JP2004151379A - Portable language learning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable language learning device enabling the learning of a language teaching material application regardless of places and time. <P>SOLUTION: The portable language learning device having a portable case body comprises: a language learning control part which executes the language teaching material application; an external data input / output part which fetches the language teaching material application from the outside; a storage part which stores the language teaching material application fetched from the outside; and a voice reproducing processing part which reproduces voice and a voice recording processing part which records user voice by selecting one of a plurality of reproducing / recording modes under the control of the language learning control part which executes the language teaching material application stored in the storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for taking language learning materials (so-called LL learning materials), and more particularly to a portable language learning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, language learning devices (so-called LL devices) for language learning have been widely used in various educational sites such as language schools. The main purpose of the LL device is to perform auditory training and voice training essential for language learning (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In a language school or the like, a language teaching material application is mounted on a teaching material server installed in the school, and the language teaching material application is distributed to a plurality of LL devices that are terminal devices connected to a school network such as a school LAN. Each student takes a course using a sound input / output device such as a headphone or a microphone attached to the LL device while viewing the display screen of the LL device. Some have a function of storing records of course completion, for example, student's voice data and the like by the teaching material server.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-28384 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-152310 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-8-16089
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-mentioned conventional system, when a student wants to review the language teaching material application taken at school at home, the student saves the teaching material data stored in a package-type recording medium such as a cassette tape or an MD and takes it home. He was conducting a pre-review using his home playback device.
[0005]
However, in recent years, many students do not have a cassette tape reproducing device at home, and not all students necessarily have an MD reproducing device, and only a limited number of students can use the MD reproducing device. Bringing back cassette tapes and MDs is bothersome for both schools and students, and requires considerable costs for recording media such as cassette tapes and MDs.
[0006]
Furthermore, with the progress of IT in school education, the language learning system represented by the LL device is being converted to the CALL system, but digitized audio teaching materials can be sent to students like conventional cassette tapes. The challenge is how to take it home easily.
[0007]
In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable language learning apparatus so that a user can take a language teaching material application equivalent to that in a school outside a school such as at home. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable language learning device capable of bidirectionally delivering a language teaching material application and transmitting course records via a communication network.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a portable language learning device having the following configuration.
[0009]
(1) In a portable language learning device having a portable housing, a language learning control unit for executing a language teaching material application, an external data input / output unit for externally loading the language teaching material application, A storage unit for storing the language teaching material application, and a voice in a playback recording mode selected from a plurality of playback recording modes under the control of the language learning control unit for executing the language teaching material application stored in the storage unit. It has a voice reproduction processing unit for reproducing and a voice recording processing unit for recording user voice.
[0010]
(2) In the apparatus of (1), the reproduction / recording mode includes one or more modes selected from the group consisting of track blank reproduction, silence detection blank reproduction, reproduction speed adjustment, bookmark reproduction, and pause reproduction.
[0011]
(3) In the apparatus of (1), the reproduction / recording mode includes one or more modes selected from the group consisting of comparison reproduction, track blank recording, silence detection blank recording, and trailing recording.
[0012]
(4) In the apparatus of (2) or (3) above, the track reproduction order in the reproduction / recording mode is one selected from the group consisting of normal reproduction, repeated reproduction, designated track reproduction, memory reproduction and random reproduction. Order.
[0013]
(5) In the device according to any one of (1) to (4), the storage unit includes a removable and rewritable storage medium.
[0014]
(6) In the device of (5), the external data input / output unit transmits the course record data, which is the execution result of the language teaching material application, to the outside.
[0015]
(7) In the device according to (6), the external data input / output unit is connected to a net terminal via a data transmission line, and the language teaching material application and the language teaching application are communicated with the net terminal via the data transmission line. Transmission of course record data.
[0016]
(8) The devices of (1) to (7) are preferably incorporated in a mobile phone.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic and schematic configuration diagram illustrating a usage form of a portable language learning device according to the present invention.
[0018]
An example of the portable language learning device 10 of the present invention is provided with a small and appropriately shaped housing suitable for carrying shown on the upper right side of FIG. 1, and is designed to be, for example, a box type. The portable language learning device 10 may be connectable with an external microphone 20 and headphones 24, or may have a built-in microphone and speaker. As another preferred example, the function of the portable language learning device 10 of the present invention may be incorporated into an existing mobile phone 60 or PDA 62 shown in the center on the right side of FIG. In this case, hardware and software (to be described later with reference to FIG. 2) necessary to realize the functions of the portable language learning device 10 are incorporated in the mobile phone 60 or the like. In addition, it is preferable that the functions of the existing mobile phone 60 and the like be used as they are for the voice input device and the voice reproducing device such as the microphone and the speaker, and the control system of these devices. Of course, an external microphone or headphones may be connectable.
[0019]
As the microphone and the headphones, any type of device having a function of voice input and voice reproduction can be used. For example, a headset or the like in which a microphone and headphones are integrated.
[0020]
Although the details of the function of the portable language learning device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, the portable language learning device 10 has a function of acquiring a language learning application from the outside, storing the application, and executing it. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a teaching material server 40 is installed in a language school or the like. The teaching material server 40 manages a teaching material database 42 storing various language learning applications. In some cases, the student record management database 43 stores student record data, which is a record of a student learning using a language learning application. Although not shown, the teaching material server 40 has a function of constructing and managing a website, and is capable of bidirectional data transmission with the network terminal 50 via the communication network 30 (for example, the Internet, broadband, or the like) via the website. The net terminal 50 is, for example, a personal computer having a communication function and a browser function.
[0021]
The portable language learning device 10 has a function of performing bidirectional data transmission with the network terminal 50 by being connected to the network terminal 50 via an arbitrary data transmission line 15. The data transmission line 15 can use any connection for data transmission such as a USB connection, and may be wired or wireless. The portable language learning device 10 can take in a language teaching material application from the net terminal 50 via the data transmission line 15 and transmit course record data to the net terminal 50.
[0022]
When the language teaching material application is captured and stored in the portable language learning device 10, the user removes the portable language learning device 10 from the net terminal 50, carries the portable language learning device 10, and changes the location and time. Listening practice, pronunciation practice and pronunciation tests can be performed without the need. Course record data, which is a record of learning using these language learning applications, is temporarily recorded in the portable language learning device 10. Then, the portable language learning device 10 can be connected to the net terminal 50 again, and the course record data can be transmitted to the net terminal 50. The course record data includes, for example, audio data of pronunciation practice, pronunciation test, and the like, text data such as course stage records and test results of each language teaching material, and the like. Thereafter, the course record data is transmitted from the network terminal 10 to the teaching material server 40 via the communication network 30.
[0023]
The net terminal 50 transmits the language teaching material application downloaded from the teaching material server 40 via the communication network 30 to the portable language learning device 10, and the course record data received from the portable language learning device 10 via the communication network 30. A function of uploading to the teaching material server 40 is provided. The functions related to the present invention in the net terminal 50 are realized by appropriate software, that is, a program.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically and schematically showing a functional configuration of the portable language learning device 10 according to the present invention. The portable language learning device 10 has a language learning control unit 12 including a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling functions related to the present invention. Specifically, it executes a program for realizing functions related to the present invention, that is, a language learning application stored in an appropriate storage device included in the storage unit 16. In one embodiment, the language teaching material application is separated into a part for realizing the playback / recording function and a teaching material part, and the part for realizing the playback / recording function is always stored in the ROM provided in the storage unit 16. Only the part may be fetched from the outside and stored in a RAM or a card memory provided in the storage unit 16. The playback / recording function is a function for executing a plurality of playback / recording modes, and is common regardless of the contents of teaching materials. The teaching material portion includes, for example, audio data of exemplary pronunciation recorded by a teacher or the like. In another embodiment, a language teaching material application is imported from the outside in a form that includes both a portion for realizing a playback recording function and a teaching material portion.
[0025]
Further, under the control of the language learning control unit 12, the functions of the external data input / output unit 14, the storage unit 16, the voice recording processing unit 18, the voice reproduction processing unit 22, and the display unit 26 are executed.
[0026]
The external data input / output unit 14 includes an interface device for data transmission between the portable language learning device 10 and the net terminal 50 shown in FIG. For example, a USB connection or the like is used.
[0027]
The storage unit 16 includes an appropriate storage device (for example, a RAM or the like) for storing a language teaching material application or the like imported from the outside. The storage device is also used to temporarily store voice data and the like as necessary when executing the language teaching material application. In a preferred embodiment, a removable and rewritable storage medium for storing the language teaching material application, for example, a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory is provided. By providing a plurality of removable and rewritable storage media, different language teaching material applications can be stored in each of the storage media, and learning can be performed by appropriately replacing them.
[0028]
The voice recording processing unit 18 processes a voice signal input from a voice input device 20 which is a microphone (either external or internal) under the control of the language learning control unit 12. For example, it includes an analog-to-digital converter, converts an analog audio signal into digital data, and transmits the digital data to the storage unit 16.
[0029]
The audio reproduction processing unit 22 outputs an audio signal to an audio output device 24 such as a headphone, a speaker (which may be external or internal), or a headset under the control of the language learning control unit 12. For example, it includes a digital-to-analog converter, converts digital audio data into an analog signal, and transmits the analog signal to the audio output device 24.
[0030]
In a preferred example, the display unit 26 displays the image data included in the language teaching material application on the display device 28 under the control of the language learning control unit 12. For example, by displaying the title and item name of the audio signal being reproduced or instruction information for the user, the user can easily use the language teaching material application. The display device 28 is, for example, a liquid crystal screen, an LED, or the like.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a set of playback / recording modes executed by the playback / recording function of the language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention. 3 (A) to 3 (E) show different reproduction / recording modes, and the horizontal axis shows the teaching material data stored in the tracks of the storage medium. For example, one track stores data corresponding to one unit of the teaching material. The same applies to FIGS. 4 and 5. The user selects one of these playback and recording modes and executes learning. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the portable linguistics learning device 10 is provided with an appropriate input device for selecting operations such as start, stop, and pause of learning and for selecting a reproduction / recording mode. For example, a push button, a touch screen, or the like provided on the device. When the function of the mobile linguistics learning device 10 is incorporated in a mobile phone or the like, it is preferable to use the function as an existing input device such as a push button in the mobile phone or the like.
[0032]
When "normal reproduction" shown in FIG. 3A is selected, all tracks are reproduced until a stop operation is performed. When “repeated playback” shown in FIG. 3B is selected, all tracks are repeatedly played back until a stop operation is performed. In “track designation reproduction” shown in FIG. 3C, (1) a specific track is selected and only the selected track is reproduced, or (2) a specific track is selected and the selected track is selected. There is a case where playback is started up to the last track. Incidentally, in the case of (1), it is possible to further select only one-time reproduction and repeated reproduction. In "memory reproduction" shown in FIG. 3D, a plurality of tracks are selected and reproduced with the selected tracks. Also in this case, it is possible to further select only one-time reproduction and repeated reproduction. The “random reproduction” shown in FIG. 3E reproduces each track in a random order.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a set of reproduction / recording modes executed by the reproduction / recording function of the language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention. When "track blank reproduction" shown in FIG. 4A is selected, a silent state (blank) at the same time as the reproduction track is automatically added and reproduced. Note that the respective modes shown in FIG. 3 can be applied to the order of track reproduction (the same applies hereinafter). When "silence detection blank reproduction" shown in FIG. 4 (B) is selected, silence portions included in the track are detected, and after each silence portion, a simultaneous silence state is further added and reproduced. When the “reproduction speed adjustment” shown in FIG. 4C is selected, the reproduction speed can be changed without changing the pitch. When "bookmark reproduction" in FIG. 4D is selected, reproduction is resumed from the track at the time when the power was last turned off. When “pause playback” in FIG. 4E is selected, the playback is paused by a pause (pause) operation during the playback, and when the playback operation is performed next, the playback is restarted from the paused position.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of a set of reproduction and recording patterns executed by the reproduction and recording function of the language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention. When “comparison playback” shown in FIG. 5A is selected, the master voice (model pronunciation voice) and the voice recorded by the user are alternately reproduced in track units. In other words, the order is master sound reproduction (first time), user voice recording, master sound reproduction (second time), and user voice reproduction. When the reproduction of the master audio in the first half (first time) is completed, the reproduction of the master audio is temporarily stopped for recording the user voice. The reproduction of the master voice (second time) and the reproduction of the user voice in the latter half are for comparison, and only this comparative reproduction can be repeated. When “track blank recording” shown in FIG. 5B is selected, a specific track is selected, and master sound reproduction, recording, and comparison reproduction are alternately performed in units of the selected track. When "silence detection blank recording" shown in FIG. 5C is selected, a specific track is selected, a silent portion in the selected track is detected, and master sound reproduction and user voice recording are performed for each silent portion. It repeats alternately and performs comparative reproduction at the end of the track. When “follow-up recording” shown in FIG. 5 (D) is selected, a specific track is selected, a follow-up sound is generated while the user listens to the reproduction of the master sound, and at the same time, only the user voice is recorded. When the selected track ends and the trailing sound of the user ends, comparative reproduction is performed. Therefore, in this case, the reproduction of the master voice for the user voice recording is not temporarily stopped.
[0035]
The portable linguistics learning apparatus may incorporate a function capable of executing all of the reproduced and recorded patterns shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, or may incorporate a function capable of executing only a part thereof.
[0036]
In another embodiment of the present invention, a mobile phone or the like incorporating the function of a mobile linguistics learning device has a function of directly accessing a website of a teaching material server via a communication network, and is provided with an Internet terminal. Instead, the language teaching material application may be downloaded directly from the website of the teaching material server.
[0037]
In still another embodiment of the present invention, in a language school or the like in which a teaching material server is installed, a user takes a lesson using an LL terminal connected to the teaching material server via a LAN, and after finishing the lesson, the portable linguistics of the present invention is completed. The learning device and the LL terminal may be connected by an appropriate data transmission line, and the teaching material application may be downloaded from the LL terminal.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
By using the portable linguistics learning device according to the present invention, digitized audio teaching material data can be stored and easily carried, as in the case where a cassette tape or the like is conventionally brought back. In addition, various language learning that could not be performed without using an LL terminal installed in a classroom such as a language school can be easily performed anytime and anywhere. This can be expected to spread as a new language learning device in CALL classrooms, net terminals, homes, etc. in schools.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic and schematic configuration diagram illustrating a use form of a portable language learning device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically and schematically showing a functional configuration of a portable language learning device 10 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a set of reproduction and recording patterns executed by a reproduction and recording function of a language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a set of reproduction recording patterns executed by the reproduction recording function of the language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of a set of reproduction recording patterns executed by the reproduction recording function of the language teaching material application in the portable linguistic learning device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Portable language learning device 12 Language learning control unit 14 External data input / output unit 16 Storage unit 17 Card memory 18 Voice recording processing unit 18
Reference Signs List 20 audio input device 22 audio reproduction processing unit 24 audio reproduction device 26 display unit 28 display device

Claims (8)

In a portable language learning device having a portable housing,
A language learning control unit for executing a language teaching material application;
An external data input / output unit that takes in the language teaching material application from outside,
A storage unit for storing the language teaching material application taken from outside,
Under the control of the language learning control unit that executes the language teaching material application stored in the storage unit, a voice reproduction processing unit that performs voice reproduction in a reproduction recording mode selected from a plurality of reproduction recording modes, and a user voice A portable language learning device, comprising: a voice recording processing unit for recording. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the playback / recording mode includes one or more modes selected from the group consisting of track blank playback, silence detection blank playback, playback speed adjustment, bookmark playback, and pause playback. Type language learning device. The portable language learning device according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction recording mode includes one or more modes selected from the group consisting of comparison reproduction, track blank recording, silence detection blank recording, and follow-up recording. . 4. The track playback order in the playback / recording mode is one playback order selected from the group consisting of normal playback, repetitive playback, track designated playback, memory playback, and random playback. Portable language learning device. The portable language learning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage unit includes a removable and rewritable storage medium. The portable language learning device according to claim 5, wherein the external data input / output unit transmits the course record data, which is the execution result of the language teaching material application, to the outside. The external data input / output unit is connected to a network terminal via a data transmission line, and transmits the language teaching material application and the course record data to and from the network terminal via the data transmission line. The portable language learning device according to claim 6. The portable language learning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device is incorporated in a mobile phone.

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