Interact and Immerse,
an iPad application development company that specializes in immersive language
learning for children and adults, announced recently the launch of its new
game, Think Bilingual! The game is now available for iTunes download and it is currently free for early
users and educators. The current version includes Spanish, French and English.
Think Bilingual! Is like
in an adventure game, where the user is challenged to navigate through different
situations. In the storyline, the user helps a family of Aliens make their way
on earth: cooking in the kitchen, driving a car, cleaning the house and even
babysitting. In each situation, the user plays the game by listening to the
target language. For instance, to learn directions, you drive a car in the game,
with the aim to encourage learners to think in the target language
rather than just translate it.
As the app aims to provide immersion rather than
translation, I was particularly interested in finding out how productive skills
could be developed using it.
Chris Loux, Interact and Immerse co-founder,
provided me with more details about how the app can boost this crucial element
of language learning.
Writing: “This is something that we have thought a
lot about and have specific goals in trying to avoid writing and try to lead
the user to react to the native blocks of language at normal speed. Our
philosophy is based on the direct method, and we are seeking to build a very
fast connection between "listen" and "do" to encourage
users to process the narrations in the target language. That being said :),
there is an interesting way for users to practice writing in the app:
1. turn off sound
2. tap the "write" tool on the right side
3. read, and do the action
-or, for writing-
1. listen to the narration
2. write out the sentence as listened
3. tap the "write" tool to check writing
4. do the action
The latter is interesting as it ties listening,
writing, reading and comprehension together.”
Speaking: “Speaking is on the roadmap for version
3.0 of the app, and will include the ability to record speech and turn it in to
a teacher. The speech will be responding to questions about the stage just
done. For example, in "ID stage" (stage 7) the app will ask, "What
languages do you speak?" And user will answer as per the completed stage.
This will be recorded and stored for teachers/parents. There will also be
real-time functionality allowing a teacher and student to see the same screen
and follow each other's speech in the target language by doing the actions in
the interface.”
I would say that this product works best for
KS2-KS4. But adults can use it too, especially adults who are
"trapped" at basic level, knowing a lot of vocabulary, but who don't
have the confidence to respond whenever someone speaks to them in the language.
For a casual learner, especially one with issues
around listening, the current version should work great as a more fun and
light-hearted-though linguistically sound-way to revise the basics.
Specifications of
Think Bilingual!:
- The current version has 44 levels covering people, directions, house, greetings, cooking.
- New episodes will appear monthly
- The level is basic/intermediate
- Think Bilingual! is best for ages 8-16, but also adults at basic level
- English, Spanish and French are in the current version. Chinese, Portuguese and Japanese are scheduled for development.
- Group-enabled version to be released for educators to use in classroom situation.
What next?
Be part of the development of this app by trying it and giving feedback
to
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