Junior high school kids in Kyoto were in for a treat this week--all 8th graders in Yawata City's public school system were given a Nintendo DS Lite to practice English on. IE Institute, a company that makes educational software for consoles, spent the last three years creating the perfect software for this target group at the request of the local education board. (Coolest education board ever!)
A focus group of 49 students showed that students using the DS for just 10 minutes increased their vocabulary by 35-42%.
There's an English Proficiency Test in Japan called Eiken, which is taken by all but only conquered by less than a third of test-takers. This DS Lite initiative aims to increase that number.
So we have generations of Japanese growing up to speak better English AND a whole bunch of kids with free DS Lites. Everybody wins! This is awesome news.
when will they release the "learn Japanese" version of this?
Posted by: Smoke | May 23, 2007 at 07:20 AM
I hope this goes well. American schools here are starting to abandon the laptop for every child programs... For obvious reasons (not ever paying attention in class). Would that be an issue with the DS's?
That would be awesome Smoke! Maybe I would finally have enough motivation to actually learn the language like I want!
Anyway, I have been reading this site for a while (and love it), figured I would post for once!
Posted by: Mike | May 23, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Same with me Mike.
I've bought Pimsleur Japanese lessons and listen to them in my vehicle on the way to work. It's rough going, however if you're interested in learning Japanese and don't have the time to dedicate to it.. what better time then on the commute to school/work/etc?
Although I have to admit. I would love to have something similiar to the DS english lessons for learning Japanese, visual along with audio teaching is definitly the way to go.
Posted by: Smoke | May 24, 2007 at 03:41 PM