 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
My Word Coach
- Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
- Price: $30
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Play 6 fun word games to improve your vocabulary.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's it about?
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.
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.
What families can talk about
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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AGE
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
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AGE
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!!
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AGE
I love this game, and as educational games go, my kids also love it..... challenging, but not frustrating!
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Kid, 12 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
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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AGE
very educational
this is a fun game on the wii. but there are better games
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Educational |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | November 6, 2007 |
| Price: | $30 |
| ESRB rating: | E |
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