Nintendo DS Effective in the Classroom

For the last five months, forty-nine third year junior high school students in Yawata-shi, Kyoto have been using Nintendo DSes in the classroom--and not being punished for it! In fact, the teachers are making them use it! And results are good.

On average, the students who used Nintendo DSes in the classroom saw their English vocabulary increase by 40%. The software being used is 中学英単語ターゲット1800DS (Chugaku Eitango Target 1800 DS).

With reports showing increased vocabulary and improved pronunciation, schools in Yawata-shi have also implemented the system with second year students as of April. The city received 600 new systems with the support of the national government.

Over 90% of the third year students reported using the Nintendo DS to study as "fun" and "having an effect on their English".

The software, developed by IE Institute, is one of many English training games to be released in Japan.

Source:
毎日新聞

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Update (May 23)

A friend of mine from Nihongojouzu alerted me to the fact that the story broke in the English language press.

Check the story here.

Just be sure to remember who reported on this first, though... Naruhodo! ;)