Language teaching system that facilitates mentor involvement

Abstract

Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are computer-based language immersion teaching systems, products, programs, and methods comprising a digital processing device and a computer program that creates a language immersion teaching environment, wherein said environment comprises: a plurality of learning activities associated with a target language; a software module for providing voiceover audio in said target language; and a software module for providing translation of said voiceover and/or text from said target language to a specified language, wherein said translation is both written and voiced, and wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover and/or text is adapted for use by a mentor to a learner of said target language.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-based language immersion teaching system comprising:
 (a) a digital processing device that is optionally connected to a computer network, wherein said processing device comprises an operating system configured to perform executable instructions; and   (b) a computer program, provided to said digital processing device, including executable instructions that create a language immersion teaching environment, wherein said environment comprises:
 i) a plurality of learning activities associated with a target language; 
 ii) a software module for providing voiceover audio in said target language; and 
 iii) a software module for providing translation of said voiceover, text, or voiceover and text from said target language to a specified language, wherein said translation is both written and voiced, and wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is adapted for use by a mentor to a learner of said target language. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is adapted to facilitate said mentor in furthering the educational development of said learner. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein access to said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is regulated by said mentor. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said specified language is selected by said mentor. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text maintains a list of recent voiceover, text, or voiceover and text, wherein said list provides access to both written and voiced translation of each said recent voiceover, text, or voiceover and text. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is further adapted for use by said learner. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-based system of  claim 6 , wherein access to said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is regulated by said learner. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-based system of  claim 6 , wherein said specified language is selected by said learner. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation is configurable to provide customization of learner immersion by optionally translating voiceover, text, or voiceover and text associated with one or more of: all content, learning content, instructions, navigation, and no content 
     
     
         10 . The computer-based system of  claim 9 , wherein said customization of learner immersion is regulated by said mentor, wherein said mentor determines the types of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text translated. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-based system of  claim 9 , wherein said customization of learner immersion is regulated by said learner, wherein said learner determines the types of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text translated. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of learning activities includes one or more activities selected from: art, articles, books, brainstorms, collaborations, compositions, demonstrations, e-books, essays, examinations, games, group activities, journals, laboratory experiments, lectures, multi-player games, music, problem sets, puzzles, quizzes, reading assignments, role-plays, simulations, songs, videos, and worksheets. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text comprises a feature integrated into the GUI of said language immersion teaching environment. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text comprises a web browser plug-in, add-in, add-on, or extension. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text comprises a standalone application. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text comprises a mobile application. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-based system of  claim 1 , wherein said target language or said specified language is one or more of: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Arabic, Turkish, Tamil, Farsi, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese, Malay, Telugu, Javanese, and Tagalog. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-based system of  claim 17 , wherein said target language is English. 
     
     
         19 . Computer readable media encoded with a computer program including instructions executable by the operating system of a digital processing device, wherein said instructions create a language immersion teaching environment, wherein said environment comprises:
 (a) a plurality of learning activities associated with a target language;   (b) a software module for providing voiceover audio in said target language; and   (c) a software module for providing translation of said voiceover, text, or voiceover and text from said target language to a specified language, wherein said translation is both written and voiced, and wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is adapted for use by a mentor to a learner of said target language.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented language immersion teaching method comprising the step of:
 (a) providing executable instructions to a digital processing device comprising an operating system configured to perform executable instructions, to create a language immersion teaching environment, wherein said environment comprises:
 i) a plurality of learning activities associated with a target language; 
 ii) a software module for providing voiceover audio in said target language; and 
 iii) a software module for providing translation of said voiceover, text, or voiceover and text from said target language to a specified language, wherein said translation is both written and voiced, and wherein said software module for providing translation of voiceover, text, or voiceover and text is adapted for use by a mentor to a learner of said target language.