputting, in a synchronized relationship, data for indication of the accent and data of an address of a portion of a voice data memory in which the accent indication data are stored, the address data being provided to said voice synchronization output device.

9. A language teaching device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which a reference to other material indicating the word is displayed.

10. A language teaching device according to Claim 9 in which the other material is either a book or card or else a CRT display.

11. A language teaching device according to Claim 7 in which an accent flag for effecting indication of an accent position is provided in a memory which stores character codes therein.

12. Alanguageteaching device according to Claim 11, in which data of words each including an accent flag and voice data corresponding to such word data are packed into a ROM thereby to enable addition and replacement of words.

13. An electronic language teaching device, comprising a first storage means in which spellings of words each represented in a combination of digitally-coded alphabetic characters and reference symbols individually corresponding to the words are stored, key input means for designating a desired one of the words stored in said first storage means by a reference symbol assigned thereto, a second storage means into which a plurality of words designated through said key input means are stored sequentially by reference symbols assigned thereto upon writing operations thereof, a converting means for converting into a spelling the reference symbol corresponding to the word designated by said key input means, and a display means for indicating a spelling or a reference symbol assigned to a word.

14. An electronic language teaching device according to Claim 13, characterised in that said first storage means is a nonvolatile memory device and said second storage means is a volatile memory device.

15. An electronic language teaching device according to Claim 6 or Claim 13, in which a spelling of a word inputted through said key input means is judged by means for determining if the spelling is correct or in error, and when the spelling as an answer is in error, a correct spelling of the word is indicated on said display means.

16. An electronic language teaching device according to Claim 13, in which the symbol refers to a book, a card or a CRT display which shows a visual indication such as a picture or a photograph.

17. An electronic language teaching device according to any of Claims 13 to 17 characterized in that the word is in Englisn.

18. An electronic language teaching device which is controlled by a microcomputer and has a power connecting switch and a power disconnecting switch for connecting and disconnecting a power source, respectively, and data input switches, in which the power connecting switch is connected to reset a terminal of said microcomputer such that closing of said power connecting switch will render said microcomputer into a reset condition thereof and thereupon said power source will be disconnected in response to an output signal from an output port of said microcomputer.

19. An electronic language teaching device according to Claim 18, in which each of said switches is a push switch.

20. An electronic language teaching device according to Claim 18 or Claim 9 in which said power source is a cell or battery.

21. A language teaching device substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, Figures 4 and 5, Figures 6 to 8, Figures 9 to 11 with or without the power circuits of Figures 15 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.