Patent Abstract:
An improved foreign language learning device, particularly in a form similar to a vocabulary book or note-book, giving the foreign language terms to be learned, is characterized by the following: it is intended for use a reproduction or depiction holder having several labels and/or information carriers or holders, wherein the labels and/or the information carriers or holders are at least provided with an adhesive or holder section, and wherein the labels and/or information or label holders or carriers have individual foreign-language terms or groups of terms, sentences or sentence parts written on them.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to learning a foreign language and method, and, more particularly, to a foreign language learning device and method. 
     It has been customary, for language learning purposes, to use special notebooks for learning words/vocabulary, in which, for instance, the left column contains the foreign words to be learned, while the right column contains the corresponding words or translations in one&#39;s mother tongue. 
     Although, in modern times, other mediums, such as cassettes, CDs or even audio-visual media are increasingly used for languages learning purposes, the traditional way of learning as described above is still of major importance. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to create an improved foreign language learning device which is available to everybody, and which allows and facilitates learning a foreign language in everyday life. 
     Visualizations are very common in people&#39;s talks and thoughts. They enrich and facilitate many thought-processes. The visual sense, however, is only one area of the brain which can facilitate and support, for example, mnemonic processes involved in language learning. However, nowadays, the brain area “responsible” for visual perception is mostly working at full capacity, due to overstimulation. At the same time, a great variety of things and characteristics, e.g. the fragrance of a flower, the softness of fur, etc. can usually be much better perceived with other senses. Also mnemonic processes can be assisted very nicely by other areas of the brain which are less frequently used. The fact, that in addition to visual perception, other forms of perception, such as, for example, smell, sound, taste, warmth, pressure, etc. give additional impetus and complexity to our thought-processes is also confirmed by modern psychology. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on this background, according to an aspect of the invention, a foreign language learning device in accordance with the invention provides a learning device for learning foreign languages in everyday life. In accordance with the invention, it is intended for individual terms (adjectives, nouns, verbs, etc. incl. whole groups of words or sentences) to be written on individual labels, which, corresponding to their meaning, are attached to the corresponding object. If, for example, the German word “Stuhl” for the English word “chair” is to be learned, the label with the word “Stuhl” printed on it can be removed and attached to a chair in one&#39;s home. In this case, the chair is consciously touched and felt for its characteristics (surface, temperature, weight, movement, etc.). 
     Every time the user sees the label/object, he will be motivated to recall the corresponding word. 
     The learning device in accordance with the invention allows the creation of a learning environment which, to a certain extent, can be compared to the learning conditions prevailing in the country where the corresponding language is spoken. 
     Other terms can be attached to other object, corresponding to the term. 
     For certain topics, also posters (pictures) can be provided on which the terms can be attached to the individual items represented on the poster. 
     Once somebody finds out that he/she remembers the word, the label can be removed again. 
     The foreign language learning device in accordance with the invention comprises preferably a vocabulary book or glossary in a similar form, which contains individual labels with the individual foreign language terms printed on them. The labels are either available individually, or can be removed from a common label sheet. 
     It is also possible that several individual labels are printed on a joint sheet to be cut out or torn out by means of prepared perforations. 
     It is however, preferred intention to provide the individual labels as self-adhesive labels which may be attached to a label carrier, e.g. oil paper. It is particularly advantageous to provide these labels with a holding area which does not stick to the label carrier paper, as the holding area, for example, is not provided with any sticking material or adhesive film at all, or because the adhesive film is covered up additionally. 
     In a particularly favoured form, the paper or sheets with the mother-tongue terms written or printed on them, are bound in the form of a notebook or book, while, between two paper sections containing the mother-tongue terms, the label carrier paper of reduced width or section is inserted, on which the removable, self-adhesive labels containing the foreign language terms to be learned are arranged. 
     After learning individual terms, the labels removed from the corresponding objects can be returned again to the notebook-like foreign language learning device. In order to allocate the labels to the corresponding locations, every label can contain the pertaining explanations or, for instance, the corresponding word in German or a number, etc., which serves as orientation as to what location in the notebook or book-like device the label can be returned. In this book-like device, however, notes can also be made as to where the corresponding label is located. 
     The labels do not necessarily have to be self-adhesive. Also non-adhesive labels can be used, which, for example, may have to be cut out or removed along a perforation or cutting line. They can be attached to the object by means of other suitable means, such as, for example, drawing pins, rubber bands, string, etc. 
     According to the invention, it is intended to use also additional information or label holders, to which the labels—when they are provided with an adhesive film—can be affixed or on which the labels, for instance, can also be attached in a different way, for instance by putting them into a slot fixture. These label or information holders, in turn, can be provided with an adhesive film on the back or with other suitable means, in order to attach to and detach these label holders from certain objects by means of string, wire, drawing pins, magnets, etc. 
     According to another aspect a label has an adhesive zone, a holding zone, and a reinforcement of the holding zone. 
     According to another aspect a kit includes a plurality of labels and an instruction manual for teaching a language. 
     According to another aspect the invention includes computer program software and method for preparing labels to facilitate learning a language. 
     According to another aspect the invention relates to a computer system for developing labels for learning or teaching a language. 
     According to another aspect the invention relates to a method of learning a language including applying to objects labels containing words related to such objects. 
     According to another aspect the invention relates to labels and use thereof for learning or teaching a language. 
     Another aspect relates to use of multiple senses to facilitate learning or teaching vocabulary concepts in a language. 
     Another aspect relates to coordinating multiple activities in association with the learning of a language to make the process more active than only passive memorization. 
     Another aspect relates to a method of using labels for learning words and concepts in a language. 
     The invention comprises the features described herein, including the description, the annexed drawings, and, if appended, the claims, which set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
     Although the invention is shown and described with respect to illustrative embodiments, it is evident that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding hereof. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications. 
     It will be appreciated that although several embodiments are illustrated and described, features shown in one embodiment may be used in one or more of the other embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Hereinafter, the invention is explained in detail with examples by referring to the attached drawings. Here, the following details are explained: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one page of the foreign language learning device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail drawing of one individual label as located on the inserted label carrier sheet, as displayed under FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a modified application as compared to FIGS. 1 and 2 in form of a schematic top view; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of another modified label made without special processing of the label stock; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the label of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the label of FIGS. 4 and 5 showing a folded over section of the touching zone; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of an exemplary label; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of a label or information holder or carrier; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the information or label holder or carrier according to FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of a modified application as compared to FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a modified application example; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a poster with labels of the invention applied thereto; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a kit in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a computer system for making labels; and 
     FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a computer program for making labels. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1, the whole page no.  1  of a vocabulary-book or notebook-like foreign language learning device is depicted. 
     This whole page  1  comprises a sheet of paper printed with mother-tongue terms, hereinafter called P-sheet  3 , which, in the example, are German terms. 
     On the left side of the whole page  1  as depicted in FIG. 1, a label carrier section  5 , subsequently called E-sheet  5 , is provided, which is much narrower and which extends over roughly the same height as the P-sheet  3 . So, every whole page  1  mentioned comprises two sheets forming a pair, i.e. one E-sheet  5  and one P-sheet  3  underneath. 
     The label sheets  5  contain several rows (lines) of individual labels  7 , i.e. self-adhesive or adhesive labels  7 —separate from each other in this example—arranged one below the other, which have the foreign language terms to be learned  9  printed on them. 
     In the same row, however not on label carrier sheet  5 , but on P-sheet  3  to the right, the mother-tongue terms, i.e. German terms  11  in our example, are printed, which correspond to the foreign language terms  9 . In this way, the layout can be compared to traditional vocabulary books. 
     As can be seen from the enlarged detail drawing according to FIG. 2, every label  7  preferably consists of two sections, one of which, in the example shown, is a more or less rectangular text zone  15 , while the back of text zone  15  may be an adhesive zone  17 , by means of which label  7  is affixed to label carrier sheet  5 . Adhesive zone  17 , as displayed in FIG. 2, may extend only as far as the broken line  19 , i.e. it may end before the right margin  21  of label carrier sheet  5 . 
     In the example shown, text zone  15  is followed by a circular holding area  23 , which in the example shown is set-off optically, e.g., by being printed in red or some other color or by otherwise being clearly identified to stand out, as is schematically represented by shading  23   a . Printing limit  25  of holding and signal area  23 , printed in red, in this example, roughly corresponds to the location of the right margin  21  of E-sheet  5 . 
     Preferably, holding area  23  is not provided with an adhesive film on the back, so that it cannot stick to P-sheet  3  underneath. Particularly, when the broken line  19 , from the right margin, is displaced to the left can it be guaranteed that the label is always completely affixed to E-sheet  5 , even if it is not positioned very exactly, and that no adhesive film on the label comes to rest to the right of the right margin  21  of E-sheet  5  and, therefore, cannot stick to P-sheet  3  underneath. By restricting the adhesive  17  to the area to the left of the line  19  as shown in FIG. 2, for example, helps to avoid getting adhesive on the fingers of a user while gripping the holding area  23  and/or getting dirt on the adhesive so the dirt would not be transferred to the object, e.g., avoiding smudges applied to a wall or an object. 
     Finally, the label may contain, as a rule in smaller print, either on the front, or if necessary also on the back, the German term or, for instance, an identification number, which allows the removed label to be returned to the original location at the zone or row  27  on the corresponding page provided for this term. An example of such numbering is shown at  29  where the number “256” is shown for such location correspondence. 
     Hereinafter, the function will briefly be explained. 
     In order to learn a term, the required label each is removed from the foreign language learning device, by taking the required label at the holding area  23 , removing it from label carrier sheet  5  and affixing it to the corresponding object, e.g. in one&#39;s home. These terms are encountered day after day and can, thereby, be memorized without any problems by seeing them again and again. Due to the optically emphasized holding area  23  the labels attract the attention even more. 
     Once you are sure to have memorized the term, the corresponding label can be removed from the object in one&#39;s home and returned to the original location in the foreign language learning device. The original location can easily be found, as the foreign language label, for example, (which is not shown in detail in the illustrations), next to the term “coffee” may contain, in small print and at a suitable position, the terms “Kaffee”—“Imbiss-Stube”, i.e. either on the front or on the back (before the adhesive film is applied to the label), or by giving a number in small print as at  29  (e.g. “256”), with the same number being printed on the page below the German term or at a corresponding position on label carrier sheet  5 . It is, however, also possible, that the corresponding word is printed below or next to the location where the label is affixed, i.e. on the P-sheet. 
     Under certain circumstances, particular themes, e.g. cars, travelling, may be displayed on posters, showing the individual objects or processes, so that the labels can be allocated and attached to them on the posters. 
     In order to facilitate affixing of labels and to increase the scope of applications, also label or information holders can be used in addition to the labels on their own, which are hereinafter also called label or information holders. 
     In FIG. 3, an invention variant of FIGS. 1 and 2 is displayed, on which the labels containing the foreign language terms (or the empty labels with the terms written on them) and the corresponding word in the mother tongue are located on the same self-adhesive sheet, with the labels being pre-cut or stamped out, which can, therefore, be removed without any problems. 
     In the example according to FIG. 3, there is only one label carrier sheet  5 , a so-called E-sheet  5 , on which a self-adhesive sheet  3 ′ or a self-adhesive paper foil  3 ′ are affixed more or less all-over. 
     This self-adhesive paper foil  3 ′, on the right side (right column), and similar to the example according to FIG. 1, contains several rows of the corresponding mother-tongue terms  11  (in the example German terms) one below the other. 
     On the left side, the actual labels  7  are pre-cut or stamped out via a stamping line or cutting line (or perforation line)  24 . 
     If required, the corresponding individual label  7  can now be removed from label carrier sheet  5  along cutting line  24 , and, if necessary, be returned to this location, as has been explained in the example according to FIG. 1 and 2. 
     In order to facilitate removing from and returning of labels  7  to the original location on label carrier sheet  5 , section  3   a  of the self-adhesive paper foil  3 ′ is removed from label carrier sheet  5  around labels  7 . In order to separate it from the section containing the mother-tongue terms  11 , the removable section  3   a  of the self-adhesive paper  3 ′ is separated from the right-hand side in FIG. 3 by means of a cutting line or stamping line  26 , so that the foreign language terms on the left can be separated from the mother-tongue terms on the right (without the label carrier sheet  5  being divided, too). Thus, section  3   a  on the self-adhesive paper foil  3 ′ to the left of cutting or stamping line  26  can be removed, whereas labels  7 , separated by stamping and cutting lines  24 , remain affixed to the actual label carrier sheet  5 . 
     In order to facilitate removing the labels from label carrier sheet  5  and to take advantage of the holding area as described under FIGS. 1 and 2, in our example according to FIG. 3, section  28 , the area where the holding areas  23  are to be located, is either non-adhesive or the back of holding area  23  is provided with an additional intermediate cover in order to render the self-adhesive film ineffective. 
     In this example, every page  1 , therefore, only consists of two layers, i.e. the carrier sheet  5  called label carrier sheet  5 , also called E-sheet  5 , on which the self-adhesive paper foil  3 ′ with the removable section  3   a  on the left, the labels  7  located in the section with stamping and cutting lines, and section  3   b  located to the right of stamping or cutting line  26 , which is to remain permanently on E-sheet  5  and which contains the mother-tongue terms  11 . There may be an additional paper strip or a foil in zone  28  in order to render ineffective the adhesive film at the holding area on the back of labels  7 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a modified label  7 ′ is illustrated. The label  7 ′ may be made or cut from conventional label stock material, such as that used to make decals or labels, having a base sheet sometimes referred to as a liner, and a face sheet, sometimes referred to as label material which has adhesive thereon. The face sheet can be die cut in the form of the desired label and can be removed from the liner for attachment to an object. The adhesive remains on the face sheet. If desired the adhesive for this and other embodiments hereof, can be of a type used with reusable labels, such as that employed in conventional Post-It™ type or other type notes/labels. An advantage of the label  7 ′ is that there is no need to make a special label stock material to obtain a touching zone  23 ′ (or manual holding zone) without adhesive. Rather, the label  7 ′ can be removed from the liner and an extension  23   b  of the label can be folded along a fold line  23   c  as to be under the touching zone  23 ′. Therefore, the adhesive  17  on the surface of the label  7 ′ in the areas of the touching zone  23 ′ and the extension  23   b  will come into engagement and be sandwiched between the touching zone  23 ′ and the extension  23   b . Accordingly, the touching zone  23 ′ and the extension  23   b  will be exposed to manual touching or grasping but will not have any exposed adhesive. This makes manual manipulation of the label  7 ′ easy without having to remove adhesive from the fingers when applying the label to an object. Also, the folded over extension  23   b , as is illustrated in FIG. 6 tends to reinforce the touching zone  23 ′ and to provide added bulk or substance of the label  7 ′, thus tending to make it easier to grasp, handle and manipulate than if the touching zone were less reinforced, stiff, etc. 
     Summarizing, then, the embodiment of label  7 ′ shown in FIGS. 4-6 discloses a relatively inexpensive technique to create a touching zone  23 ′ with a non-adhesive back of the touching zone. The fold back along the line  23   c  also creates a double strength touching zone  23 ′ while neutralizing the adhesive in the area of the touching zone. The labels  7 ′ can be cut as to provide a plurality of such labels on a sheet, printing of words as described elsewhere herein, and the sheet preferably, although not necessarily, being reusable whereby the labels can be returned to the sheet for storage after use. 
     Briefly referring to FIG. 7, an enlarged view of a label  7 ″ is illustrated. The label  7 ″ is similar to the labels  7  and  7 ′ described above, except in the label  7 ″ the printed portion or portion intended to be printed with a word and which also has adhesive on the back, has curved corners  24   a  and curved transition areas  23   d  between the portion intended to be printed and the holding zone  23 ″. The curvatures illustrated help to avoid damage to the label which could too easily occur at sharp corners or transitions, e.g., due to bending at the areas  24   a  and/or tearing at the transition areas  23   d . The curves tend to increase the strength of the material in the area thereof and avoids concentration of forces that could more easily cause damage to the label compared to a label having the illustrated curves. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 give the top and side views of a label holder  30 , which is preferably made (cast) of plastic. 
     It comprises an information section  31 , which, in the example, corresponds to the form of text zone  15 . To the right of this, holder section  33  follows, which is circular and corresponds to the circular holding area  23  of label  7 . 
     The information section  31  may be closed, i.e. with a closed contact area or plate  35  with circumferential edge  36 , with holder section  33  which is located relatively to the right, having a circular or frame-like supporting edge  37  with circumferential boundary  39 , which, opposite information section  31 , is provided with a slot  43  formed by an overlap  41 . 
     The transition area  32  from information section  31  to the holder section  33  is formed by a zigzag section, i.e. the contact area  35  in the transition area to the holder section  33  is decreasing—in our example formed by a section by pointed tongues  45 . The side view according to FIG. 5 also shows that the contact area  35  in information section  31  is at a higher level as compared to the supporting edge  37  following it. 
     Individual labels  7  can, therefore, be removed from the foreign language learning device  1  and be affixed to such an information and label holder  30 . 
     Due to the fact that this information and label holder  30  also has an attachment section  47  on the back, which comprises an attachment plate  49  located parallel to the information section  31 , and which is connected to the base plate of the information holder via several struts  51 ,  8  in our example, to which, for instance, string, wires etc. can be attached for an easy attachment of the information and label holder  30  to certain objects and pieces of furniture. In the same way, the information and label holder  30  can also be provided with magnets in this attachment plate  49 —or if no attachment plate  49  is provided, at the bottom of its information zone. 
     In order to use nails or drawing pins for attaching, for example, both in the information zone  31  and in the attachment plate  49 , which is in alignment with it, there are the openings  53  and/or  55 , respectively, so that a nail or a pin can be pushed through them from the top, thereby attaching the label holder to an object. 
     When a label is to be removed from the note-book like learning device and to be attached to an object by means of the label holder, the removed label is affixed to the information section  31  by its adhesive zone  17 , with the holding area  23  resting in holder section  33 . The right edge of the holding area  23  is, thereby, engaging in the above-mentioned slot  43 . The brightly coloured and eye-catching holding and signal zone is, therefore, still well visible. The label holder can then or before be attached to the required object. 
     When the label—once the term has been memorized—is to be removed again, a finger can quite easily be stuck from below through the opening formed by the supporting edge  37  in the holder section  33  and, thereby, the holding area  23  is lifted off from holder section  33  and can easily be taken, which allows easy removal of the label with its adhesive zone from the information section  31 . Lifting off is facilitated by the tongues  45  in the transition area  32  reducing the adhesive surface slowly and continuously, so that the label cannot be torn. Moreover, tearing of the label is also avoided by a continuous transition without any corners or edges from the boundary line  57  (also identified as  23   d  in FIG. 7) at the transition between holding area  23  to text zone  15 . 
     In the example according to FIG. 10, a modified form of the example as compared to FIGS. 8 and 9, holder section  33  has a more or less closed supporting surface  33   a , which, in the example shown, is provided with two longitudinal openings  61 , which are displaced in transverse direction, thereby, as in this example, forming a longitudinal tongue  63  between, at the end of which again a slot  43  is formed. In order to remove a label affixed there, the longitudinal tongue  63  can easily be moved up or down, so as to release the edge of the holding area  23 , the label can then be taken and lifted off. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of an information or label holder  30 , which in the area of the information section  31 , is provided with a viewing section  67 , which, for example, has longitudinal slots  69  at the opposite sides and a transverse slot  71  at one end. At the transition from the information to the holder section there may be a bridge-like cover  73 , forming a frame-like edge and, thus, a window  75  above the bottom surface  35  in the information section  31 . This information and label holder is particularly suitable for non-adhesive labels, which, one after the other, can be put into the label holder, as in the example, via a transverse slot, with the text zone  15  to be located below window  75  and the label being held via the longitudinal slots  69  and the transverse slot  71 , as well as the bridge-like cover  73 . In the holder section, there may also be a circular slot at the supporting edge  37 , extending at least to the semi-circle diameter  77 . Moreover, an additional attachment section  47  may be provided, which is similar to that described under FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     If such non-adhesive labels are used, they are preferably provided in a form similar to a vocabulary book, while the labels are preferably separated from each other to such an extent, that they can easily be removed from the vocabulary book via a common holding or attachment section (for example along a marked or at least perforated line) and be affixed to the object corresponding to the term, e.g. by using the above-mentioned information and label holder. The disadvantage of this method lies in the fact that the terms—once they have been memorized and are to be removed from the objects—cannot be returned to their original location on a particular page in the foreign language learning device without any extra aid. 
     For reasons of completeness, it must, however, be mentioned, that the individual labels can certainly be also provided independently from a vocabulary book, for example, in a sort of label box, to be taken out individually. These labels (adhesive or non-adhesive) can also be provided such that the foreign language term to be learned, is, for instance, depicted in larger print and different colour, whereas the German term, i.e. mother-tongue term, is only written in small print on the front or the back of the label. In this case, in the example according to FIG. 1, the so-called P-sheets  3  can be omitted, as only the labels themselves or the labels on the label carrier sheet  5  are used, which can be removed and returned again without separate measures or facilities being provided on which the German terms are printed in relatively the same size. 
     Briefly turning to FIG. 12, a poster  70  has several objects  71 ,  72  printed thereon, such as, for example, an automobile and a tree, respectively. The poster may be placed in a room where there is not otherwise available images of an automobile or tree or where such objects can be seen only through a window, for example. Labels  7  according to the invention having the corresponding word for automobile or tree may be applied to the poster so the user has the opportunity to apply the invention to images of objects, especially objects which are relatively remote from the poster. 
     A kit  75  embodying the invention is represented in FIG.  13 . The kit includes several components, for example, an instruction manual  76  for practicing the invention and a supply  77  of labels  7 . The instruction manual describes the use of the labels and the method of practicing the invention. Thus, for example, the method includes using multiple senses to help memorize words of a language and to help learn the meaning of those words. The supply of labels may include individual sheets on which one or more labels are located; the labels may be pre-printed with words or one, more or all of the labels may be empty and available to have words written, printed, etc. thereon. Some pages may have printed labels and other pages may have unprinted labels. The labels may be on sheets fastened in a book or held in a loose-leaf notebook or some other retention mechanism that facilitates organization and maintaining of the labels. If desired, the labels may be organized or grouped by subject matter, e.g., household items, furniture, appliances, garden equipment, food products, etc. 
     According to a method of the invention, a label  7  with a word or phrase is selected and is applied to an object. For example, the object may be a chair. The person may say the word or phrase for chair as printed on the label, may sit in the chair, may feel the chair, may rub a hand on the chair, and may see the label and repeat the word each time encountering the particular chair. Thus, the view, sound, and feel of the chair can be associated with the word representing chair. Similarly for a flower or plant, the label on which the word “flower” is printed may be applied to a leaf, to a flower pot, or to one of the label holders and that attached by a string to the plant; and the person learning the language may not only say the word and, thus, hear it, but also may feel the flower, see the flower and smell the flower. 
     The kit  75  also may include a supply of the mentioned label holders and string, pins, magnets, etc. to attach the label holders to an object. Further, the kit may include posters  70 . 
     As is described further below, the invention includes computer software  78  to print labels for use according to the above described methods. Therefore, if desired, the kit  75  may include a computer readable medium  79  or other readable medium on which the software may be stored, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, tape, or some other medium on which the program may be stored for use by a reader and associated electronic equipment, such as a computer, for printing or otherwise generating labels. 
     Referring, now, to FIG. 14, a system  80  for making labels  7  is illustrated in block form. The system includes a computer  81  or similar device which can be operated to control a printer  82  to print labels  7 . The printer  82  may be any of many types of printers, several examples including a laser printer, dot matrix printer, ink jet printer, bubble printer, or virtually any other printer. Sheets  1  of labels  7  may be fed to the printer. The printer may print the first language word, the foreign language word, a number organizer, and/or other information on the sheet  1 , on the labels  7 , etc. An exemplary computer  81  is that known as a personal computer, such as a K-6 microprocessor or Pentium microprocessor based computer; or the computer may be virtually any other computer, as may be desired. A keyboard  83  and monitor  84  are coupled to the computer  81  to provide manual input to the computer and to display information from the computer; exemplary information being settings and operation of the computer program, the words and/or other information to be printed, etc. A storage device  85 , such as a program reader and/or storage mechanism, examples being a floppy disk drive, fixed disk, cd-rom drive, tape drive, etc., and a storage medium  86 , such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, tape or other medium on which a computer program is stored, are coupled to the computer to provide computer program control of the computer and/or printer and/or to store information otherwise input to the computer, as is conventional in computer systems. A computer program  90  associated with the system  80  is illustrated schematically in flow chart form in FIG.  15 . 
     In using the system  80 , one or more sheets  1  containing labels  7  are provided the printer. The computer program  90  is provided the computer  81  to control operation thereof. Using the system  80  and program  90 , and, if necessary, with inputs provided by the user employing the keyboard  83 , the system  80  operates the printer  82  to print information on the sheets  1  and, in particular, on the labels  7 . Such information may be as was described above. For example, the printer  82  may print on a label  7  a particular language word intended to be learned or memorized as well as some other reference to that word, e.g., elsewhere on the sheet  1 , say adjacent the mentioned label. The printer also may print coordinating indicia to facilitate replacing labels on the sheets  1 . The mentioned reference to the subject word may be the word in the usual language of the person who would be using the program. Alternatively, or additionally, if desired the reference may be a picture; for example, if the word printed on a give label were the word “tree”, the image of a tree may be printed on the sheet  1 . This would facilitate using images to coordinate placing labels on objects and also would help the user further to associate the image of a tree with the word for “tree” without even having to think about the word as used in the usual language or origin language of the user. 
     Turning to FIG. 15, a computer program for practicing the invention to make labels is illustrated at  90 . The program  90  is presented in flow chart form; it will be appreciated that appropriate computer program source code, machine language, or some other machine useable implementation of the flow chart may be written by a person who has ordinary skill in the computer programming art so as to allow the system  80 , for example, to carry out the program and the invention. The actual computer program language used may depend on the particular computer  81  used in the system  80 . 
     In the program  90  illustrated in FIG. 15, at step  91  the program (and system  80 ) is initialized. At step  92  an input language is selected; for example, if the user&#39;s ordinary language were English, then the selected language would be English—similarly for French, German, Japanese or some other language. At step  93  the output language is selected; this is the language to be learned. At step  94 , a word is input to the computer  81 , e.g, using the keyboard  83 ; and at step  95  the computer determines the output word to be printed onto a label by the printer  82 . Thus, for example, if the input language were German and the output language were German, then the word “Stuhl” could be the input word, and the computer would select “chair” as the output word. The storage medium  86  may include a dictionary of terms in the respective languages to allow selecting the corresponding words in the input and output languages. Commercial computer based dictionaries currently are available and may be used for this purpose. The system  80  then causes printing at block  96  of both those words on the label and on the paper  1  adjacent the corresponding label  7 , or may print the output word (on the label) and a reference, such as a picture of a chair, proximate the label on the page  1 . At block  97  an inquiry is made whether the user is finished printing labels; if not then a loop line  98  is followed to block  94 . If the user has finished using the program  90 , then the program ends at block  99 . The labels then can be used according to the method of the invention as described above and equivalents thereof. 
     It will be appreciated that the labels  7  can be pre-printed or formed on the sheets  1 , for example. Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the labels  7  can be printed by the user, for example, using the system  80  and program  90 . 
     In using the invention a language can be learned and/or words associated with that language can be memorized. The words or phrases may be of the object itself, e.g., the word “tree”, or the words may concern a characteristic of the object, such as sweet smell of a tree, hardness of a steel beam, etc., or an abstract idea, such as happiness of an individual. The invention allows use of multiple senses as inputs to the brain in association with a word or object represented by the word, thus increasing the likelihood of remembering the word in issue. 
     It will be appreciated that although the invention is described with respect to several features and embodiments, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the claims and equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6