Language Fluency System

Abstract

A computerized method and system for teaching foreign language. Users can define flashcards for study words and words in study sentences and select associated images to be shown with the flashcards during review. An improved method and system for identifying and searching for images to show is provided. Improved methods for presenting flashcards for words with multiple definitions and improved database architecture for storing flashcard data for plural users is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for teaching a foreign language using a client computing device having a display and a user input, the method executed by processing components of the client computing device and comprising steps of:
 initiating a flashcard creation process for a first flashcard;   receiving through the user input a selection of a study word in the foreign language;   receiving from the remote server a plurality of sentences containing the study word;   displaying the plurality of sentences;   receiving through the input the selection of one of the plurality of sentences containing the study word; and   sending to the remote server a selected sentence containing the study word.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word and for which a flashcard is to be generated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word and for which a flashcard is not to be generated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating a search for a first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word;   building a search query by (i) receiving through the user input the selection of a first word, and (ii) adding the first word to the search query;   sending the search query to a remote server over a network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sentences containing the study word is received from a central community database of user-defined sentences that contain the study word. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the central community database includes information about the root/dictionary form for every word present in each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the central community database includes recordings of each of the plurality of sentences and each word present in each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the central community database includes a discussion forum attached to each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the central community database are modifiable by native speakers who are enabled to provide responses related to the plurality of sentences and the study word in the central community database. 
     
     
         10 . A method for teaching a foreign language, the method comprising steps of:
 initiating a flashcard creation process for a first flashcard;   receiving a selection of a study word in the foreign language;   receiving from the remote server a plurality of sentences containing the study word;   displaying the plurality of sentences;   receiving through the input the selection of one of the plurality of sentences containing the study word; and   sending to the remote server a selected sentence containing the study word.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word and for which a flashcard is to be generated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word and for which a flashcard is not to be generated. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 initiating a search for a first study sentence in the foreign language containing the study word;   building a search query by (i) receiving through the user input the selection of a first word, and (ii) adding the first word to the search query;   sending the search query to a remote server over a network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sentences containing the study word is received from a central community database of user-defined sentences that contain the study word. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the central community database includes information about the root/dictionary form for every word present in each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the central community database includes recordings of each of the plurality of sentences and each word present in each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the central community database includes a discussion forum attached to each of the plurality of sentences. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the central community database are modifiable by native speakers who are enabled to provide responses related to the plurality of sentences and the study word in the central community database.