Multilingual First Words app for iPhone and iPad

This app teaches kids over 4,200 words (600 words in 7 languages) via 2 fun games AND even allows you to input unlimited pictures/audio to play with! It has:

1. A picture matching game for younger kids (age 2-5).

2. A picture matching game for older kids (age 6-12) that requires them to type the answer.

3. An interface that allows parents to input their own sets of words, pictures, and audio, so silly faces and sounds, family members saying “hello”, etc. can all be added. The possibilities are endless!

Yes, you really are getting a premium app for a non-premium price. No tricks whatsoever! Contents include English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean for:

Small Things: 132 words
Animals and Bugs: 79 words
Big Things: 79 words
Food and Drink: 76 words
Body: 37 words
Actions: 31 words
Descriptions: 27 words
Nature: 27 words
Places: 22 words
People: 20 words
Music: 20 words
Sports: 18 words
Shapes: 17 words
Colors: 15 words

MESSAGE FROM THE APP’S CREATOR

Hi, I’m James Rogers. I’m this app’s creator and the creator of Smart Smart Educational Materials (www.smartsmart.org), a university language professor, a linguistics researcher and creator of a volunteer research team with over 30 professors and translators around the world, and most importantly...a dad. I simply had this great idea for a really fun app, and couldn’t resist making it! I used all my knowledge from my PhD research on linguistics, and my knowledge of young learners (I started off my teaching career teaching children) to create this great app. I really hope you enjoy it!

This app is great for first AND second language learning. I handpicked 600 basic words ideal for children age 2-6. But this app has also been designed to teach your child a second language as well, so children from age 6-12 can even enjoy it! It also takes advantage of what we know about neuroscience and linguistics, utilizing forced production (users must input answers), Leitner method (difficult items are repeated more often), and optimal block size (20-50 words per set) techniques to help your child learn quicker. It even helps them to develop stronger general memory skills through the card matching activity.

There are two types of handpicked words in this app: high usefulness words and high impact words. This original concept of approaching teaching a child their first words is based on the following idea. High usefulness words are simply that! They’re useful in daily life. High impact words are different. They help a child’s brain develop by exposing them to unique visuals and concepts. Such words include TIGER, AIRPLANE, and CASTLE, etc. These words help enlighten a child and encourage them to explore and learn more about what exists out there in the world beyond their home and school.

Did you know the most important time to hear a second language so that your child doesn’t develop a heavy accent is from age 0-5? It’s so important to let your child hear the language during these years. It will allow them to develop the cell pathways in their brain that will enable them to speak that language with proper pronunciation. In general, learning a second language at an early age is also very beneficial for general brain development as well.

Because this app has 2 games, a child can not only learn 1st language spelling, but even a foreign language’s writing/spelling system as well. Thus, this app should provide years of entertainment and education for your child.

I really look forward to making more fun and useful apps for language learners, both young and old, so please let others know about this app. Thanks so much!

Creator

James Rogers

Translators

Japanese: Harue Usui
Chinese: Liú Jìngrú
Korean: Jiyoung Kim
French: Alexis D’Hautcourt
Spanish: Marco Guedez
German: Ludwig Bahrke