Educational toy for learning foreign languages

Abstract

The present invention shows children who are learning about simple sentence structures and noun-verb agreement sample sentences. Furthermore, it helps them see how a singular noun matches with a singular verb, as opposed to a singular noun with a plural verb, which would be incorrect. The product includes two different sets of blocks, which produce different sentences. The subject blocks, on their right end, have either a positively charged or negatively charged magnet, which matches the correct verb. Similarly, the verb blocks have negatively and positively charged on either side. Lastly, the direct object or modifiers blocks have either a positively or negatively charged magnet on the left side. The sentences have been planned out that the blocks that attract together always make sentences that are logical. Within both sets, the nouns are in one container, the verbs in another, and the direct objects or modifiers in another. So, the user can select blocks and test out whether or not they match together.

Claims

1. An educational toy, comprising: a set of subject word magnetic blocks of which right end are charged with a first polarity; a set of verb word magnetic blocks of which left end are charged with a second polarity, that is opposed to the first polarity, while right end are charged with the first polarity; and, a set of direct object or modifier blocks which are not charged, wherein the subject word magnetic blocks are classified into singular noun and plural noun, and so are the verb word magnetic blocks, a user can select magnetic blocks and test out whether or not they match together.

2. The educational toy according to claim 1, the subject word magnetic blocks, the verb word magnetic blocks, and the direct object or modifier blocks are arranged and fitted without any margin in a wooden frame.

3. The educational toy according to claim 1, the subject word magnetic blocks are in one container, the verb word magnetic blocks are in another, and the direct objects or modifiers in another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention by showing the combination of a subject word magnet block, a verb word block and a direct object or modifier block according to the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a grammar box in which the magnet blocks and are arranged and fitted without any margin in a wooden frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a table showing examples of the grammatical relationships which are used in the education toy for learning foreign languages according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] English sentences have four components: subject, verb, object, and modifier. These sentence patterns are learned to analyze and complete English sentences through parts of speech classified by detailed grammatical elements such as nouns, articles, pronouns, adjectives, auxiliary verbs, prepositions, infinitives, gerunds, relative pronouns, and related adverbs. From the point of view of system design method in the field of computer engineering, it can be called top-down method. This method is a scheme in which a structure as a whole is first planned, and then a detailed design is performed in detail. In other words, the conventional method of teaching English grammar adopts the characteristic of inscribing the structure of English law in the head of the students. This structure is time-consuming, uninteresting, and ineffective because it has to be artificially injected into students' minds.

[0016] The present invention is directed to a bottom-up method. According to the bottom-up model of the present invention, the learners can learn the English grammar naturally by attempting to construct a sentence by using word and grammar. It is like the process of learning the structure of English grammar in a real way, and the structure of English grammar is recognized naturally and injected into the mind of students.

[0017] The existing English grammar teaching method teach English grammar through various textbooks and teaching methods, but the present invention make children to learn English grammar based on hand-thinking. According to the present invention, word and grammar are combined by hand, and by repeating this combination, the grammatical context is learned. A self-directed learning model in which the learners self-study while assembling themselves by hand and assembling themselves is the technical idea of the present invention.

[0018] On the basis of such a concept, a detailed description will be given below for the implementation of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention by showing the relationship based on magnetic forces of a subject word magnet block, a verb word block and a direct object or modifier block according to the present invention. The subject word magnetic block, the verb word magnetic block and the direct object or modifier block shown on the drawings are in the shape of cuboids, and made of metals. Especially, subject word magnet blocks and verb word blocks are magnetic.

[0020] The subject word magnetic block, the verb word magnetic block and the direct object or modifier block shown on the drawings are ones of respective block groups of a subject words, verb words and direct object or modifier group.

[0021] The set of subject word magnetic blocks are composed of nouns, pronouns, proper nouns including name or places. Furthermore, the nouns or pronouns are classified by plural nouns and singular nouns. Similarly, the set of verb word magnetic blocks are composed of verbs and classified by plural verbs and singular verbs.

[0022] The set of the direct object or modifier blocks are composed of nouns, objective pronouns, for example, me, him, them or her, and other words which can be a modifier or modifiers, for example, adverbs, adjectives and nouns.

[0023] The right end of subject word magnetic blocks are charged with a first polarity, namely, one of positive (+) or negative (), and the left end of verb word magnetic blocks are charged with a second polarity, that is opposed to the first polarity. While, the right end of verb word magnetic blocks are charged with the first polarity, i.e., the polarity of the right end of subject word magnetic blocks. On the other hand, the set of direct object or modifier blocks are not charged by the first polarity or the second polarity.

[0024] Therefore, as can be seen from FIG. 1a, if a user brings a verb word magnetic block 102, on which a singular verb FLIES is written, closer to a subject word magnetic block 101, on which a plural pronoun THEY is written, both magnetic block 101, 102 repulse each other by the repulsion force of same polarity, thus it is impossible to put together. However, if the user brings the same block 102, on which a singular verb FLIES is written, closer to the subject word magnetic block 101 on which a singular pronoun HE, both magnetic block attract each by the attraction force of different polarity, and stick together.

[0025] While the ends of the subject word magnetic block 101 and the verb word magnetic block 102 are charged, the direct object or modifier blocks do not need to be charged because they have no singular-plural concordance in English grammar.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a grammar box in which the magnet blocks and are arranged and fitted in a wooden frame 103. According to the educational toy of the present invention, a user, typically a child at the age of less than 3, can learn the relationship between a singular/plural noun and singular/plural verb, and it helps them see how a singular noun matches with a singular verb, as opposed to a singular noun with a plural verb, which would be incorrect.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a table showing examples of the grammatical relationships between which are used in the education toy for learning foreign languages according to an embodiment of the present invention. A child can select blocks and test out whether or not they match together. For example, if a child picks a singular noun and a plural verb, then the blocks will pull away from each other because the blocks would have the same polarity. This helps implement the idea that a singular noun does not match with a plural verb or vice versa. When the child matches the blocks correctly, the blocks will stick together, and the child will be able to remember and make the connection of the proper conjugations and agreements within sentences.

[0028] The above embodiments of the present invention mainly describe for English as a foreign language. However, this was only for a consistent and logical explanation. Not only English, but also foreign languages with grammatical rules will be included here. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall not be limited only by English.