JP2007323034A - Creation method of teaching material for learning foreign language by speech information and pdf document having character/image display layer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for creating contents for foreign language learning which enables instantaneous hearing of prepared speech data by extremely simple operation, permits easy display/non-display of a native language/foreign language, has a retrieval function of words and is usable with a general personal computer. <P>SOLUTION: The creation of layers in the document of a PDF type comprises creating a document having the layers by a document creation application software before conversion to the document of the PDF type, making the document hold the layer information and converting the document to the PDF document. At present, Adobe InDesign (R) etc., are used for the document creation software satisfying the requirements for the layer creation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

In the PDF (Portable Document Format) document, the present invention provides a display layer of two sets of character / image information of a foreign language and a native language translation for each word, and adds foreign language audio information. The present invention relates to a method for creating learning materials for learning foreign languages by incorporating a mechanism for interactively displaying / hiding layers and reproducing sound.

As the most common learning method for foreign languages, reading and storing books, such as dictionaries or reference books, has been widely practiced since ancient times.

Depending on the study book, the points that are the points of study are printed with red ink, and the red cellophane attached to the study book is held over to make the red printed characters invisible, so that the learner's memory can be checked by himself / herself There is also something like that.

In recent years, foreign language audio data from native speakers is stored on media such as CDs, which are also attached to study books. This is a learning form in which a learner advances learning while listening to audio data stored in the media.

As a dedicated device for learning a foreign language, there are devices having a word search function, a sound data reproduction function, a word display monitor (or paper with pictures and characters), and the like. It is aimed at young children or recently sold as an electronic dictionary.

6-50422 Language learning device JP-A-8-292710 Foreign language learning support device

The conventional learning method described above has the following problems.
In foreign language learning, listening to the pronunciation of words and sentences is important in the sense that it deepens the depth of learning. However, learning with books alone has a limit in the depth of learning because it cannot hear the correct pronunciation of foreign languages. Books usually have phonetic symbols or pronunciations in katakana (in Japanese), but these character / symbol information cannot be pronounced correctly.

When learning is based on media such as CDs that store sound data of foreign pronunciations, the learner basically advances the learning according to the speed at which the content stored on the media progresses. There must be. The progress of learning is dependent on the progress of content. However, the learning speed required by the learner varies from person to person, and in some cases, parts that you want to listen to repeatedly appear. In order to make progress based on the learner, the learner must operate the player of the media in which the data is stored.

In learning using red cellophane, the manual operation of holding cellophane over the study book or dismissing it must be repeated many times. In addition, there are many cases where other answers can be seen regardless of consciousness / unconsciousness in the act of holding or retreating, and the effectiveness of learning using cellophane is impaired. Is also worried.

In addition, a dedicated device represented by an electronic dictionary has a drawback that the manufacturing cost of hardware is included in the selling price of the product, and the price is set high. Moreover, it must be said that the content is not compatible with other devices and is not flexible. What the learner wants is not the hardware but the content for learning, and the fact that the content can be used only depending on the hardware is extremely inferior in the portability of the content It can be said.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to enable instant hearing of prepared voice data by an extremely simple operation and display / non-display of the native language / foreign language. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for creating a foreign language learning content that can be easily used, has a word search function, and can be used universally by a general personal computer.

The present invention realizes a target function as software in a PDF (Portable Document Format) document. Audio data, native / foreign language character / symbol data, and image data must be prepared as materials to be incorporated into the PDF. In addition, software is used to create a commercially available PDF document. Further, as computer hardware resources for creating a PDF document, a memory capacity larger than a prescribed amount, a hard disk capacity necessary for software development work, a monitor having a prescribed resolution or more, and a speaker are required. These necessary hardware specifications depend on the learning material contents to be created and the operation requirement specifications of the software for creating a commercially available PDF document.

According to the present invention, when a learner wants to hear the correct pronunciation of a foreign language, for example, the learner can achieve the purpose immediately by a simple and instantaneous operation of holding the mouse cursor over a target word or sentence. It becomes possible.

In addition, for words and sentences that the learner has determined to have learned, for example, leave the foreign language sentence on the display, erase the native language translation from the display, and read or hear only the foreign language. The learner himself can confirm the degree of memory and understanding of the native language translation. Alternatively, by leaving the native language translation on the display, deleting the foreign language sentence from the display, and reading only the native language translation, the learner can check the degree of memory and understanding of the foreign language sentence. . These are measurements of the degree of understanding by themselves, and can realize high learning efficiency.

By erasing both the native language translation and the foreign language sentence from the display, the learner can complete the acquisition of the word or sentence that the learner has not mastered. The learning efficiency can be improved in the sense that the learning can be concentrated on only the words and the consciousness is not deprived by the words and sentences that have been acquired.

In addition, the learner searches for a word by using a search function in a word document or a search function in all PDF documents in a word folder provided in software for disclosing / browsing a PDF document. Therefore, it is possible to study across the entire teaching material or across documents, from partial or local learning that is bound by the knitting of the teaching material.

The PDF document can be disclosed and viewed on any personal computer as long as the PDF reader software is installed. Therefore, the content (teaching material) created in accordance with the present invention is also a PDF document reader software. PCs with installed can be disclosed, viewed and used without depending on the platform. Therefore, it can be said that the learning material is highly portable for the learner.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a method / procedure for creating a foreign language learning material according to the present invention. Prior to the description, the minimum unit of learning is referred to as a unit for convenience. The minimum unit for creating a learning material according to the present invention is also a unit.

First, in FIG. 1, a PDF document (document) is provided with (2) a native language layer which is a component of the unit. The layer is usually in units of words or fixed phrases. (5) The native language text is arranged in a rectangular area ((1) PDF document page area) on this layer. If necessary as an aid to learning, (7) images are similarly arranged on (2) the native language layer.

Here, there are precautions to be noted regarding the creation of layers. At present (as of May 31, 2006), any commercially available PDF document creation software cannot create a layer only with its software function. In order to create a layer in a PDF document, a document having a layer is created by the document creation application software before conversion into the PDF document, and the document is converted into a PDF document while retaining layer information. Is possible. Currently, document creation software that satisfies the requirements for creating this layer is application software such as Adobe InDesign (registered trademark), Autodesk AutoCAD (registered trademark), and Microsoft Visio (registered trademark). Here, in describing the present embodiment, the expression “providing a layer in a PDF document” is used consistently for the purpose of intuitive understanding, but the method of actually providing a layer is described above. Using any one of the three document creation application software, a layer possessed document is created in the native format of the application software, and then the document is converted into a PDF document with the document retained in the layer.

Also, at present, any commercially available PDF document creation software cannot place an object (text, image, etc.) on a layer only with its software function. The expression “arranged on a layer” used in this description is used with the intention of having the user understand intuitively in describing the present embodiment. To actually place an object on a layer, use any of the above three document creation application software to place the object on the layer, create a document in the native format of the application, The PDF document is created with the layer held. This does not apply to non-layer areas.

FIG. 2 shows the setting of (2) a foreign language layer that is a pair of the above (2) native language layer. (5) Corresponding to the native language text (6) (3) A foreign language layer for storing the foreign language text is provided, and (6) the foreign language text is arranged on the layer. If necessary, (7) place the image on the (3) foreign language layer. Here, the (7) image to be arranged is usually the same as (2) the substance of the image arranged on the native language layer. That is, (7) the entity of the image is placed on two layers: (2) the native language layer and (3) the foreign language layer.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of a PDF form serving as an interface for performing foreign language learning interactively. The PDF form is divided into (2) native language layer and (3) foreign language layer, and two types of check boxes or buttons for (2) native language layer and (3) foreign language layer. (4) PDF Place on the document base area.

The function of the check box for (8) native language layer control in FIG. 3 controls (2) display / non-display of objects ((5) native language text and (7) images) arranged on the native language layer. .

The function of the check box for (9) foreign language layer control in FIG. 3 is described in (3) Objects ((6) Foreign language text and (7) Image) arranged on the foreign language layer and (10) The display / non-display of the transparent button 1 and (11) the transparent button 2 is controlled.

The (10) transparent button 1 and (11) transparent button 2 in FIG. 3 are buttons that serve as triggers for reproducing (12) (13) audio data in a foreign language. Each of the buttons is (6) arranged on a rectangular area overlapping the foreign language text, and the display is set to be transparent.

When (8) the native language layer control check box operation setting in FIG. 3 is checked, (2) objects on the native language layer ((5) native language text and (7) images) are displayed. If the check is OFF, (2) the object on the native language layer ((5) native language text and (7) image) is hidden by the script.

When (9) Foreign language layer control checkbox in FIG. 3 is set to ON, (3) Object on foreign language layer ((6) Foreign language text and (7) Image) and (10) Transparent Button 1 and (11) Transparent button 2 is displayed in the script, and when checked, (3) Object on foreign language layer ((6) Foreign language text and (7) Image) and (10) Transparent Button 1 and (11) Settings are made by a script so that the transparent button 2 is not displayed.

The operation setting of (10) transparent button 1 in FIG. 3 is set to “(12) Play audio data 1” with “when the mouse pointer enters the button area” as a trigger. Here, (12) voice data 1 is (10) voice data of a foreign language text that exists in the same area two-dimensionally as the area of the transparent button 1. The operation set to the button is not triggered when the button is in a non-display state regardless of whether the button is transparent or non-transparent according to the PDF specification. In addition, the trigger is activated in the display state regardless of transparent / non-transparent.

Similarly, (11) Operation of the transparent button 2 in FIG. 3 is set to “(13) Play audio data 2” with “when the mouse pointer enters the button area” as a trigger. Here, (13) audio data 2 is (11) audio data of (6) foreign language text that exists on the same area in two dimensions as the area of transparent button 2. The operation set to the button is not triggered when the button is in a non-display state regardless of whether the button is transparent or non-transparent according to the PDF specification. In addition, as described above, the trigger is activated in the display state regardless of transparent / non-transparent.

The above is the creation method and procedure of one unit that is the minimum unit of learning. By creating multiple units, you can use them as teaching materials for foreign language learning.

4-7 are examples of the use of one unit of the teaching material according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the initial display state of the completed unit for learning foreign language. (8) The check box for controlling the native language layer and (9) the check box for controlling the foreign language layer are checked, and (2) the object on the native language layer and (3) the object on the foreign language layer are displayed. .

Further, since (10) transparent button 1 and (11) transparent button 2 are in a display state even if they are transparent, they are assigned to the respective buttons when the mouse pointer enters the button area (12). (13) Audio data is reproduced. That is, in this state, hearing is possible while looking at the native language / foreign language text and images, and the learner takes the form of learning where the hearing is performed while viewing the native language and the foreign language.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which (8) the native language layer control check box is turned off from the above state, and (2) an object on the native language layer is not displayed. In this state, the learner takes a form of learning by listening to the foreign language text and images and considering an appropriate native language translation.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which (9) the foreign language layer control check box is turned off from the initial state, and (3) the object on the foreign language layer and (10) the transparent button 1 and (11) the transparent button 2 are not displayed. It is displayed. (10) (11) Since the transparent button is not displayed, (12) (13) audio data is not reproduced when the mouse pointer enters the button area. In this state, the learner takes the form of learning in which the foreign language translation and pronunciation are considered by looking at the text and images in the native language. (Hearing is not possible.)

FIG. 7 shows (8), (9) the check box for controlling the two layers of the native language and the foreign language, and (2) (3) the object on the native language and the foreign language layer ( 10) Transparent button 1 and (11) Transparent button 2, and (7) Image is not displayed. (7) Although the image has only one entity, it is on two layers, (2) the native language layer and (3) the foreign language layer, and is displayed when both layers are hidden. Disappear. (Because the image is displayed as a logical sum of both layers, the image is displayed if at least one of the layers is displayed.) In this state, the learner completes the acquisition of the word and displays it. The learner can proceed with learning while paying attention only to other unlearned words.

The above-described invention can be used for learning a foreign language by providing it as a learning material to a person who learns a foreign language.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram in which a native language layer serving as a minimum unit of learning is provided in a PDF document (document), and a native language text and an image for assisting learning are arranged on the layer. FIG. 2 is an image diagram in which a foreign language layer is provided so as to overlap FIG. 1 and a foreign language text and an image for assisting learning are arranged on the layer. In the non-layer area, the foreign language audio data that is played back with the transparent button and the button trigger is arranged so as to surround the foreign language text of Fig. 2 above, and two checkboxes for layer control are arranged. FIG. It is the image figure which superimposed the said FIGS. 1-3, and is an example of use which set the display of the native language and the foreign language to ON. However, the foreign language audio data described in FIG. 3 is omitted because the figure is complicated. It is an image figure of the example of use which set the display of the native language to OFF, and the display of the foreign language was set to ON. It is an image figure of the usage example which set the display of the native language to ON and the display of the foreign language to OFF. It is an image figure of the example of use which set the display of the native language and the foreign language to OFF.

Explanation of symbols

1 area in PDF document page 2 native language layer 3 foreign language layer 4 PDF document base area 5 native language text 6 foreign language text 7 image 8 native language layer control check box 9 foreign language layer control check box 10 transparent button 1
11 Transparent button 2
12 Voice data 1
13 Voice data 2

Claims (5)

A foreign format characterized in that the document format is PDF (Portable Document Format), it has a display layer of audio information and text / image information, and has a mechanism for interactive display / non-display and audio playback How to create language learning materials. A learning material for learning a foreign language created by using the method of claim 1. An electronic document created by using the method of claim 1. A learning material for learning a foreign language created by using the method of claim 1 in a document format in which the document format having a function sufficient to use the method of claim 1 is not PDF. An electronic document created by using the method of claim 1 in a document format having a function sufficient to use the method of claim 1 but not PDF.

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