My Chinese Coach (Nintendo DS)
About this item
- Explore China as each point of interest opens up your vocabulary - Lesson plans take place within interesting locations ranging from Beijing to the countryside
- Learn to pronounce sounds unique to Chinese by comparing your voice to a native speaker - Voice recording and playback feature of the DS lets you compare your accent to a native Mandarin speaker
- Develop your calligraphy skills as you trace over animations showing the proper way to write in Chinese - Write Chinese characters using the DS stylus and touch screen
- Participate in mini-games that will test your grasp of the structured lessons featured in the game - 12 mini-games reinforce lesson plans and the ability to write in Chinese
- Use the built-in reference tool to look up useful words and phrases - Chinese Dictionary and phrasebook with over 12,000 Mandarin words and hundreds of useful phrases.
Product details
- Is discontinued by manufacturer : No
- Rated : Ages 3 & Over
- Package Dimensions : 13.6 x 11.8 x 2 cm; 81.65 g
- Release date : 16 Jan. 2009
- ASIN : B001PIIBCK
- Item model number : 3307211610613
- Best Sellers Rank: 45,719 in PC & Video Games (See Top 100 in PC & Video Games)
- 883 in Nintendo DS Games
- 9,603 in PlayStation Legacy Systems
- Customer reviews:
Product description
Explore China as each point of interest opens up your vocabulary - Lesson plans take place within interesting locations ranging from Beijing to the countryside Learn to pronounce sounds unique to Chinese by comparing your voice to a native speaker - Voice recording and playback feature of the DS lets you compare your accent to a native Mandarin speaker Develop your calligraphy skills as you trace over animations showing the proper way to write in Chinese - Write Chinese characters using the DS stylus and touch screen Participate in mini-games that will test your grasp of the structured lessons featured in the game - 12 mini-games reinforce lesson plans and the ability to write in Chinese Use the built-in reference tool to look up useful words and phrases - Chinese Dictionary and phrasebook with over 12,000 Mandarin words and hundreds of useful phrases.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the language learning software helpful, with one mentioning it comes with games to reinforce learning. They appreciate its value for language acquisition, with one customer noting it's great for learning Chinese.
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Customers find the learning value of the game positive, with one mentioning it comes with games to reinforce learning.
"...daughter who is learning Chinese at school, and this has enhanced her learning so much so that at the local and very Chinese restaurant we where..." Read more
"...Each lesson comes with games to reinforce the learning, and you have to get each word correct so many times to earn mastery points to move..." Read more
"...this to be the only source of learning Chinese, but it is a nice add on to a course you're having or to play after the course...." Read more
"...for 3 years at evening class and have found this game a really useful addition to my studies...." Read more
Customers appreciate the language learning aspect of the game, with one mentioning it's great for learning Chinese, while another notes it's a fun way to get started with a new language.
"Fun to start learning a language" Read more
"Great game to learn some Chinese...." Read more
"Children Translator......." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 February 2013I've not used a DS or any other games before but someone recommended my Chinese Coach to help my studies. I have been learning Chinese for 3 years at evening class and have found this game a really useful addition to my studies. It takes me back to the beginning of my studies, but that is good as the revision helps. The 'fading characters' are most helpful, you trace over the character several times before you then have to write it yourself and in the correct stroke order. I can also focus more on tones. I wouldn't use this game to replace my lessons but it certainly helps with my revision and is great to play on the commute to work. I recommend this for all ages and also plan to buy for my niece who is 8 and learning Mandarin.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2011I have looked at this game several times and have been but off by the cost. Eventually, i bit the bullet and ordered it.
When you play the game for the first time you take an entry test. The game then starts you off from where you are (if you know some already) or the very basic beginnings. Lessons are divided into easy topics - weather, colours, greeting etc. Each lesson comes with games to reinforce the learning, and you have to get each word correct so many times to earn mastery points to move forward.
So far i have found a couple of minor errors in the piyin (missing 'de' 'ge' or other measure word) but in saying that if you were in China, people would understand your meaning clear enough for you to get what you need.
I studied Mandarin at BLCU, Beijing, and so i play this game for 10-15 mins to reinforce my learning and keep me speaking and thinking in mandarin daily. Having said that, this would have been a great tool when i was a real 'beginner' and the phrasebook/dictionary that is part of the game is really useful. I hope they bring out a version 2 as they have done with the other languages!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 December 2012I cannot recommend this to be the only source of learning Chinese, but it is a nice add on to a course you're having or to play after the course. It teaches you to write the characters quite well and there is a very good dictionary (and a phrase book) included.
In my 3DS it doesn't record my voice very well. It's always a really low level. Perhaps that is problem with a 3DS mic, but it's a little annoying. Also the game doesn't tell you what you did wrong so unless you notice it yourself it might get confusing.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2010I had this game for almost 3 months.
I think it's great to start mandarin and to use it for a couple of month as a start.
One problem I have with this game is that if you're not looking to learn how to write in Chinese (which is my case) then half of the game (and the mini games) are about how to write in chinese.
also I think some lessons are completely useless: there's a lesson where you learn how to call ALL your cousin, the wife of your cousin, you sister-in-law etc... it's great if your advanced in mandarin but IMO there's some far more important things to learn prior to knowing how to call you cousin's wife.
But the main issue I have is about learning the vocabulary. I'm currently at lesson 45 and I've learned a lot of vocabulary. great. except that if I want to revise a specific part of the vocabulary that I've learned 2 month ago(ie: "at the restaurant") then I can't play the mini-games on this specific part of the vocabulary because either you have to select "mastered" (ALL the vocabulary that you supposed to know) or "open" (the vocabulary of the current lesson). you can't select "at the restaurant" for your mini-games.
As I said, it's a good start and the idea is great but basically I'm not playing this game anymore because I can't revise the vocabulary I want and I don't feel I'm learning useful vocabulary.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2010I am currently on my 2nd year of studying Mandarin and decided to use this game as extra support and for practice on the move. And in theory, this game is a great idea, but sadly it is held back by certain issues:
- Mistakes, such as missing words and tones.
- There is no 'voice calibration' thus the game can sometimes not recognise what you've said and mark you as wrong.
- One of the games also requires you to recognise tones, yet occasionally tests you with 'toneless' words or sounds.
- In order to precede to the next lessons, you build up points in games etc. However, if you are merely using it for general practice rather than intending to move on, the points still mount up. This can lead to other words that you are not ready for being added to the game.
- Being on such a small screen, the characters and sometimes even the normal text are hard to read.
- Re: Writing practice. Each Chinese Character has a certain amount of 'strokes' and a 'stroke order'. However, with this feature you often barely even have to get it vaguely right and you are unable to learn what you did wrong
On the positive side, I did like the 'flashcards' game, as it forces you to think faster and thus translate quicker. There is also a handy dictionary for words and phrases, so can also hear the words.
Overall, I was not too impressed with this game but the dictionary and 'Flashcards' go some way to making this up. Just don't expect this game to give you a decent level of fluency - Use as support only.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2021I am happy to find this card for working my chinese language, for beginners.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2010Really helpful and is great fun too. I would recommend it to all beggninners of the language.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 December 2012The written charactors are hard to get to grips with but using this "game" I have been able to develope my reading/writting along with the spoken
Top reviews from other countries
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YanouReviewed in France on 1 March 20124.0 out of 5 stars Très bien pour apprendre à écrire les caractères chinois
On apprend à écrire et à lire les caractères chinois. Beaucoup d'exercices qui sollicitent la répétition, ce qui permet de mémoriser les caractères. Petit bémol: on ne peut pas choisir le niveau de départ. Donc si l'on est faux débutant, on est quand même obligé de faire les 1ères leçons de phonétique.
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LouReviewed in France on 2 April 20124.0 out of 5 stars apprentissage
jeu éducatif très bien fait pour ceux qui débutent l'apprentissage en chinois. Très scolaire. Un peu énervant pour l'écriture des caractères dont la validation est de temps en temps assez incompréhensible.
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MarconxReviewed in France on 22 June 20143.0 out of 5 stars Fonctionne en français
Le jeux est en français. Exercice un peu répétitifs, mais idéal pour une révision l'air de rien.
Bonne progression dans la difficulté.
