Reviewed by Mary
Language Adventures is an iPad only app from Smarty Ears, it was designed by an SLP to work on vocabulary whilst playing a fun board game. The app works on synonyms, antonyms and multiple meanings of words; you can choose to work on one, two or all three of these.
The app is designed to be played just like a board game, but incorporates working on language skills at the same time. It has 3 different levels designed for use with elementary through high school-aged children. The 3 different levels have different themes – the simplest is the playground, then the cafeteria and finally the classroom. The questions in each level are related to that theme.
You can play with 1-4 students, there is data tracking and they can each work on synonyms, antonyms, multiple meanings (or any combination of these), and can work on either receptive or expressive language. All the players need to work on the same level (so they are on the same board), but can work on their own individual set of goals within that level. You create player profiles (with photo or avatars) for each student, select who is playing and what they are working on, and you choose what level to play at. Each level has a short introduction and then the game board comes up. You are told whose turn it is and then they tap the dice to roll. They can roll a one, two or three, and have to touch the right space on the game board then their piece will move forward to that spot (if they touch the wrong space nothing happens). Then they are asked a question and have to pick the right one of four possible answers. If they get the right answer there is a cheer, and you go back to the board for the next players turn. You can choose what will happen if they answer incorrectly, either: the incorrect answer is removed, or you hear a tone, or you hear a tone and see “try again” come up on the screen, in each case the child gets to keep trying until they get the correct answer. As in many board games, periodically a card comes up that allows you to move forward or back extra spaces – my son really enjoyed when I got “sent back to the locker room” and had to move back two spaces! The game continues with the players taking turns until one player wins – they get a medal and music playing, which my son thought was fun. The app tracks data on each student- you can see what they played on each day, and how accurate their answers were for each category.
Although this app was designed for use with students who need Speech Therapy to help work on their language skills, it is also a fun way for normally developing students to expand their vocabulary. I was playing it with my second grader (who has a very advanced vocabulary for his age), and set it to the hardest setting just to see what he would make of it. I was surprised to see quite how advanced his vocabulary is. When we found a question he didn’t know we turned it into a learning opportunity by discussing all the possible answers and their meanings. He really enjoyed playing this app and insisted that we play it again after dinner instead of reading (which is his favorite activity) – high praise indeed!
There is an option to have the questions read to you, but currently not an option to hear the four possible answers, I would like to see this option added to help children who are not yet proficient readers. At the moment after the die is rolled, the bar showing whose turn it is, what color counter they have, and what they have rolled disappears when it’s time to move the counter. It would be nice if a small icon showing the avatar, color and die stayed up on another part of the screen until after the player moves, as an aide memoir.
I would highly recommend this app both for special needs students working on expanding their vocabulary and language skills, and for normally developing children who want to have fun and expand their vocabulary at the same time. It has brightly colored fun graphics and sound effects, and it is fun to play !
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Language Adventures Proby Smarty EarsCategory: Education, Board, Games Requirements: Compatible with iPad2Wifi-iPad2Wifi, iPad23G-iPad23G, iPadThirdGen-iPadThirdGen, iPadThirdGen4G-iPadThirdGen4G, iPadFourthGen-iPadFourthGen, iPadFourthGen4G-iPadFourthGen4G, iPadMini-iPadMini, iPadMini4G-iPadMini4G, iPadAir-iPadAir, iPadAirCellular-iPadAirCellular, iPadMiniRetina-iPadMiniRetina, iPadMiniRetinaCellular-iPadMiniRetinaCellular, iPadAir2-iPadAir2, iPadAir2Cellular-iPadAir2Cellular, iPadMini3-iPadMini3, iPadMini3Cellular-iPadMini3Cellular, iPadMini4-iPadMini4, iPadMini4Cellular-iPadMini4Cellular, iPadPro-iPadPro, iPadProCellular-iPadProCellular, iPadPro97-iPadPro97, iPadPro97Cellular-iPadPro97Cellular, iPad611-iPad611, iPad612-iPad612, iPad71-iPad71, iPad72-iPad72, iPad73-iPad73, iPad74-iPad74, iPad75-iPad75, iPad76-iPad76, iPad812-iPad812, iPad834-iPad834, iPad856-iPad856, iPad878-iPad878 Size: 133 MB |
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Screenshots for iPad
(Click to enlarge)
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Giveaway
If you would like to win a promo code for this app we have 3 to give away, please enter via the PunchTab Widget. Winners must contact The iMums within 48hrs of the winners being announced to claim their prize. This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide, and an iTunes account is required to claim the prize. Good luck!
From this School SLP: It looks like fun, has built in data tracking for up to 4 students with nice target areas! Looks like a winner!
I would love to win this app for my students
I would love to use this app with my students!
I would love this for therapy for our son..
what a great idea!!! a board game to LEARN! we would love to try!!
I would love to win so I could share the fun with all my students!
I would like to win this to work on my son’s turn taking and attention skills along with language and articulation as well. Looks like a fun app.
Smarty Ears makes such quality apps that can be used with multiple needs. Some apps can only be used for a few sessions, but this one could be used more because of how many different goals it addresses.
I would like to try this app because it is multi-player and addresses antonyms, synonyms, and multiple meaning targets.
This would be a great app for students during downtime or when they have just come in from outside.
As a school based SLP, this would be a great addition to my therapy materials.
I would love to use this in therapy with my students!
As an SLP, this app would be great tool to use in therapy with my students. I have so many kiddos that could benefit from using it! Thanks for the giveaway!
Love Smarty Ears Apps and don’t have this one. Think it would help add some fun to our speech “homework”
I would like to win this app for my autistic son for homeschool…I think it looks like a fun way for us to work on vocabulary ….thank you for the opportunity 🙂
This app would work for a ton of the students on my caseload!!! And it looks like fun!
I would like to win this for my son.
I like the versatility of using it as a speech app or a vocabulary builder.
I am an SLP and do not have this app. I have several students that this would work well for.
I would love to play this game with my Dutch students who I am teaching English.
Love the Smarty Ear Apps! They are the best!
It would be fabulous for working with my students!
I would love to win this app to use with my students learning English.
I’m a SLP and would love to use this app with my clients during therapy.
I would like to try a smarty ears app and I am sure I have a student or two who could benefit from using it.
I would use this durin therapy sessions in the school and clinic I work in.
I would like to win this to add to my therapy materials to use with my language kiddos.
I’d love to have this for my girls to play together and work on their speech goals at the same time!
I would love to win this to help with my kids’ language at home.
I would love to win this for my students that struggle with language. This app would be a fun and motivating way to teach them.
I would LOVE this app. It’s top on my list! I have so many kiddo’s that would be able to benefit from it. Smarty’s Ears apps are fantastic!
I would love to have this for my two little apraxics.
Smarty Ears has great apps! My students love them! I hope to get this one soon.
I would love to add this to my collection of Smarty Ears apps. I love all of them 🙂
wouldl love to winthis for my kids therapy