JP2001331086A - Language learning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a learning device of English conversation or the like with which a learner can acquire languages at an early stage. SOLUTION: In this device, in a cassette tape and a CD or the like on which English conversation and its Japanese translation are alternately recorded and with which the learner learns English conversation by hearing repeatedly English conversation and its Japanese translation while reproducing them repeatedly, a Japanese translation with respect to learned English conversation becomes silent by operating an exclusive switch and entire Japanese translations of the tape disappear by advancing the learning while repeating this operation and the tape becomes the tape of only English conversation and, thus, the device is effective for accelerating the acquiring of English conversation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a language learning apparatus for English conversation or the like for the purpose of early learning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a language learning apparatus for English conversation or the like, an arbitrary sentence stored in a cassette tape, a CD-ROM, or the like is reproduced, output as voice, listen to the contents, and arbitrarily reply to the contents. The general form is to try.
There are the following two methods for reproducing a document. Immediately after a sentence of any length is generated in the language for learning, a sentence translation of the consent is generated in the native language. A method in which multiple consecutive sentences are generated depending on the language used for learning, and if English is always English, only English is kept to be heard by the learner. There are the above two methods, and in order to raise the learning level, it is necessary to reproduce and listen again a plurality of times.

[0003]

In the two systems, it is difficult to grasp the state of conversation and the like. However, in such a method, for example, a Japanese translation always comes after an English sentence, so there is a drawback that when re-listening, the Japanese translation becomes an obstacle for the phrase that is understood. In addition, there is a problem in that in other languages and the native language, the native language always remains in the ear, and only sentences in the native language are memorized, so that learning efficiency cannot be improved easily.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to develop and provide a learning device which eliminates the disadvantages of the above-mentioned language learning device, improves the learning efficiency, and makes the operation simpler. .

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a plan view of a product, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention. The "main control CPU unit" in the figure is a part for performing main control of the device of the present invention. As will be described in detail later, the “memory ICEEROM” in the control unit is a storage element that stores a change level for a phrase whose level is to be changed. The operation button row connected to the CPU unit is a learning level setting SW in the present invention.

[0006] During the reproduction of an arbitrary sentence, when the Japanese is completely understood and the user wants to skip the Japanese language or want to reduce the volume of the Japanese language, pressing the SW of an arbitrary level automatically changes the level for this phrase. It is memorized. The restoration switch is a switch for restoring a phrase or the like for which silence has been set because the user understands it and wants to return it to the original state by forgetting at a later date. Although this example is directly connected to the CPU unit, the effect is the same even through a remote controller or the like.

"Memory card English conversation storage element"
It is a collection of sentence voice data of English conversation for learning. This card is used for smart media
The image is a C memory or the like. The audio data is MP
It is assumed that the data is compressed according to the EG3 standard or the like. By replacing this card, various levels of learning can be performed.

The "DSP section" is a section for decoding compressed audio data. This decoded digital audio signal is output in an arbitrary format.
In the present invention, this fawcett is an IIS (Inter I
C sound) format. The DSP also performs correction control for correcting the volume and the reproduction speed. The "DAC unit" in the figure is a part that converts digital audio data and outputs it as audio.

FIG. 5 shows a data format of voice for English conversation. As shown in FIG.
ercise start sound ". After this start sound, the question part of the conversation: English-Japanese follows, and the response part: English-Japanese is output. One phrase before each switch between English and Japanese A start sound is generated, which may be an inaudible region or a sound audible to humans.
Assuming that the English-Japanese combination of the question and the answer is one sentence, a plurality of sentences are continuously repeated as shown below.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a CPU reads sequentially compressed audio data from a memory card. The read compressed data is decoded into digital audio data by the DSP unit. Here, as described with reference to FIG. 3, a start sound indicating the start of each phrase is set in the audio data. The start sound is detected by the DSP unit and returned to the CPU unit as a signal. The CPU estimates the current phrase number from “1 exercise start sound” and “1 phrase start sound” of each phrase. That is, “1 exercise
The "se start sound" indicates the origin position for determining the address of each phrase, and the "one phrase start sound" of each phrase is the head position of the call address of each phrase.
The U section counts the “1 phrase start sound” from the origin “1 exercise start sound” to the corresponding phrase,
Determine the level setting address of the phrase.

Based on this address, the memory IC "EEP"
The "ROM" stores the level setting of each phrase. The level of each phrase is determined by the phrase No. and the level when the operation button row (restoration, level 2 to 0) SW in FIG. Has been changed in a form that matches.
Send to SP section.

The DSP unit decodes to digital audio data in a form in which a soundless period is adjusted according to the level information and a reproduction sound such as a reproduction speed is corrected. The corrected audio data is sent to the DAC unit and output to the speaker via the amplifier. The volume of the DAC is adjusted by a control signal from the CPU. The present invention is implemented as described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a case in which a storage element for English conversation is replaced with a cassette tape from a memory card. The difference from FIG. 2 is that, since the audio data is analog data, only the volume correction of the volume is performed, and the period adjustment, the reproduction speed and the like are not corrected.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which an existing cassette deck is used and the apparatus of the present invention is connected to an output signal output from the cassette deck, and the same effects as in FIG. 3 can be expected.

FIG. 9 shows a portable AUDIO such as an existing "MD".
An example in which the present invention is connected to the existing device using an apparatus will be described. A remote control is always connected to the "MD" device separately from the main unit. By replacing the remote controller with the present invention, a language learning device can be easily constructed without any modification of the existing MD device.

The learning method and procedure of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a data format of English conversation voice. As shown in FIG.
xercise start sound ". After this start sound, the question part of the conversation: English-Japanese follows, and the response part: English-Japanese is output. One phrase before each switch between English and Japanese A start sound is generated, which may be in the inaudible range or a sound audible to humans.The English-Japanese combination of the above-mentioned question-response is defined as one sentence, and a plurality of sentence will be described below. Is continuously repeated.

FIG. 6 is a reproduction sound setting flow using the "back and forth" selection switch shown in FIG. 9 shows a specific operation flow (first embodiment) using the front / back selection SW. Shows a specific operation flow (Example 2). FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram of a period in which the level setting is reflected. The effect of setting the start sound of each phrase in an inaudible range inaudible to human ears will be described.

As shown in the figure, first, "front and rear SW" is selected. As shown in FIG. 7, if the level has been set before, the level setting is reflected on the English data in the next reproduction.
If it is set later, it is reflected on the Japanese data. Next, the media in which the information to be actually learned is input is reproduced. In the case of English conversation learning, the user inserts a media card in which "exercise" of an arbitrary learning stair is input and presses a "START" key. Then, when a phrase or the like for which the Japanese translation is to be deleted because the user understands it during reproduction learning occurs, the level setting SW is pressed between the data n or n as shown in FIG. If the selection switch has been set before, the phrase n English is changed, and if the selection SW is set later, the level of the phrase n Japanese is changed when the corresponding phrase is reproduced next time. After setting the level switch,
"cise" is completed, and then the learning medium is started again for re-learning. At the time of reproduction, the content is set to the level set for each phrase.

In the following, a specific operation will be described in the case where the user wants to change the level because the comprehension has been lowered for a phrase whose volume has been reduced or silence has been understood.
When an unclear point phrase occurs, the level SW is selected and set similarly. Then, immediately press the repeat SW.
Then, the phrase whose level has been changed is reproduced immediately after the repeat SW is pressed, so that the learning efficiency can be further improved.

, Is a description of the start sound of each phrase. At the start of each phrase, a start sound is set for confirmation as shown in FIG. As described above, in the present invention, the start sound is used as an address for phrase level setting control. For example, if a phrase start sound is generated between data n and n when the phrase is reproduced for a phrase for which Japanese is deleted by setting the front and rear switches later, it is only an obstacle. Even if the sound is not silenced, many users find it difficult to hear the phrase start sound between English and Japanese every time. As shown therein, the start sound between English and Japanese may be set as an inaudible region inaudible to humans, or as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a reproduction sound setting flow using the "all, one phrase" selection switch shown in FIG. ,
Shows an operation flow and an explanatory diagram when all phrases are selected. After selecting all SWs, next, select the front and rear SW-> level setting SW, and when the learning media is played, the level set by the level SW is set to all phrases for the language selected by the front and rear SWs. Reflected on. As shown in the figure, when "all"->"after"->"level 3 silence" is selected, only the English phrase is reproduced, and the Japanese phrase is not reproduced over all the phrases. Next, if all phrases are deleted, but there is a phrase that cannot be understood, and only the phrase is to be reproduced, the restore SW is pressed during the reproduction of the relevant phrase, and when this phrase is repeated, the Japanese phrase is restored only for that phrase. For example, as a learning method, a more efficient learning effect can be expected if all the Japanese portions are reproduced in silence in advance, and thereafter only an unclear phrase generates Japanese.

The operation in the case where all phrase selection is returned to one phrase selection will now be described. By preparing a reuse memory area in the main control section in advance as shown in (1), the phrase corresponding to all the phrases can be returned to the phrase setting state immediately before the phrase.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a product embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this figure and FIG. 7 is that a "warp key" and a "record key" are newly provided. The warp key skips all of the phrases for which the warp key is pressed, and reproduces the phrase at the time of repeat. For the recording key, for example, both the English and Japanese data in the response part shown in the data format of FIG.
This recording key is depressed for the phrase for which r is to be recorded, and its answer is stored in the answer phrase at the time of repeat. With this recording key, functions such as a self test and a scoring function can be extended.

[0024]

By implementing the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide a device which can significantly improve the language learning efficiency by a simple operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment diagram of a product.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment diagram using a cassette deck.

FIG. 5 is a format diagram of utterance data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of setting a reproduction sound level.

FIG. 7 is another flowchart of the reproduction sound level.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the product.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment using AUDIO equipment.

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a language learning apparatus for assisting learning of English conversation and the like in which a native language translation is repeatedly reproduced as a voice from a foreign language, the reproduced voice data includes a language to be learned for an arbitrary sentence phrase and a language of a home country. Is a language learning device in which sentences of consent are continuously generated in each of the two languages, and the volume level of any of the two languages can be changed or silenced according to its own learning level. ,
The phrase of the silenced language is adjusted for a period or the speech SPEED of the language is made variable, and the speech is processed by an original such as a tape, CD-ROM, IC memory or the like in which the learning speech data is stored. A language learning apparatus characterized in that the contents of the storage means are not changed at all and are performed on a sound reproducing mechanism using electronic control means such as a CPU. 2. A language learning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said language learning apparatus has a plurality of processing level setting switches for processing and reproducing sounds of an arbitrary language according to its own learning level. During the learning, when a sentence phrase that the user completely understands and wants to skip or reduce the volume occurs, pressing the SW of an arbitrary level among the plurality of level SWs causes the SW to be pressed. When the level data change for the previous phrase or the immediately preceding phrase is electronically stored, and then the level-changed phrase is reproduced again by repeat learning or the like, any one of the language sounds is processed according to the changed level. Generated by the simple operation of pressing the level switch once,
A language learning device characterized by the ability to perform efficient learning according to your own learning level. 3. A learning sound tape stored in a storage element such as an audio tape, a CD-ROM, or an IC memory card is provided with a start sound indicating before the start of learning and before the start of each sentence phrase. The sound is used as a positioning address when setting a learning level.
Language learning device in 2.