KR101122188B1 - System and method for learning foreign language - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a foreign language learning system and method for improving foreign language learning efficiency.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a foreign language learning method may include: connecting a learner who wants to learn a foreign language and an instructor who can guide the learner to a server using a learner terminal and an instructor terminal, respectively; When the learner and the instructor enter a stage, which is a place on the web where they can communicate with each other using the foreign language, a communication channel for exchanging at least one of text, voice, and image between the learner terminal and the instructor terminal is provided. Forming; Responding to the text presented by the instructor through the communication channel by the learner by speaking in the foreign language or by manipulating the item presented by the instructor; And evaluating, by the instructor, the learner's learning ability based on the learner's response or an operation result on the item.

Foreign language, learning

Description

System and method for learning foreign language

The present invention relates to a foreign language learning system and method, and more particularly, a foreign language learning system capable of improving foreign language learning efficiency by performing a role play by learners and instructors in a virtual foreign language using environment similar to an actual foreign language using environment, and It is about a method.

In an environment where a language other than the native language is not used, such as Korea, there is a limitation of foreign language learning because there is no practical environment for foreign language use, and various foreign language education methods have been researched and implemented to overcome this problem. Among the various foreign language teaching methods, the Total Physical Response Method (TPR Method) is a method in which a learner responds to a given foreign language by physically responding to a given foreign language, such as clapping, grabbing, moving, or looking at it. It is a teaching method to learn. The systemic response teaching method follows natural procedures such as acquiring the native language, which can reduce the psychological stress of the learner, and the learner can learn a foreign language through physical actions, so that words or sentences can be remembered for a long time.

On the other hand, as a general method for learning a foreign language, a method of using a foreign language school, a method of using a landline or a video phone, a method of using an Internet lecture, etc. may be mentioned. Although a foreign language school is the most common method for learning a foreign language, most of the school classes are conducted by memorizing grammar, vocabulary, conversation, etc., so it is difficult to expect a high foreign language learning effect from the learner. The method of using a landline phone or a video phone has the advantage of providing conversation opportunities with native speakers over the phone and providing remote lessons, but it cannot reproduce the environment in which a foreign language is spoken, so the reality is inferior. If a learner speaks freely with a native speaker, it is not easy to find a common material for dialogue. The method of using internet lectures is different from the method of using foreign language schools, but the difference is that there is less restriction on the time and space where learners can take lectures. There is no big difference between how to use the school.

As such, the existing foreign language learning methods are difficult to expect efficient foreign language learning results, and most teachers take the form of unilaterally conveying knowledge to learners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and instructors and learners perform role play in real time in a virtual foreign language environment similar to the foreign language environment in which a real foreign language is used, thereby improving foreign language learning efficiency. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a foreign language learning system and method that can improve the quality of education.

However, the objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, a foreign language learning method according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: connecting a learner who wants to learn a foreign language and an instructor who can guide the learner to each other using a learner terminal and an instructor terminal; When the learner and the instructor enter a stage, which is a place on the web where they can communicate with each other using the foreign language, a communication channel for exchanging at least one of text, voice, and image between the learner terminal and the instructor terminal is provided. Forming; Responding to the text presented by the instructor through the communication channel by the learner by speaking in the foreign language or by manipulating the item presented by the instructor; And evaluating, by the instructor, the learner's learning ability based on the learner's response or an operation result on the item.

In order to achieve the above object, a foreign language learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a learner terminal used by a learner to learn a foreign language; An instructor terminal used by an instructor capable of directing the learner; And a communication channel for exchanging at least one of text, voice, and image between the learner terminal and the instructor terminal when the learner and the instructor enter a stage on the web where they can communicate with each other using the foreign language. A response to the text presented by the instructor through the communication channel so that the learner can respond by speaking in the foreign language, or manipulate and respond to an item presented by the instructor, Or, based on a result of the manipulation of the item, a server that allows the instructor to evaluate the learner's learning ability.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

According to the foreign language learning system and method according to the present invention as described above has the following effects.

First, through role play that is performed in real time between the instructor and the learner in a virtual foreign language environment similar to the real foreign language environment, the instructor can induce immediate conversation with the learner, and the learner can experience the tension and improvisation that can be experienced in the real situation. I can feel it.

Second, instead of the respondents answering the foreign language about the contents that the instructor or learner asks the foreign language to the other party, the respondents can express the action by using action items, so that the learning effect by the whole body reaction teaching method can be obtained.

Third, the role of instructor and learner can be easily changed while performing role play, and the role change enables learner to develop the perspective taking ability to predict what the other person wants from the other's point of view. .

Fourth, by entering the contracted companies in a virtual foreign language environment, it is possible to promote the company, and profit through contract with the company.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a foreign language learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. 1 is a diagram illustrating a foreign language learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foreign language learning system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a learner terminal 200, an instructor terminal 400, and a server 300.

The learner terminal 200 refers to a digital device used by the learner. Examples of the digital device may be a mobile portable digital device such as a PDA or a notebook, or a fixed digital device such as a personal computer. The learner terminal 200 may access a server 300 through a network and then receive a service related to a virtual foreign language use environment. To this end, the learner terminal 200 includes an input unit 220, a photographing unit 230, a chat unit 250, a storage unit 260, an output unit 270, a control unit 240, and a communication unit 210. can do.

The input unit 220 may receive a learner's command. The input unit 220 may include not only input means for inputting text or text, such as a mouse or keyboard, but also voice input means for receiving a learner's voice, such as a microphone.

The photographing unit 230 may photograph the learner's face. The photographing unit 230 may be implemented as a small camera such as a webcam, for example. Image data photographed by the photographing unit 230 may be transmitted to the server 300.

The chat unit 250 may form a communication channel with the instructor terminal 400 connected to the server 300. Once the communication channel is established, the learner can chat with the instructor using text, voice, video, and the like.

The storage unit 260 may store data or algorithms necessary for the learner terminal 200 to access the server 300 to execute a virtual foreign language use environment service. The storage unit 260 may be volatile such as read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, or random access memory (RAM). It may be implemented as a memory, or a combination of a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory.

The output unit 270 may output a command processing result. To this end, the output unit 270 may include an image display means such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an audio output means such as a speaker.

The controller 240 may connect and control the components constituting the learner terminal 200 with each other. For example, the controller 240 may perform an operation such as converting a command or data input by a learner into a form suitable for transmission to the server 300. For another example, the controller 240 may share the flash with the instructor terminal 400 and perform a task of controlling the flash.

The communication unit 210 may be responsible for data transmission and reception with the instructor terminal 400 via the server 300. For example, the image data photographed by the photographing unit 230 may be transmitted to the server 300, and data or a program necessary for executing a virtual foreign language use environment service may be received from the server 300. .

Instructor terminal 400 refers to a digital device used by the instructor. Like the learner terminal 200, the instructor terminal 400 may be a portable digital device or a fixed digital device. After the instructor terminal 400 accesses the server 300 through a network, the instructor terminal 400 may receive a service related to a virtual foreign language use environment. To this end, the instructor terminal 400 includes an input unit 420, a photographing unit 430, a chat unit 450, a storage unit 460, an output unit 470, a control unit 440, and a communication unit 410. can do. Since each component of the instructor terminal 400 has the same or similar function as each component of the learner terminal 200, redundant description will be omitted.

The server 300 may provide a service related to the virtual foreign language use environment to the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400 connected through a network. In detail, the server 300 may provide a virtual foreign language use environment service for various kinds of foreign languages such as English, Chinese, and Japanese through a web page. After the learner or the instructor accesses the server 300 through a login process, the learner or the instructor selects a foreign language to be learned or a foreign language to be taught, thereby entering the virtual village for the selected language. For example, a learner or instructor can enter a virtual English village by selecting English from the foreign languages provided on the web page. When the learner and the instructor enter the virtual English village, the server 300 may configure a screen suitable for the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400, respectively, and provide them to each terminal. In order to perform these operations, the server 300 may include a communication unit 310, a storage unit 330, and a control unit 320.

The communication unit 310 may be responsible for data transmission and reception with the learner terminal 200 and data transmission and reception with the instructor terminal 400. For example, the communicator 310 may receive image data photographed by the photographing unit of the learner terminal 200 or image data photographed by the photographing unit of the instructor terminal 400. As another example, the communicator 310 may transmit a screen suitable for the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400 to each terminal.

The storage unit 330 may store login information for a learner or instructor, data, programs, algorithms, etc. required to provide a virtual foreign language use environment service. In addition, the storage unit 330 may store the entire communication screen made between the learner and the instructor.

The controller 320 may perform an authentication procedure, that is, a login procedure, on the learner or the instructor, and use the image data received from the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400 to provide the learner terminal 200 to the learner terminal 200. The instructor side communication screen 800 to be provided to the side communication screen 700 or the instructor terminal 400 may be configured.

Each component of FIG. 1 may be software such as tasks, classes, subroutines, processes, objects, execution threads, programs, or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits that are performed in a region of memory. It may be implemented in hardware, such as), may also be made of a combination of the software and hardware. The components may be included in a computer readable storage medium or a part of the components may be distributed and distributed among a plurality of computers.

Next, the virtual foreign language use environment service provided by the server 300 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. For convenience of explanation, the following description will be made using a virtual English village as an example.

There may be multiple stages in a virtual English village. Here, the stage refers to a place on the web that learners can enter, for example, a restaurant, a coffee shop, an airport, an office, a beauty salon, a pharmacy, a taxi, a theater, and the like. The stage may be represented by a general image representing each place, but may be represented by an image of an existing building, a place, a space, or a trade name of an existing company. For example, a restaurant may be represented by an image displaying a trade name of 'Venigans', and a coffee shop may be represented by an image displaying 'Starbucks'. In order to express the stage using an image showing the name or trade name of an existing building, place, space, or business, a contract with the companies must be preceded. As such, by expressing the stage using the image of the company or name of the contracted company in advance, the corresponding companies can obtain a promotional effect, the server 300 manager can expect the revenue through the contract with the company.

Learners and instructors may enter a predetermined stage among a number of stages existing in a virtual English village. In the case of a learner, he / she can freely select a stage he / she wants. In the case of an instructor, like a learner, it may be implemented to select and enter a stage desired by the instructor, or may be implemented to enter only a stage assigned to the instructor himself. In the latter case, an instructor may be assigned to each stage, and the assigned instructor may oversee the English education through the stage.

The learner or instructor can click on the image for a given stage to enter the stage. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the case where the learner and the instructor enter the restaurant stage will be described as an example. When the learner selects a restaurant stage among the plurality of stages, the screen 500 as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be displayed on the learner terminal 200. When the learner clicks on the restaurant image in this state, the learner terminal 200 may display a screen 600 including a 'use webcam' button 610 and an 'avatar use' button 620 as shown in FIG. 3. have.

The learner may enter the restaurant stage by selecting the 'use webcam' button 610 or the 'use avatar' button 620. The Use Webcam button and the Use Avatar button indicate whether the student will use the images captured by the camera to express themselves or the characters on the web while the learner enters the stage and learns English with the instructor. It is a button to decide. Specifically, when the learner selects the webcam use button to enter the restaurant stage, the image data photographed by the photographing unit of the learner terminal 200 is displayed, and the learner selects the avatar use button to enter the restaurant stage. Next, the avatar previously set by the learner may be displayed. The selection screen as shown in FIG. 3 may be provided to the instructor in the same manner. In the following description, a case where both the learner and the instructor have selected a webcam use button will be described.

When the learner and the instructor enter the restaurant stage, a communication channel may be formed between the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400, and a communication screen for learning the English expression related to the restaurant stage may include the learner terminal 200 and the learner terminal 200. Each of the instructor terminal 400 may be displayed. Through this communication screen, learners and instructors can chat using text, voice, and video.

4 is a diagram illustrating an instructor-side communication screen 800 displayed on the instructor terminal 400. The instructor side communication screen 800 includes an instructor image display area 810, a text display area 820, a learner image display area 830, a learner information display area 840, an item display area 850, and an evaluation item display. An area 860, a comment input area, a scene display area 870, a mission performance result input area 880, and a mission list display area 890 may be included.

The instructor image display area 810 and the text display area 820 may be sequentially located on the left side of the instructor-side communication screen 800.

In the instructor image display area 810, an image of an instructor who enters a restaurant stage may be displayed. When the instructor enters the restaurant stage, if the user selects and enters the webcam use button, the instructor image display area 810 may display image data photographed by the instructor terminal 400. If the instructor enters the restaurant stage by selecting the use avatar button, the instructor image display area 810 may display the avatar set on the web in advance by the instructor.

In the text display area 820, text exchanged between an instructor and a learner may be displayed. For example, the instructor may input a response to the learner's question as text, and the text input by the instructor may be displayed in the text display area 820.

The learner image display area 830 may be located on the upper right side of the instructor-side communication screen 800. In the learner image display area 830, images of learners who have entered the restaurant stage may be displayed. In this case, the displayed image may be image data photographed by the learner terminal 200 or may be an avatar on a web set in advance by the learner.

In the center of the instructor-side communication screen 800, the learner information display area 840, the item display area 850, the evaluation item display area 860, and the comment input area may be sequentially located from the top.

In the learner information display area 840, a profile of the learner selected in the learner image display area 830 may be briefly displayed.

In the item display area 850, one or more items may be displayed. Here, the item is an object that the instructor can present on the learner side communication screen 700 and may be manufactured in advance. For example, when the stage is a restaurant, items that can be used by the instructor may include items such as a menu board, a receipt, a drink, a food, a tableware, and the like. These items have the ability to describe actions or sound effects occurring in restaurants. Items can be largely divided into two types, general items and action items. General items can be controlled only by the instructor, the learner is an item that can not be controlled, and action items are items that both the instructor and the learner can control. Examples of general items may be drinks, tableware, etc. Examples of action items may be menu boards or radios. Action items can be used as follows: When the instructor selects the menu board, the menu board is displayed on the learner side communication screen 700, and the learner can find and select a desired menu by turning the page of the displayed menu board. If the instructor selects a radio, the radio is displayed on the learner side communication screen 700, and the learner can increase or decrease the volume of the displayed radio. By using action items that both instructors and learners can control, the whole body reaction teaching method can be practiced even in online foreign language learning.

In the evaluation item display area 860, evaluation items for evaluating a learner may be displayed. Examples of evaluation items include pronunciation, intonation, grammar, and vocabulary. Instructors can enter scores for each item to evaluate learners' achievement.

The comment input area is an area where an instructor can input a comment about a learner. For example, the instructor may input a comment about the contents other than the evaluation items displayed in the evaluation item display area 860, the class attitude of the learner, and the like into the comment input area. One side of the comment input area is provided with a 'Send' button. When the instructor enters a score and a comment of the evaluation item and selects the 'Send' button, the teacher enters not only the evaluation information and the comment but also the class with the learner. The content may be stored in the server 300. Therefore, the learner may access the server 300 later and check the previous lesson contents again.

The scene display area 870, the mission performance result input area 880, and the mission list display area 890 may be sequentially located on the right side of the instructor-side communication screen 800.

The scene display area 870 may list scenes for situations that may occur in the restaurant. For example, a scene of welcoming a customer at the entrance of a restaurant, a scene of receiving an order at a table, a scene of talking with a companion at a table, a scene of calculating, and the like may be listed.

In the mission list display area 890, texts related to a scene currently selected from scenes displayed in the scene display area 870, for example, sentences or expressions, may be displayed. The displayed texts may be presented to the learner as a mission at the instructor's choice. Here, the mission means that the instructor asks the learner to express certain sentences in English. When the instructor selects a specific sentence from among the sentences displayed on the mission list display area 890, the selected sentence may be converted into the learner's native language, for example, Korean, and displayed on the learner terminal 200. In this case, the learner terminal 200 may display a preset time limit together with the sentence converted into the native language. If a learner speaks a sentence in his or her native language in English within the indicated time limit, the instructor may consider the learner to be successful. If the teacher does not speak English within the indicated time limit, the instructor may consider the learner to have failed the mission.

The mission performance result input area 880 is an area where the instructor can input the mission performance result of the learner. When the instructor selects a specific text in the mission list display area 890, the selected text may be displayed in the mission performance result input area 880. At this time, the mission execution result input area 880 may include a 'Pass' button, a 'Fail' button, and a 'Hint' button for the selected text. The 'Hint' button may only be displayed if there is a hint for the selected text. The text selected by the instructor and related buttons are displayed on the mission performance result input area 880, and the text selected by the instructor is converted and displayed on the learner terminal 200 in the learner's terminal language. Thereafter, when the learner answers the text displayed in the native language in English within the displayed time limit, the instructor may select the 'Pass' button to input that the learner has succeeded in the corresponding mission. When responding in English, the learner may respond by voice, text, action item, or a combination thereof. If the learner fails to respond to the text displayed in the native language in English within the indicated time limit, the instructor may select the 'Fail' button to input that the learner has failed the mission. As such, when the instructor selects the 'Pass' button or the 'Fail' button to input the mission performance result, an icon representing the mission performance result may be displayed on the learner side communication screen 700.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a learner side communication screen 700 displayed on the learner terminal 200. The learner-side communication screen 700 may include a scene display area 710, a learner image display area 720, a text display area 730, and a mission display area 750.

A scene display area 710 may be located above the learner side communication screen 700, and a learner image display area 720, a text display area 730, and a mission display beneath the learner side communication screen 700. Regions 750 may be located in order from the left.

The scene selected by the instructor may be displayed in the scene display area 710. For example, if the instructor selects a scene where the waiter receives an order from among a plurality of scenes, the scene display area 710 of the learner side communication screen 700 displays a scene where the instructor's face image is synthesized on the face of the waiter. Can be displayed. In the scene display area 710, an item selected by an instructor may be displayed. For example, if an instructor selects a menu board item on the instructor-side communication screen 800, a menu board (see 790 of FIG. 7) may be displayed on the scene display area 710 of the learner-side communication screen 700. . An icon representing a learner's mission execution result may be displayed on the lower right side of the scene display area 710. Regardless of whether the mission is successful, each time the learner performs the mission presented by the instructor, the number of icons displayed on the screen may increase by one. At this time, the icon for the successful mission and the icon for the failed mission, for example, may be displayed differently in color, shape, size, and the like. Thus, the learner can grasp the learning results at a glance.

In the learner image display area 720, an image of a learner who enters the restaurant stage may be displayed. When the learner enters the restaurant stage by selecting a webcam use button, the learner image display area 720 may display image data photographed by the learner terminal 200. If the learner enters the restaurant stage by selecting the avatar use button, the learner image display area 720 may display the avatar set on the web in advance by the learner.

In the text display area 730, text exchanged between the learner and the instructor may be displayed. For example, in response to the mission presented by the instructor, the learner may enter text, and the text input by the learner may be displayed in the text display area 730.

In the mission display area 750, an English sentence or English expression presented by the instructor as a mission may be converted into a Korean language, which is the learner's native language. In the mission display area 750, a time limit 760 for the learner to respond to the sentence or expression converted into Korean in English may be displayed. The time limit is counted down from the moment the mission is presented to the learner terminal 200. At this time, the time limit may increase in proportion to the difficulty of the sentence or expression meshed as the mission. If a student wants a hint for a sentence or expression presented as a mission, he or she can ask the instructor for a hint. When the instructor transmits the hint, the transmitted hint may be displayed in English on the bottom 740 of the mission display area 750. The learner can then respond in English with reference to the displayed hints.

Next, a foreign language learning process according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a foreign language learning method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 to 12, the left figure shows the learner side communication screen 700 and the right figure shows the instructor side communication screen 800.

First, the learner and the instructor may log in to the server 300 using their digital devices, that is, the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400 (S61).

Thereafter, the learner can enter the stage, for example, the restaurant by selecting the restaurant (S62). Before entering the stage, learners and instructors can choose whether to use an avatar or webcam image as an image to represent themselves within the stage.

When the learner and the instructor enter a stage called a restaurant, a communication channel may be generated between the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400. As a result, the learner terminal 200 may display the learner side communication screen 700 as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the instructor terminal 400 may include the instructor side communication screen 800 illustrated in FIG. 4. Can be displayed.

Thereafter, the learner and the instructor can talk in English, which is the target language, according to the role played by the stage (S63).

A detailed description of the step S63 is as follows. First, the instructor may determine the roles of the learner and the instructor by selecting a predetermined scene on the instructor-side communication screen 800. For example, if the clerk chooses to take an order from the table, the learner can act as a guest and the instructor can act as a clerk.

The instructor can then present the mission to the learner by selecting certain text from the mission list. When the instructor selects the predetermined text, the selected text is displayed on the mission performance result input area 880 of the instructor-side communication screen 800 as shown in the right figure of FIG. 7, and as shown in the left figure of FIG. The native language may be converted into Korean and displayed on the mission display area 750 of the learner-side communication screen 700. If a hint exists for the selected text, the instructor can present the hint to the learner. The process of converting the text selected by the instructor into the native language of the learner may be performed by, for example, the controller of the server 300. In another embodiment, the conversion process may be performed by the instructor terminal 400 or the learner terminal 200. In this case, the instructor terminal 400 or the learner terminal 200 may store a mapping table in which a mapping relationship between the English text and the Korean text is defined.

The learner must respond to the text in Korean in English within a limited time. If there is a hint, the learner can answer in English using the English words presented as the hint. In this case, the response may be performed by speaking English or inputting text. If the learner responds to the text in Korean in English within the time limit, the instructor may consider the learner successful in the mission. In this case, the instructor may select a 'Pass' button among the buttons displayed in the mission performance result input area 880. When the instructor selects the 'Pass' button, the mission performance result input area 880 of the instructor side communication screen 800 is displayed as 'Pass' next to the corresponding text, as shown in the right figure of FIG. As shown on the left side of FIG. 8, one circular green icon, which is an icon 780 indicating a mission success, may be additionally displayed beside existing icons in the scene display area 710 of 700. If the text displayed in Korean is not answered in English within a limited time, the instructor may consider the learner to have failed the mission. In this case, the instructor may select a 'Fail' button among the buttons displayed in the mission execution result input area 880. When the instructor selects the 'Fail' button, the mission performance result input area 880 of the instructor-side communication screen 800 is displayed as 'Fail' next to the corresponding text, as shown in the right figure of FIG. In the scene display area 710 of the screen 700, as shown in the left figure of FIG. 9, one circular red icon, which is an icon 780 indicating a mission failure, may be additionally displayed beside existing icons.

In addition to presenting the mission to the learner, the instructor can present the action item to the learner. For example, if the learner said the English sentence 'Do you want to show the menu?', The instructor can answer the learner's question by selecting an item for the menu on the instructor side communication screen 800. . Then, the menu panel 790 may be displayed on the scene display area 710 of the learner side communication screen 700 as shown in the left figure of FIG. 10. After presenting the menu board 790, the instructor can ask the learner, 'What would you like to order?' If the learner hears and understands the English question, the learner will turn the page of the menu board 790 to select the desired menu, and if he or she does not understand the English question, no action will be taken. Thus, depending on whether the user manipulates the menu board 790 or not, the instructor can evaluate the learner's learning ability. If the learner does nothing, the instructor can tell the learner the correct English expression.

Thereafter, when the instructor selects another scene, for example, a scene where a customer is sitting at a table, as shown in the right figure of FIG. 11, the instructor-selected communication screen 700 selects the instructor as shown in the left figure of FIG. 11. The scene can be displayed. In this case, the role of the instructor may change from the clerk to the customer, and the role of the learner from the customer to the clerk. By changing the roles of the learner and the instructor through the scene selection as described above, the learner can learn not only the English expression from the customer's point of view, but also the English expression from the clerk's point of view and develop the ability to acquire viewpoints.

When the role play is completed, the instructor may input scores for the evaluation items displayed on the evaluation item display area 860, as shown in the right figure of FIG. 12, and the learner or learner's class attitude in the comment input area. You can enter a comment. Then, select the 'Send' button, so that the conversation content or learning content can be stored in the server 300 (S64). When the learning contents are stored in the server 300, the learner may access the server 300 later and check the stored contents again. Stored learning content may be provided to other learners for a fee.

The foreign language learning system 100 and the method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention have been described above. In the above-described embodiment, the server 300 receives image data from the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400, and is suitable for the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal 400 using the received image data. The case where a communication screen is configured and transmitted to each terminal has been described. According to another embodiment, the server 300 only serves to transfer the image taken by the learner terminal 200 and the image taken by the instructor terminal 400 to the other terminal, respectively, the learner terminal 200 and the instructor terminal. The 400 may configure a communication screen using the image data received from the opposite terminal.

With reference to the drawings illustrated above, the foreign language learning system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention have been described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalent concept are included in the scope of the present invention. Should be interpreted.

1 is a view schematically showing the configuration of a foreign language learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a restaurant stage among a plurality of stages existing in a virtual English village.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed when a learner enters a restaurant, a stage shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a diagram illustrating an instructor-side communication screen displayed on the instructor terminal when the instructor enters a stage called a restaurant.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a learner side communication screen displayed on a learner terminal when the learner enters a stage called a restaurant.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a foreign language learning method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 to 12 are diagrams illustrating a learner side communication screen and an instructor side communication screen.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: foreign language learning system.

200: learner terminal

300: server

400: instructor terminal

Claims (20)

Connecting a learner who wants to learn a foreign language and an instructor who can guide the learner to the server using the learner terminal and the instructor terminal, respectively; Establishing a communication channel for exchanging text, voice, and images between the learner terminal and the instructor terminal when the learner and the instructor enter a stage on the web where they can communicate with each other using the foreign language. ; After the communication channel is formed, a learner-side communication screen to be provided to the learner terminal and an instructor-side communication screen to be provided to the instructor terminal are provided and provided to the learner terminal and the instructor terminal, respectively, An item display area; Responding to the text presented by the instructor through the communication channel by the learner by speaking in the foreign language or by manipulating the item presented by the instructor; And Comprising the instructor evaluating the learner's learning ability, based on the learner's response or the operation result of the item, The item is an object that an instructor can present on the learner side communication screen, and is divided into a general item and an action item. The general item is an item that can only be controlled by the instructor and the learner can not control the action item. Learner is an item that can be all controlled, the selected action item is characterized in that the learner is displayed to the learner when the instructor selects the action item. The method of claim 1, wherein the stage, A method of learning a foreign language, represented by a business name or name of a pre-contracted company. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the learner side communication screen, A scene display area displaying a scene selected by the instructor among scenes representing a situation that may occur in the stage; A learner image display area displaying image data of the learner's face or a character previously set by the learner on a web; A text display area in which text exchanged between the learner and the instructor is displayed; And And a mission display area in which a text for converting the text presented by the instructor into the native language of the learner and a time limit for displaying the text converted into the foreign language in the learner's native language are displayed. The method of claim 4, wherein And image data photographing the face of the instructor is synthesized and displayed in a partial region of the scene selected by the instructor. The method of claim 4, wherein And a result of whether the learner successfully expresses the text converted into the native language in the foreign language within the time limit is displayed in the partial region of the scene display area. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructor-side communication screen, A text display area in which text exchanged between the instructor and the learner is displayed; A learner image display area in which an image of each of the one or more learners entering the stage is displayed; An item display area on which one or more of the items, which are objects that can describe actions or sound effects that may occur in the stage, are displayed;  A scene display area in which scenes representing situations that may occur in the stage are displayed; A mission list display area in which one or more texts are displayed that are related to a scene selected by the instructor among the scenes displayed in the scene display area and that can be presented to the learner as a mission for the learner to express using the foreign language. ; And And a mission performance result input area for inputting the mission performance result of the learner with respect to the text presented as the mission to the learner. The method of claim 7, wherein the instructor-side communication screen, An instructor image display area displaying image data photographing the instructor's face or a character previously set by the instructor; An evaluation item display area on which evaluation items for evaluating learning ability for the learner are displayed; A comment input area in which the instructor may input a comment about the learner or the class attitude; And The language learning method further comprises an icon for storing the communication content with the learner in the server. The method of claim 7, wherein the item, A general item that can be controlled by the instructor; And And action items that can be controlled by the instructor and the learner. The method of claim 7, wherein The text displayed in the mission list display area is displayed in the foreign language. Learner terminal used by learners who want to learn a foreign language; An instructor terminal used by an instructor capable of directing the learner; And When the learner and the instructor enter a stage which is a place on the web where they can communicate with each other using the foreign language, a communication channel for exchanging text, voice, and images between the learner terminal and the instructor terminal is formed. After the communication channel is formed, the learner-side communication screen to be provided to the learner terminal and the instructor-side communication screen to be provided to the instructor terminal are configured and provided to the learner terminal and the instructor terminal, respectively, and through the communication channel. In response to the text presented by the instructor, the learner speaks in the foreign language or responds by manipulating the item presented by the instructor, based on the learner's response or an operation result on the item. The instructor evaluates the learner's learning ability, The item is an object that an instructor can present on the learner's communication screen, and is divided into a general item and an action item. It's an item that all the learners can control, And when the instructor selects the action item on the instructor side communication screen, the selected action item is displayed to the learner. The method of claim 11, wherein the stage, A foreign language learning system, in which a business name or name of a pre-contracted company is represented by a specified image. delete The method of claim 11, wherein the learner side communication screen, A scene display area displaying a scene selected by the instructor among scenes representing a situation that may occur in the stage; A learner image display area displaying image data of the learner's face or a character previously set by the learner on a web; A text display area in which text exchanged between the learner and the instructor is displayed; And And a mission display area for displaying a text in which the instructor presents text converted into the learner's native language and a time limit for the learner to express the text converted into the native language in the foreign language. The method of claim 14, And image data photographing the face of the instructor is synthesized and displayed in a partial region of the scene selected by the instructor. The method of claim 14, And a result of whether the learner successfully expresses the text converted into the native language in the foreign language within the time limit is displayed in the partial region of the scene display area. The method of claim 11, wherein the instructor-side communication screen, A text display area in which text exchanged between the instructor and the learner is displayed; A learner image display area in which an image of each of the one or more learners entering the stage is displayed; An item display area on which one or more of the items, which are objects that can describe actions or sound effects that may occur in the stage, are displayed;  A scene display area in which scenes representing situations that may occur in the stage are displayed; A mission list display area in which one or more texts are displayed that are related to a scene selected by the instructor among the scenes displayed in the scene display area and that can be presented to the learner as a mission for the learner to express using the foreign language. ; And And a mission performance result input area for inputting a mission performance result of the learner with respect to the text presented as the mission to the learner. The method of claim 17, wherein the instructor-side communication screen, An instructor image display area displaying image data photographing the instructor's face or a character previously set by the instructor; An evaluation item display area on which evaluation items for evaluating learning ability for the learner are displayed; A comment input area in which the instructor may input a comment about the learner or the class attitude; And The language learning system further comprises an icon for storing the content of communication with the learner in the server. The method of claim 17, wherein the item, A general item that can be controlled by the instructor; And And an action item that can be controlled by the instructor and the learner. The method of claim 17, The text displayed in the mission list display area is displayed in the foreign language.

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