My Chinese Coach - Nintendo DS

I also own Ubisoft's French and Word Coach programs and My Chinese Coach is definitely more elaborate than either of those. In my opinion, they've done a really admirable job in trying to tackle a character-based language.This program offers some great language-learning tools, which will reward you to the degree you work with them. My problem isn't in unlocking new levels as some other reviewers have said. If anything, it's a little too easy to unlock a new lesson before you've mastered the one you're on. You can earn your mastery points on games that test multiple choice (recognition, process of elimination, etc.) and basically ignore the features that teach you to speak the words properly or write the characters correctly.I was really impressed at how they attempted to incorporate character instruction/recognition in the program but it is problematic in some regards. The characters are written so quickly, that it's almost impossible to follow the stroke order and direction for more complicated characters. The program was great for learning how to write simple numbers but when it came to writing the character for "numbers", it leaves me in the dust. It's just too fast. A stroke-by-stroke character module would be very useful for learning the characters. Character recognition is a bit lax as well. The program will accept attempts at character writing that it probably shouldn't. I've lost my way mid-way through a complicated character and have just drawn a smiley face next to it and sometimes get credit for the answer. The handling of complex characters (both in teaching and testing) is the most serious flaw in this program.But overall, the program is impressive and it provides the tools to learn an awful lot of the Chinese language. If you're very game oriented and motivated by unlocking levels, you will probably advance more quickly than you should. The program tells me I've "mastered" lots of words that I can't speak or write properly. But you can always go all the way back to lesson one and practice pronunciation and character writing until you've really mastered it. If you're motivated, the tools are here to learn a lot.All-in-all, it's one of the more impressive programs I have in my DS collection.

I bought this gamesoft to act as a supplement to my JAPANESE studies. "My Chinese Coach" is similar to "My Japanese Coach" in its approach EXCEPT that there are no syllabraries to guide one in pronunciation -because of this, I highly recommend a Pin Yin pronuciation Guide and a Kanji dictionary such as that published by Tuttle.If your serious about learning Japanese or Chinese and are looking to the Ubi Soft gamesofts, pick up the corresponding reference materials."My Japanese Coach" was (and is) a good way to carry a'textbook/reference' in a compact form. "My Chinese Coach" REQUIRES supplemental reference due to the nature of the language itself.While these gamesofts are packed with vocabulary and useful phrases (questions, etc.) -serious students will need a foundation in grammar.Final Note: As I mentioned, I bought this to SUPPLEMENT my studies in Japanese for the reasons stated. The two are completely different languages AND while the temptation to learn Kanji of both languages is strong, you can screw yourself up by not knowing the difference between the Joyo Kanji (the set number of Japanese Kanji characters) and Chinese Kanji (which seems almost unending when working toward fluency).For the cost, the user will have a good idea of the discipline required to learn Chinese (as well as Japanese using "MJC").Enjoy!

On the ds version of this game series I also have; My French Coach. Then for the psp I have My Spanish Coach. Of the to different systems, I prefer the ds version over the psp. The psp is just harder because you have to use the analog stick on wack a mole, which I don't like using unless it's on easy mode. For the ds version, since it is touch screen, you just hit them with your stylus, which makes it a lot easier. However, the bridge game on the psp version is easier. It has the capital and lower case letters and periods and everything. Were the ds version, it just gives the words. However, I consider that cheating a little bit on their part because it basically gives you the order the words are suppose to be in if it is a short sentence. On both My Chinese Coach, and My Spanish Coach I had to start out at Baby Level. I started out in Kindergarten on My French Coach, but I took French in High School, so most of it is review for me. On My Chinese Coach, you start out with words like Hello - "Ne Hao" and like Thank you "xie xie" Then since you have to write in Mandarin, their is a special button you can push if you would like to learn. On the french version, you can record yourself into the mic and it will compare your voice with what it is suppose to sound like... I am usually pretty accurate, but I have had french before in an actual class, so it was just mainly review for me. I haven't unlocked to much in this game because Chinese is a little harder for me, but I am learning. :) I will be getting the Japanese version soon, and even though I have the Spanish version on the PSP, I think I'm gonna rebuy it for the ds because I just really dislike the psp version.Hao! Wode mingzi shi Heather.