Abstract:
A story interactive grammar teaching system and method. The disclosed system is a computer-aided grammar learning system. Grammar rules are embedded in the animations provided in the interactive grammar teaching system. The user can self test and enhance his or her language abilities with the help of the system. The disclosed method can achieve the goals of providing immediate practice tests, interacting with users, and guiding users through stories. The method includes the steps of: establishing an animation database and at least one animation file, receiving a command input from a user, and executing the command using the interactive grammar teaching system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to a computer-aided language learning system and, in particular, to a story interactive grammar teaching system and method that teaches grammar rules through interaction with learners  
           [0003]    2. Related Art  
           [0004]    Learning a new language is often a difficult task and heavy burden for most people. One is hardly able to master a language without studying hard. Many people cannot comprehend or speak a language (such as English) even after years of learning. Some other people are good at listening and understanding people&#39;s words but make mistakes in writing or tests. The later suffer mainly from bad grammar basis. The invention aims to solve these problems.  
           [0005]    One is not able to form a correct sentence, not to mention writing articles or taking tests, without fully understanding grammar rules, even if he or she can remember a lot of vocabulary and pronounce correctly. However, once a learner knows the correct grammar rules, he or she can use a finite number of words to form all sorts of sentences, composing grammatically correct articles, without any difficulty. Even though everybody knows the importance of grammar, conventional teaching methods are insufficient to allow students to learn correctly from teachers. In the end, grammar classes are filled with many boring rules for students to memorize and to practice. As a result, most people start to dislike grammar classes, though they still have to take them.  
           [0006]    Various computer and Internet based grammar learning tools or methods available on the market cannot aviod “stating rules, giving examples, and practicing problems”. The results are not different from conventional classes and textbooks. Whether a sentence is grammatically correct and whether words are appropriately used should be judged and corrected immediately so learners do not continue making the same mistakes. However, conventional teaching methods, textbooks, currently available computer applications, and Internet based grammar learning tools cannot achieve such a goal.  
           [0007]    Given the various drawbacks in conventional foreign language grammar teaching methods, it is highly desirable to provide a simple and convenient computer-aided language learning system to solve such problems. Mature computer technologies are employed to overcome shortcomings such as limited training materials, insufficient interactions and inadequate instructions in conventional foreign language grammar teaching methods and, at the same time, to effectively increase a learner&#39;s ability to in express his or her ideas.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In light of the above-mentioned problems, the invention provides a grammar teaching method and system that embeds grammatical rules into animations, providing abstract rules with concrete expression in stories to increase the learner&#39;s memory. Since the animation describes some story, learners can readily master grammatical rules through this form of entertainment. The animation also contains interactive practices and quizzes for learners to fully understand and memorize the contents. During the process of watching the animation and doing the exercises, the learner can refer to detailed grammar rules and example sentences at any time. This method is ideal for any person to learn any foreign language.  
           [0009]    The invention includes the steps of: establishing an animation database and at least one animation file, receiving a command input from a user, and executing the command using the interactive grammar teaching system. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1- a  shows a system structure of the disclosed story interactive grammar teaching system;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1- b  shows a system structure of the animation database in FIG. 1- a;    
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1- c  shows a system structure of the grammar database in FIG. 1- a;    
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1- d  shows a system structure of the script database in FIG. 1- a;    
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1- e  shows a system structure of the practice problem database in FIG. 1- a;    
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1- f  shows a system structure of the multimedia database in FIG. 1- a;    
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2- a  shows a flowchart of the disclosed story interactive grammar teaching method;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2- b  shows a flowchart of another part of the disclosed story interactive grammar teaching method;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2- c  shows a flowchart of yet another part of the disclosed story interactive grammar teaching method;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3- a  shows the first screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3- b  shows the second screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3- c  shows the third screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3- d  shows the fourth screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3- e  shows the fifth screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3- f  shows the sixth screen of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3- g  shows the seventh screen of an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3- h  shows the eighth screen of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    A story interactive grammar teaching system and method are disclosed to provide a simple and intuitive computer-aided language grammar learning system to solve problems existing in conventional grammar instruction. A user can enhance his or her grammar knowledge by simply following hints from the system and answering questions given by the computer.  
         [0029]    We will use a preferred embodiment to illustrate the feasibility of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the interactive grammar teaching system  100  is used to process all grammar teaching tasks. The system  100  contains (1) an animation database  110  and (2) a central control module  160 .  
         [0030]    (1) The animation database  110  stores at least one animation file that is linked to other files. When a user enters the system, a monitor signal is sent to the central control module  160 . The animation database further contains (a) a grammar database  120 , (b) a script database  130 , (c) a practice problem database  140 , and (d) a multimedia database  150 .  
         [0031]    (a) The grammar database  120  stores at least one grammar file and a plurality of fields for interlinks. With reference to FIG. 1- c , the grammar database  120  also provides a grammar database structure table  125  that contains:  
         [0032]    a grammar chapter, which provides two fields for a grammar chapter number and a grammar chapter title;  
         [0033]    a grammar unit, which provides two fields for a grammar unit number and a grammar unit title;  
         [0034]    a grammar rule, which provides three fields for a grammar rule number, a grammar rule, and a grammar rule address; and  
         [0035]    a grammar example sentence, which provides three fields for a grammar example sentence number, grammar example sentence content, and a grammar example sentence address.  
         [0036]    The grammar database structure table  120  performs pointer linking according to the order of the grammar chapters, the grammar units, the grammar rule contents, and the grammar example sentences.  
         [0037]    (b) The script database  130  stores at least one script file and a plurality of fields for interlinks. With reference to FIG. 1- d , the script database  130  also provides a script database structure table  135  that contains:  
         [0038]    a grammar unit, which provides two fields for a grammar unit number and a grammar unit title;  
         [0039]    a script serial number, which provides two fields for a script number and a script title; and  
         [0040]    script content, providing two fields for a story number and a story title.  
         [0041]    The script database structure table  135  performs pointer linking according to the order of the grammar units, the script serial numbers, and the script contents.  
         [0042]    (c) The practice problem database  140  stores at least one practice problem file and a plurality of fields for interlinks. With reference to FIG. 1- e , the practice problem database  140  also provides a practice problem database structure table  145  that contains:  
         [0043]    a grammar unit, which provides two fields for a grammar unit number and a grammar unit title;  
         [0044]    an animation practice problem, which provides five fields for an animation practice problem number, animation practice problem content, an animation practice problem address, animation practice problem solution content, and an animation practice problem solution address; and  
         [0045]    a test problem, which provides five fields for a test problem number, test problem content, a test problem address, test problem solution content and a test problem solution address.  
         [0046]    The practice problem database structure table  145  performs pointer linking according to the order of the grammar units, the animation practice problems, the animation practice problem solutions, the grammar units, the test problems, and the test problem solutions.  
         [0047]    (d) The multimedia database  150  stores at least one multimedia file and a plurality of fields for interlinks. With reference to FIG. 1- f , the multimedia database  150  also provides a multimedia database structure table  155  that contains:  
         [0048]    a grammar unit, which provides two fields for a grammar unit number and a grammar unit title;  
         [0049]    a picture file, which provides five fields for a picture file number and a picture file address;  
         [0050]    a sound file, which provides two fields for a sound file number and a sound file address; and  
         [0051]    a text file, which provides two fields for a text file number and a text file address.  
         [0052]    The multimedia database structure table  155  performs pointer linking according to the order of the grammar units, the picture file numbers, the picture file addresses, the grammar units, the sound file numbers, the sound file addresses, the grammar units, the text file numbers, and the text file addresses.  
         [0053]    (2) The central control module  160  receives and processes all commands to access all files in the animation database  110 . When the monitoring signal is received, the central control module  160  monitors the whole process and accesses the corresponding files from a specific database according to the monitoring signal.  
         [0054]    As shown in FIG. 1- b , the animation database  110  also provides an animation database structure table  112  that has grammar units, animation files, and animation practice problems. The animation file tree diagram in the drawing explains the structure of the whole animation database  110 . The next level of the animation file has animation objects and animation contents. The level below the animation object contains a set of animation files, a set of sound files, and a set of text files. The level below the animation contents contains a set of rule contents, a set of example sentences, a set of relevant practice problems and corresponding solutions, and a story. One thus sees that the animation database  110  is composed of a plurality of sets of animation files that are arranged and connected in levels.  
         [0055]    The interactive grammar teaching system  100  can be run on any computer executable hardware platform. The computer executable hardware platform can be a PC (Personal Computer), an NB (Notebook), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a mobile phone. Any person skilled in the art can make all sorts of equivalent modifications to implement the disclosed interactive grammar teaching system  100  in any electronic device and those connected to a network.  
         [0056]    As shown in FIG. 2- a , the disclosed story interactive grammar teaching method starts by establishing an animation database  110  and at least one animation file (step  200 ). The detailed steps for establishing the animation database  110  are contained in step A. The interactive grammar teaching system  100  then receives a command input from a user (step  210 ) and executes the command (step  220 ). The steps for executing the command are detailed in step B.  
         [0057]    With reference to FIG. 2- b , a grammar database  120  and at least one relevant datum are established (step  201 ). Grammar rules are deduced and supplied with appropriate example sentences to form a grammar database  120 . One the grammar database  120  is established, a script database  130  and at least one relevant datum are established (step  202 ). Grammar rules in a particular grammar unit are taken to create a language environment for the grammar rules, forming a story script for the animation script database  130 . Afterwards, a practice problem database  140  and at least one relevant datum are established (step  203 ). Following the grammar rules, practice problems with corresponding solutions and practice problems with corresponding solutions for grammar tests are designed for the animations to form the practice problem database  140 . A multimedia file database  150  and at least one relevant datum are established (step  204 ). Animated conversations, captions, explanations, and pictures along with related sound effects, graphs, and texts are made to form the multimedia file database  150 . After all the databases are made, an animation file is made (step  205 ) and stored in the animation database  110 . Finally, a central control module  160  integrates data in the above four databases and processes their linking relations (step  206 ), followed by step  210 .  
         [0058]    According to a script and its practice problems, animation objects are designed along with sound effects to give an animation for learning grammar. The animation and the animation practice problems form the animation database  110 . Aside from helping to reinforce grammar rules, the animations are also designed to create a humorous effect, which reduces the boredom and lightens the task of learning grammar. Through the linking of the central control module  160 , a complete animation teaching unit for the grammar units is formed. It includes animation learning, immediate animation exercises, immediate quizzes and immediate grammar references.  
         [0059]    With reference to FIG. 2- c , a corresponding grammar unit is called from the grammar database  120  according to the command (step  221 ). Once the grammar unit is confirmed, the pointer of the grammar unit points to an animation file in the animation database  110  and the animation file is played (step  222 ). The user can perform play operations such as fast forward and rewind according to his or her needs during the process of instruction. Afterwards, step  223  determines whether a next animation file should be played. If another animation file should be played then step  222  follows; otherwise, an animation practice problem in a practice problem database  140  is opened for immediate practice (step  224 ). The practice can be immediately analyzed to provide solution analysis and statistics (step  225 ). If immediate tests are requested, a test practice problem in the practice problem database  140  is opened for immediate quizzes (step  226 ); otherwise, the process finishes. The immediate quizzes are automatically analyzed to provide solution analysis, scores and suggestions. The process then finishes.  
         [0060]    In steps  224  and  226 , the user can check grammar rules and example sentences at any time. The user is thus able to combine animation scenes, exercises, and grammar rules to obtain a complete understanding of the grammar unit.  
         [0061]    An embodiment of the disclosed system and method is illustrated by FIGS.  3 - a  through  3 - h . After the user enters the disclosed system  100 , he or she can learn grammar rules by following the hints given in the animations. The disclosed system  100  teaches grammar rules through the animation, speech and text outputs. The user can choose to play animations repeatedly to reinforce his or her memory. The user is then given practice problems and answers them according to hints provided by the system. Using this intuitive foreign language grammar learning model, the user can learn any language in the world.