Gakken Plus Inc. released Alphabet Stones, an English learning app mainly for children up to elementary school age, on December 12, 2017. Currently, it is only available on iOS.
From the year 2020 (or 2018 at the earliest), English education in elementary schools will undergo major changes. Foreign language activities will begin in the third and fourth grades, and in the fifth and sixth grades, English will become an official subject and will be graded.
Alphabet Stones Points
A solid English learning theory based on phonics
With Alphabet Stones, you can learn how to listen and speak English at the same time, while doing the typical "trace the English letters, connect them and erase them" operation of apps like LINE Tsum Tsum.
FOR EXAMPLE, TO LEARN THE WORD "ONE", STUDENTS CONNECT THREE OR MORE STONES WITH THE LETTER "O". THEN CONNECT THE "N" AND FINALLY THE "E" TO LEARN THE WORD "ONE".
It's designed to help you learn English by listening to native speakers over and over again, and to learn spelling by tracing stones at the same time.
Phonics is essential for English pronunciation
In English, some of the same letters have different readings. This is similar to the meaning of "on-yomi" and "kun-yomi" in Japanese.
The word "a" is read as "a", but the word "ant" is read as "ant". The word "soap" is read as "soop". (The katakana readings are for convenience only and are not an accurate representation of the actual pronunciation.)
Phonics is a method of teaching children to learn the rules of spelling that apply to the sounds and letters they make. Phonics is a method that will be indispensable for English education in Japan in the future.
Various tricks to keep you from studying
One of the most common problems with learning apps is that they become an extension of the wordbook, and you feel forced to use them. If it's just an answer book, it's not fun to review.
Alphabet Stones is an application that incorporates a wealth of know-how cultivated by Gakken to make repetition (review) less of a chore.
ONE OF THE TRICKS IS THAT IT'S STORY-DRIVEN, LIKE AN RPG.
If you need to review before challenging a boss, or if your learning effect improves, the princess character will give you "support (a problem to test your skills in the guise of)".
development story
We received the following comments from Matsubara, the director of Gakken Plus, who led the development team for Alphabet Stones.
When we created Alphabet Stones, the most important thing we did was to thoroughly and repeatedly interview parents. To sum up the comments we received from many parents, "I want my child to be familiar with English, but I want a way to learn so that they don't become English-phobic.
Many families who are involved in English education have posters of the "alphabet" and "English words" on the walls of their rooms and in their bathrooms. And it was one parent's voice that inspired us to come up with Alphabet Stones.
We have English posters at home, but some of them I don't know how to read or what they mean. I think it would be nice if you could touch them and hear the sounds. I think it would be too boring.
I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS IT! I THOUGHT, "THIS IS IT! I THOUGHT, "THIS IS IT!" LET'S TAKE THE POSTER LEARNING STYLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND CREATE A SERVICE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LEARN ENGLISH WITHOUT HATING IT. THAT'S HOW I CREATED ALPHABET STONES, A SERVICE THAT LETS YOU LEARN NATIVE ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION AND MEANING WITH A REFRESHING UI THAT LETS YOU TRACE AND CONNECT.
According to a survey conducted by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research, about 30% of sixth graders answered that they dislike English. In addition, there is concern that the number of students who do not like English will increase further as English will become a subject in the upper grades of elementary school in the next Courses of Study, which will be fully implemented in the 2020 academic year.
At Alsto, we provide a place where children can have fun while getting used to and learning English. We want to make English fun and enjoyable for as many children as possible.
Say!" with your child. Hello!!!
At Alphabet Stones, you will learn to listen to English, memorize its spelling and meaning, and speak it. We have incorporated all the necessary elements of English learning and all the know-how we have cultivated in teaching children.
Just reading and tracing does not mean that you have enjoyed English 100%.
By listening to the pronunciation of native speakers and being able to do it themselves, the children can feel the joy of being able to speak English.
We'd love for you to vocalize some English words with your kids! And have fun with mom and dad too!
Download the app here!
(This article is a tie-up article provided by Gakken Plus Co.)
