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My Word Coach

(2007, Video Games - Educational, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Play 6 fun word games to improve your vocabulary.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    A fun way to learn vocabulary words and spelling.
  • Messages:

    Two of the games encourage learning words together.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of My Word Coach was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

Parents need to know that this is a game about learning words. If you are a child, the words presented to you in the games will be easier than if you are an adult. As you progress through the games and succeed, new words are added based on your progress with earlier worlds. The better you do, the harder the words become. Parents will appreciate that after 20-30 minutes of playing, the game suggests you quit for the day. Two of the games can be played with another player using separate DS units. This is a review of the DS version, which is better than the Wii version.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about whether playing this game actually helped you to learn words. Was it fun, and if so, what made it fun? How accurate do you think the Expression Potential test is? Is it merely a gimmick to get you competing?
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More on My Word Coach

What’s the Story?

MY WORD COACH is based on the premise that you can increase your vocabulary by playing word games. This video game for the Nintendo DS presents you with six vocabulary training games and keeps track of your overall improvement as you play the games. The training games expose you to over 16,000 words and definitions. Four of the games focus on learning words and their definitions, and two are spelling games. For example, in one game, the upper screen displays a word. You touch arrows displaying "Left" and "Right" to toggle between two definitions and then select the correct definition. Your score is based in part on how much time you took. In another game, you're shown a list of words in one screen while alphabet blocks fall slowly into the other screen. The object is to touch the blocks in order to spell the words on your list before the screen fills completely with blocks. When you do spell a word, those blocks disappear. Close

Is It Any Good?

As with the popular Big Brain Academy game, what makes this game fun is that you enter a school to train -- here it's called the Institute. You choose from one of four word entertaining coaches to guide you. After taking a simple test to determine your "Expression Potential," a number assigned out of a possible 100, the coach encourages you play games so that you can increase your initial Expression Potential.

My Word Coach does a good job of trying to moderate the intensity of learning words by periodically introducing two recreational games that aren't tracked. Plus, after 20-30 minutes of training, the game suggests you quit for that day. While some adults may resent the emphasis on speed that is part of the games, for kids, the speed angle may actually help to sustain their interest in these educational games. High schoolers who are preparing to take the verbal and writing portion of the SAT might want to add this video game to their backpack – it's more fun than simply memorizing word lists. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/06/2007, price $30, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    okaayy

    when you compare it to other games its just okay, but alone its pretty good. i love the main idea for the game. some of the minigames may not be

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Word Coach for Wii

    I bought this because I love vocabulary and wanted to use it in my home school as well. My two boys thought it was very cool at first, but it is not near as much fun for them as their other games! They and I have all learned from it and the words are repeated enough I think that it's educational value is great. I would say a child would need to be a pretty good reader though. Some of the words are simple and common, some not so much. Definatly worth the investment for us!!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    i laughed

    cool stuff and more!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    this is not a good game for kids. but it is good for adoults. so kids if you have it tell your dad or mom to put it away. from you guys so do it right now. peace out from the hagler brothers band. christian and micah peace out kids.

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