My Word Coach Reviews

• Not for people who are serious about actually learning the words

  
  By A1WM97HIZTKY62 on 2008-01-18
  I don't know if I've ever seen any game come down in price this much this quickly. Maybe it's because no one wants to keep it for very long!
  
  At first, I thought this game was great. After playing it almost every day for about 5 weeks, I have a very different view.
  
  Pros-
  
  Most of the games are actually fun at first. You'll probably learn some words and their spelling. Easy to pick up.
  
  Now for the much longer list of cons-
  
  This game does a terrible job of gauging your current level. It asks you far too few words, almost all of which are highly advanced, and placed both my friend and I FAR lower than it should have. There's nothing you can do about that. I'm 24 years old, and after 5 weeks of updating my expression potential to 34%, I'm still seeing words like kettle, jaguar, squirt, traumatic, solitary, airfield, canine, rephrase, acoustic, receptive, sparrow, nutrition, slang, stumbling, optimism, and so forth. I would say 80% of the words I've seen on here are elementary school level, while the other 20% are middle-school level. I have not "learned" a single word that I would consider calling high-school level.
  
  You'll learn very little for the time you spend playing. Of the few words that were new to me, hardly any of them were repeated more than a few times, often in the same day. You are bombarded with far too many words over time, when it should just be reinforcing groups of words before moving on to more. Also, the only time you actually learn anything is when you read through the definitions after each game. There's nothing at all to be learned by playing the games. It teaches you like a dictionary does. But the worst part is that there is no context or pronunciation! After playing for long enough, you will eventually unlock a game that doesn't count toward your EP, but does have recordings of the words being spoken as well as context examples. However, you can only access these one random word at a time. You are given very little time to read the examples. This means that pronunciation and context are on the game, but you can't look them up or access them at all while supposedly updating your potential to express yourself with words you don't necessarily understand.
  
  The definitions are often VERY weak. The part of speech (verb, noun...) is not given at all. If a definition is too long then it simply cuts off rather than allowing you to scroll down to read the whole thing. Many words appear in their own definition, which is never acceptable. Words with multiple definitions will only have one of them provided. Some definitions couldn't possibly be more wrong: inflammable is defined as, "Things that burn very easily." First of all, inflammable is an adjective and the definition is given for a plural noun. Also, while it is technically true, it has been a VERY long time since vernacular changed to avoid confusion, and even my dictionary suggests that you not use the word like this.
  
  The simple little games become mundane very quickly. You would have to play this game for several months to really get that much out of it, but it will get very boring long before that. Most of what your coach says to you is hardly better than mindless dribble. The graphics are quite simple and the music is extremely limited and dull. One day it randomly told me that the word of the week is minstrel. Apparently the word of the week means a word you won't be learning, because it never gave me the definition or even put it in any of the games. It's not that uncommon for it to tell me that my EP has been updated when in fact it is exactly the same.
  
  Ultimately, the developers were too lazy to provide the necessary elements for learning a new word, make it accurately gauge your personal level, come up with enough games to keep it interesting for a long time; they didn't even make sure they got the definitions right! They started with a great idea, and released a product that falls unforgivably short of its potential.
  
  

• My Word Coach - Cool Vocabulary Game with Nice Features

  
  By A17BUUBOU0598B on 2008-01-16
  Ubisoft has created a new line of language games, starting with My Word Coach for Nintendo DS and Wii My Word Coach. The game design is very similar to Brain Age in structure, geared towards a daily quota of game play. These games help you improve vocabulary and communication skills. Despite a few hiccups, this is a very fun game that can be enjoyed by all, including lefties. :)
  
  Pros:
  + Games are well designed to take advantage of the touch screen
  + Great games that stay fresh with frequently updated words
  + A good system for improving handwriting! (This should be required training for all MDs)
  + "Results" charts and scores allow you to track your progress and compare
  + Games and difficulty levels are added to improve and remain challenged
  + Included definitions allow you to learn word definitions, which is especially great for kids
  + 4 Characters which can be chosen through your profile, to guide you through the game
  + Detailed instructions are also great for kids and allow them to go on auto-pilot
  + Customizable, including turning off the music, altering your profile, etc
  + Glossary of words for reference
  + Only takes 10-20 minutes a day to meet your word objectives; play more if you like!
  
  Cons:
  - Somewhat long instructions, particularly the first time you play it
  - Some of the hand-writing games require some adjustment to have your letters consistently recognized
  - The falling "Block letters" game requires you to turn the DS sideways. You might block the words if you hold your stylus left-handed. Hold it at an angle and it's no sweat for me, but some people may be bothered by this
  - The "daily training regiment" is based on the regular clock, meaning night owls will have their after-midnight game play count towards tomorrow. Not a big deal for most people, but could have been more thought out.
  - I would have probably preferred some "play anytime" options that are not so geared towards word acquisition alone
  - Some games, like the missing letter, present options that could be solved with more than one letter. Once again, not a big deal for most people and sure to be improved in the inevitable sequel to this game.
  
  
  The game is designed so that users will play every day up to a minimum number of words. When you reach your daily quota, the game gives you an "Expression Potential" or EP, out of a possible 100%. It seems the game is designed to start you low, in the 20s or 30s, regardless of your vocabulary, in order to give you an incentive. After each day's play your EP is recalculated. You can plot your progress with included graphs.
  
  In addition to answering the questions correctly, you also get extra points for finishing before the allotted time. The scores you get on "recreation" games don't count towards your daily quota. These games appear as you progress over time.
  
  There are four main components:
  1. Training games you use to calculate your EP
  2. Recreation games you use to stay sharp
  3. Progress functions you use to chart your progress
  4. Customize options you can use to change profile settings or turn features on or off
  
  There are six main games in the "training" group that count towards your score.
  
  1. Missing Letters - fill in the missing letter and thus identify the word
  2. Split Decision - select a word's definition from two choices
  3. Pasta Letters - rearrange letters to spell a word based on a definition
  4. Block Letters - spell words using falling blocks before they pile up too high
  5. Word Shuffle - match words to their definitions
  6. Safecracker - guess a word using a safe combination knob before the computer
  
  Once you get past the first level on these games, other "recreation" games are added. For example, there is "Speed Letters," a game where you try to quickly write characters as they run across the screen.
  
  There are also foreign language games for Spanish My Spanish Coach and French My French Coach, and more are bound to be on the way.
  
  Overall, this is a great game that will keep you interested for a while. It's fun for adults and great for kids. With the DS being marketed as the gaming platform for learning, It's only a mystery that nobody thought of this sooner. I would characterize the positives as awesome and the cons as relatively minor. Get this game! Enjoy!
  
  
  

• Vocabulary and Spelling -- a great learning tool for kids and adults

  
  By A1TT1IQ7HG80SH on 2007-11-12
  My Word Coach DS (we liked the Wii version so much that we also bought the DS game - the DS stylus makes it easier to write, but my son likes the Wii's fun factor, and the Wii remote seems to keep him more involved in the learning process) - Do you have a kid who hasn't read enough to build a large vocabulary and strong spelling skills OR a kid who finds words fascinating? This game works for both, and provides lots of word practice with a series of different games -- my kid seemed almost surprised at the end of his first series that he had learned so much. There's lots of reading (definitions, etc.) which I think would make it tricky for kids much younger than ten. The game has progress graphs and high score history for encouragement and provides a word review after play. There are vocabulary games (e.g. Split Decision where you match the word on the screen to its correct definition) and spelling games (what could be more fun than grafitti-style spray painting to fill in the missing letter or correct a wrong letter?), with six training games in all and a couple of 'recreational' DS games. There are lots of options to keep a player's interst as the game gets harder -- for instance, both definitions may be wrong in Split Decision. My soon-to-be eleven year old plays until the professor tells him to stop for the day (after he's mastered a profile-determined word list). There's a slight learning curve, but he figured it out on his own without getting frustrated. He intuitively began picking up on clues such as how to guess a word from the definition. My son says it's "lots of fun -- almost, but not quite, like a regular game." I predict libraries and after-school programs will be holding lots of competitions with this game.
  
  

• Finally, a comprehensive language game experience on the DS.

  
  By A18RSVFHCN9G6N on 2007-11-16
  While some other "nongames" provide limited access to linguistics-based challenges, this is the first I've seen to really capture the joy of engaging with language. I am seriously impressed with this title, and I've been recommending it to parents and colleagues alike.
  
  The good stuff:
  - All six training games are engaging, and they never get old, since the words are always changing.
  - Even the games that focus on spelling are simultaneously engaging you with definitions.
  - The training games feel intuitive with the DS stylus, moreso than I imagine the Wii Remote might feel.
  - The games are physically fun to play. Move, arrange, rotate, or draw objects. It's more than just writing.
  - The game has intelligently tracked my vocabulary level; I constantly feel challenged, but not overwhelmed.
  - The unlocks come frequently, but the pacing is deliberately gradual to retain words in active memory.
  - A great experience for 10-30 minutes a day.
  
  What to watch out for:
  - As far as I can tell, there is no left-handed support for the one training game where you hold the DS vertically. This is actually a pretty unforgivable oversight. If you are left-handed, you may want to think twice about this purchase.
  - Remember that you can turn off the music in the settings screen, and that you will probably want to.
  
  Another review mentioned the lack of pronunciation guide as a problem. I agree that it's a missed opportunity, but it's not a dealbreaker. The lack of southpaw support might be, though, if you happen to be left-handed.
  
  

• Great vocabulary builder!

  
  By A230VUDYOCRZ4N on 2007-11-25
  To the person above that said that left-handers couldn't do this game is wrong. I am left handed and when I read the review that left handers may not enjoy this game at all, I thought oh no. I purchased this game anyway because I have Spelling Challenge DS and loved it and was excited to see that they made another word game!
  
  Left handers out there, no worries. The game does not decrease your fun at all.
  
  The vocabulary game is so much fun that I, an adult gamer, am certainly learning many new words! This game is fun if you love vocabulary and spelling! Great for teens and up!
  
  Games include:
  
  Fill in the blanks,
  Match the meanings to the word given
  Word stack (find words as letters drop down before they hit the top)
  Unscramble words
  Spell the mystery word faster than your computer opponent
  
  As you play, you unlock more games!
  
  Who would have thought spelling & vocabulary is fun!
  
  
• Good but not great!
  By A30CNLFZ5UMXCO on 2007-11-14
  This game is a week attempt to "Improve your Vocabulary". One of the most important parts of learning a new word is how to pronouce it. This game does not do that. I had hoped the game would say the word and at a minimum show how to pronounce it. During game play, only music is played.
  
  There are only two games that help you build your vocabulary...there should be more (increasing your vocabulary is not easy if your memory isn't great, so repetition is key). The other games challenge your spelling.
  
  Before playing any of the games, the first step should be to learn a new word and it's definition. And then based on that, these games should then challenge those new words and definition. Instead you are challenged on words and their definition without having learned them first and of course, if you aren't familiar with a word and it's meaning you lose points if you guess wrong. This game also lacks a word usage challenge. By the way, if you are not a fast reader, you won't do so well at playing "Split Decision".
  
  This game gets 3 stars because the graphics and usability are good and the games are challenging and fun. I hope in it's next version, all these issues will be resolved.
  
  I don't recommend this for anyone younger than ten. I'm sure it's rated "E" because of the lack of sexual content, inappropriate language and violence.
  
  Happy Learning...
  
  
• A fun engaging skill builder
  By A1HBI9BBQIG1NH on 2007-12-25
  I like this game as it has the literary building skills not present in so much product these days.The word challenging could be upped to keep older players engaged,but none the less there are challenges here.
  If you want to extend your vocabulary, My Word Coach is a decent mentoring tool. It raises a variety of challenges, but it controls much better on DS than Wii.
  
  An Interface doesn't get much simpler, but the graphic look is clean and ledgible.
  Not only engaging and challenging, but you will really learn new vocabulary while increasing expression.
  No doubt,This product could be stylistically refined, however it is such fun to be able to engage in enjoyable activities- including word recognition, spelling challenges, and vocabulary definition. The game includes 16,800 words from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary! Not bad!!
  
  When you play My Word Coach, it assesses, monitors, and rewards your verbal-Expression Potential, It scores your ability to actually understand, command and express the English language effectively. The higher your number out of a possible 100%, the better you are able to express, command words- and ultimately master language! I found playing with my daughter very engaging.She is 14,and told me it was her favorite game this year!!.
  
  While the Wii(tm) version takes advantage of the Wii Remote(tm) through lively mini-games and user friendly controls, the Nintendo DS(tm) version makes full use of the system's dual Touch Screen.It provides me and my family engagaging skill building activity. My daughter is left handed and she had no problems with the controls.(others mentioned this as a possible factor)
  All in all I like it very much!! Better yet, so does my daughter.If you like scrabble this is a game for you.
  
  
• a fun and educational tool - great for homeschoolers or braniacs
  By A3P4WOECOANW1M on 2008-01-14
  I homeschool my son and he LOVES video games so I am always thrilled to find an educational game for his DS system. Sometimes when I need to go out and run errands he brings his Nintendo DS along and having a game like this can extend his learning time for the day in a fun and creative way.
  
  Truthfully, he would still pick up a Mario or Sonic game over this if he had his choice (what kid wouldn't?) but if I ask him to pick a learning game, he will gladly choose this one. He loves words and has quite an extensive vocabulary already so this game is a natural fit. The easy level was way too easy for him, but the more difficult levels offer some good challenges. He likes the format and the way you can unlock more challenging games.
  
  This game would be perfect for anyone looking to build their vocabulary and word skills.
  
  
  
  
• Great concept, fairly lame execution
  By AGVWTYW0ULXHT on 2007-12-30
  I really wanted to like this product. I love some of the other learning products that my kids play on their DS's, like Big Brain Academy. I've been looking for a way to help them build their vocabulary, and I could use a refresher as well. Unfortunately, this product does not really offer a very enjoyable gaming experience. You'd have almost as much fun with flashcards, and would probably learn as much. If you want something to save you the trouble, though, this wouldn't be a bad product. I expect to tinker with it a few minutes each day, and see where I am in terms of vocabulary after a few weeks. A few features may bug you a little bit, though.
  
  First, you turn it on and a professor type explains the program and its importance. You set up a profile and the program introduces you to games one at a time, and explains how to check your stats. You are encouraged to play each game every day, about 15 minutes daily, and as you play and get better new features and play levels are introduced. Some of the games are okay, and others are a bit silly.
  
  One of the better games encourages you to match words to a definition, or definitions to a word. Another game encourages you to supply the missing letter by drawing it with the stylus. While the program has some trouble differentiating between certain letters (it kept reading my Hs as Rs, my Is as Ts or LS, etc.), it is pretty easy to adapt to it and write letters in a way it will recognize. Still, I'm not so sure about the educational value of filling in missing letters: being able to complete a spelling is not the same as knowing a word. Of course, each exercise gives you the opportunity to review definitions of the words you've just covered, but that part -- which is where the learning seems to take place -- feels like those flash cards again.
  
  One of the sillier (i.e. the most annoying) games is a sort of "Alphabet Soup" game. It seemed to be okay at first: a bunch of letters are in a soup and you are supposed to rearrange them to create a word that matches a definition that appears on the top screen. The problem is that as soon as the letters appear they start to sink back into the soup. You have to keep "mixing them" at the same time as you are trying to put them in order, so that the unplaced letters won't sink into the soup and be lost. What happens to me over and over again is that I get all the letters but one and then the last letter sinks into the soup. Then the game forces me to wait until my time runs out, which could be as much as another 30 seconds, before it goes on to the next word -- even though at this point it is impossible to finish the word since one of the letters is gone.
  
  The most frustrating feature is that there is no obvious connection between the words I am tested on each day. As far as I can tell, I just get new words each day. What I'd like is for the program to help me systematically review the words I miss in each program and occasionally review words I've gotten right. Then I could have some sense that I was actually building my vocabulary, that I was learning to use new words on a regular basis. As it stands, I am likely to pick up a few new words here and there, but there seems to be nothing in the program that guarantees this. This is where, in my view, flash cards may be even more effective than this program. When I use flash cards I remember and set aside the words I miss and review them until I've gotten them down and secure.
  
  I also have no clear sense that the exercises here are helping to create a usable vocabulary. For the most part I am tested on word recognition, and definition identification. There are no exercises that encourage me to select the right word to employ in the right context -- fill in the blank type exercises, and the like. So while this is a great concept, and while a good vocabulary builder would likely encourage me to take even more advantage of my son's DS, for now he can relax because this program is not really notable enough to win a lot of my attention.
  
  
• Fun for children, a little boring for adults
  By A11ISRTA2F9MW7 on 2007-11-25
  This game can be fun for children but the vocabulary is far too simple for most adults to find challenging. If you are over the age of twelve this game is probably not for you.
  
  
• Teachy But Fun
  By A2GCVTKDDOKRRX on 2007-12-27
  I am a big fan of word games and I do enjoy the series of word games in My Word Coach for the DS, but I was a bit bothered by the "teachyness" of the game overall. I've always found that you learn best when you're having so much fun you don't know you're learning. I'm sure the explanations sit well with those who purchase this game with the specific intent of improving skills rather than just for word-game fun, but I would have liked to turn it off and just enjoy the games without quite so much explanation. I felt it put a damper on my fun and, quite frankly, at times it made me want to go play Chicktionary on my PC instead.
  
  What I liked:
  -My Word Coach has a fun variety of word games including missing letter, word scramble, a Tetris style spelling game, and more.
  -I had very little problem with the system being able to read my letters when the game called for writing them out; only occasionally confusing a U with a V or an A with a Q (A with Q?? How does it confuse A with Q?). Simply writing the letters a bit more carefully solved this problem for me.
  -I do enjoy seeing my progress and if you are focused on improving skills, this feature is encouraging.
  -The games grow with you, maintaining a level that is fun and challenging based on your own progress.
  -Many of the games include simple definitions, so you aren't just seeing new words, you are learning what they mean as you go. With many other word games, I find myself pausing to look up something new, so having the definitions right there in the game is nice.
  
  
  What I didn't like:
  -The lengthy explanations about how the system is tracking your progress and their delivery by a snooty looking professor-like character felt unnecessarily "teachy". After you've played a bit, you can change this character, but there are only two others to choose from and the game still feels like it is talking down to you regardless of which character you choose since the wording doesn't change. I would have preferred more brief, fun explanations.
  
  My Word Coach is fun and progressive. If you want this game just for fun, overlook the lengthy explanations and enjoy the games. If you want it specifically to improve your vocabulary, this is a fun way to do it and the explanations are pretty concise.
  
  
• Fail.
  By A1GM8TOTBWLCTB on 2008-03-17
  [...] While it might be useful to a foreign learner of English, with such "useful" advice as, "A verb is an action word in a sentence!", it has some deficiencies that limit it for both native and foreign speakers. Many of the games require you to know the meaning of a word in advance, otherwise you'll simply be playing "guess which meaning is the right one". That is not a good way to learn new words. It can be a good way to reinforce what one already knows, but that goes against the entire point. As a linguist myself, I seriously question this product.
  
  In addition, the process by which your abilities are rated is entirely artificial. Even scoring perfectly on many of the games (I already have an extensive vocabulary), I was rated as basically a simpleton in order to preserve the illusion that I am "improving".
  
  Not recommended. Language learning software has tremendous potential, but it isn't even hinted at here. In fact, it's made to look laughable.
  
  [...]
  
  
• Left-handed people avoid.
  By AA4R3H17GX6T8 on 2007-12-09
  Consists of various games to increase your vocabulary and general spelling. Good but not comparable to the general Brain training series as this amount of games are limited. Some games require you to turn the device sideways. As with other games this one however doesn't ask whether you are right or left handed and assume the first. It is therefore a real struggle to play a time based game with the information behind your writing hand. If you are lefthanded, avoid! This will only amount to hours of frustration.
  
  
• Indubitably Addictive
  By A1EF5ODLYYMZIU on 2007-12-27
  At first glance, this looks more like homework than a game. But if you like IQ games such as Brain Age, this is a perfect way to have fun and learn.
  
  Basically, you go through a series of exercises (which are mini games) which test your vocabulary skills.
  
  The learning curve is simple, and the tutorials take you through the basic game structure in an enjoyable way.
  
  Playing a few minutes a day, trying to top your previous scores, is both challenging and fun.
  
  The only minor complaint I have is the character recognition. In order to play, you have to use your DS pen to write letters, and the game offen confuses letters (such as D for O). But that is probably due to my lousy handwriting.
  
  Bottom line: If you like crossword puzzles, IQ tests, Scrabble, or simply want to expand your vocabulary, this is well worth the money.
  
  
• The Word is Deplorable
  By A1S3SJJJW4JQ4T on 2008-06-28
  Producers of games premised on the enlightened arm of self-improvement, such as My Word Coach, are faced with baleful prospects from their work's incipience. First, they must overstep their otherwise stale chosen field with amusing sub-games to create a panorama of options to suit the players fancy at any given time: the player's willpower alone is insufficient to fund the puritan regiment. You won't find this in Word Coach, a game that specializes in eroding the willingness of even the most patient and forgiving gamers. Like other intelligence-raising games, the game begins with a paucity of sub-games to engage; in the case of Word Coach, two menial games are initially proffered: Missing Letter and Split Decision. Missing Letter takes "patented" advantage of the system's stylus, presenting the player with a word with the eponymous missing letter for him to write capitalized in the space below. Yes, that's all. Oftentimes the letter is not even one of especial difficulty, requesting the player to guess what letter is followed after -NG at the end of a word. Split Decision is an equally inane source of boredom. A poorly constructed definition is supplied on the upper screen and the answer is behind one of two opposing arrows. Sadly, there is not even a fifty-fifty chance of answering the question correctly, but a 100% one since the wrong definition is frequently egregiously inaccurate in any context. After completing either of these games the player is offered the chance to review his set of words met in each game accompanied by the same remarkably unmemorable definition.
  
  The player is awarded with differently styled games not through his performance, but by his daily tenacity and persistence to withstand the Sisyphus labors. I could only stand to play enough to earn two others: Pasta Letters and Block Letters. As asinine as it sounds, one is to spell out a word with quickly sinking alphabet letters drowning in what appears to be a sea of expired canned tomato soup. The only way to cause them to resurface is to blow into the microphone--a task that will undoubtedly make you light-headed if not utterly swoon, for the letters disappear at an astounding rate. Block Letters is worse than vomiting up that endless bowl of tomato soup in Pasta Letters if you were hungry for more ways to dull your mind. This time, one is to spell out words from letters that fall with prodigious slowness with no way to alter the speed. Both are utterly uneventful.
  
  Besides the uncreative and atrophied style, your "coach" has as little character and enthusiasm as the games themselves, serving absolutely no purpose. "And while were at inserting a useless role," said the producers of My Word Coach," why don't we make four others fill it and give them all stereotypical appearances and names of the ethnicity rainbow while softening our racial vision with enough political correctness to avoid angering anybody?" White man and former Breakfast Club tyrant Alastair Archibald, pant-suited feminist and iron-boxed businesswoman Veronica Munroe, afro'ed brotha from da hood brought out to inspire intercity youths Lucius King, and under-nourished, pretentious good-Brit Penny, are all at your service--and are really all the same under-developed person. They all have that same unchanging and featureless face shared by the poor fool who would attempt to raise his vocabulary for the SAT or GRE with this ponderous gourd of a game assigned with an uninspiring and tedious music score most likely written on a gas station's bathroom's used toilet paper roll by a fired construction worker and wife beater.
  
  Don't buy this game. Read literature, write down words you don't know, look them up, and practice with them with notecards and filling in sentences.
  
  
  
• A great game but
  By A3OO4WIO4SKD55 on 2007-12-25
  I have to knock off the 2 stars because there is not left handed option. There is a level/stage called "Block letters" Where the DS needs to be turned to it's side like playing "Brain Age" (1 & 2). And for a lefty like me, your arm overpowers the top screen and you can't really see anything so It becomes difficult to play. But since a lot of the levels/stages don't require you to turn your DS sideways, It's still 80% enjoyable.
  
  
• Fun for ages 10 and up
  By A18YMFFJW974QS on 2008-01-08
  
  
  I decided to give the Nintendo DS word coach a full week of playing (the recommended amount time for each day) prior to reviewing. What strikes me as interesting are those who say the game is too easy. During the first few days this is true, but the game becomes harder and some of the puzzles become "difficult". Some other reviewers have complained about the software's ability to identify the letter you draw with the actual letter - I have some issues, but nothing too major. I would guess that it identifies the letter correctly 90% of the time (and I have horrible penmanship)
  
  The question many parents and teachers may ask - does the game help you build a stronger vocabulary? My answer.... Probably. The game has a large variety of puzzles that require different levels of skills - some emphasize spelling, others word recognition, and yet others focus on strict word definition. After about 3 hours of total game time I feel that it would make a nice supplement, especially for middle schoolers.
  
  The game is fun for all ages but probably most helpful for those 10 and up. I wouldn't stick it in the fun/wow factor category of Super Mario Brothers, but anyone who enjoys word puzzles would definitely be intrigued by "Word Coach".
  
  Final verdict
  
  Fun factor - 3.5 Stars
  Education Factor - 4.5 Stars
  Final Score - 4 Stars
  
  
  
• Words and more words
  By A1XHQONO9C3XYV on 2008-03-21
  This game is fun -- it teaches you grammar and new words. We like the "block" game in which there's a list of letters; you spell themm out with blocks, but if the blocks reach the top, the game's over. We also like the daily challenge. It's easy to use if you're 10 or older.
  
  
• Not nearly as fun as I had hoped....
  By A1KB1W6K523MZ1 on 2008-07-18
  Okay, I thought that MyWord Coach would be a good way to learn some new words... it wasn't, at least for me. (Although I do read a lot.) Here are my complaints-
  
  1. The game seems to have been prepared for the British market; there are quite a few British words in here that aren't really used in American English. For example, I have had "flypast" instead of "flyby", etc. There are more, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
  
  2. The game does not have good, complete definitions for many of the words. For many of the words with multiple or more complex definitions, the definition expresses only a small part of what the word can mean.
  
  3. There are far too many short/slangy/common words in here. For example: woozy, snazzy, watermill, porker, ninja, freeloader, etc. Now, it might seem a little odd that I'm complaining about this; however, I thought that since words take up little space as text files the game would probably contain many more difficult/advanced words. Also, my level on the game is pretty high, but these low-level words keep appearing.
  
  4. The games get really boring.
  
  5. There is no pronunciation key, nor audio of the words.
  
  I guess I'm just a little disappointed; when I read about the advanced methods they used and the fact that they worked with the Cambridge dictionary, I just expected quite a bit more.
  
  
  
  
• A Great Educational Device
  By A2F7CCPK4QL359 on 2008-10-07
  When I turned 49 this year, I realized this was my year for self improvement. I read more, exercised more, cut back eating a lot of red meat and started to do puzzle books to increase my memory.
  
  My Cousin Jeremy spent a few weeks with me. He had a Gameboy DS. I started playing Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! and I was hooked. I broke down and bought a DS unit (see Jeremy, Its all your fault!). Jeremy gave me Brain Age 2 as a gift. But I wanted more.
  
  I was never a fast finger sort. I was more a trivia based/fact filled information junkie person. So I bought Crosswords DS (see my review)..and I wanted more.
  
  A friend suggested this program and I bought it. I have been writing for many years. I still found this program interesting. It is for young and old alike.
  
  Now the problem I have it letter reconizing on a timed game situation, which is hit or miss. The same problem I have with Crosswords DS gameboy game. The system see an I for an L or an N for a H. Once you get passed that problem, the software is a nice tool for education for young and old alike to have a GREAT VOCABULARY! I think since this is done is a game like arena, we should hand this out in schools and tell the teens, "Sure play your copy of "My Word Coach" or "Brain Age 2"..I know a few teachers, but maybe with this kids may learn
  
  I would have enjoyed a lot less timed games and a harder level for adults. But on the whole, it is a great software for those learning words and others who want to keep their brain active
  
  Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD
  
  
• Fun word games and a slick interface
  By A1RFQVHBKVN4TA on 2007-12-28
  My Word Coach for Nintendo DS invites users to improve their vocabulary through daily training exercises on six main games:
  
  1. Missing Letters -- in which you fill in the correct letter in a given word
  2. Split Decision -- in which you select the correct definition for a given word from two alternatives
  3. Pasta Letters -- in which you rearrange letters to spell the word indicated by a given definition
  4. Block Letters -- in which you spell words on a word list by selecting blocks (falling Tetris-like) on the screen
  5. Word Shuffle -- in which you match up words with their definitions
  6. Safecracker -- in which you spell a word indicated by a given definition
  
  The games are timed, and your score on a game is a function of the number of correct answers supplied and time taken on the game. (There are in addition three practice games, but scores achieved on them do not count toward your daily grade, on which see below.) These games are not all available to first-time players. New games and higher levels of games are unlocked as one plays.
  
  The game directs users to play a little bit every day, until the player reaches his or her daily quota of correct responses (say, 90 correct answers, which might take 20 or 30 minutes to reach, depending on how well one does on the games). When your daily quote is reached, the system assigns the player a grade, the player's "Expression Potential" or EP (some number out of a possible 100), which is supposed to measure the player's "ability to command and use the English language." Since the scores in many of the games depend on one's familiarity with the vocabulary used, I suppose your EP will roughly reflect your actual vocabulary. At any rate, after each day's quote is reached your EP is reassessed. (While you can continue to play the game for as long as you like during a single day--which will unlock games and levels for you--the correct answers supplied beyond your daily quota will not count toward a new EP assessment.)
  
  Playing My Word Coach was my first extensive experience using a Nintendo DS. I am very impressed with the Nintendo as well as with the game's slick interface. Writing with the stylus on the machine's bottom screen is very smooth, and the letter recognition is quite good. Rarely one of my letters was not accepted, but the game gives you several chances to make corrections before marking your response as incorrect.
  
  Finally, will the game indeed help improve your vocabulary? I wouldn't be surprised if it does. The games are fun, so players will want to come back. They're graded, so that one has a tangible goal to strive for. (You can also compare your high scores to those of other players in your household.) The game definitely does introduce unfamiliar words, and in many games the introduction of these words is tied to their definitions--which is to say that they appear in context. (There is also a glossary of words encountered that one can consult.) Plus, words are repeated and will show up across different games.
  
  But even if the game does not in fact improve your "Expression Potential" I would still be impressed by it: it's slick, it's fun, and it keeps your mind active. Which can't be a bad thing.
  
  -- Debra Hamel
  
  
• I loved it - my 10 year old hates it
  By A2AY83K9N60V38 on 2007-12-31
  I initially selected this game because my son doesn't enjoy anything to do with learning or grammar so I figured 'perfect' - make a game of learning and he'll never know what hit him.
  
  Within 2 minutes of putting this game in he was so frustrated because he didn't recognize any of the words and was getting them all wrong. I told him that I'd try it to see what I thought and I'm hooked. I'm left handed so yes I did have a bit of issue with some of the challenges and the fact that my handwritting tends to 'lean' meant that I had several words marked wrong but otherwise I'm having a lot of fun playing this game - and typically I don't play with the DS at all.
  
  I would say you'd have to have some sort of grammar knowledge or it would get frustrating as it did with my son but otherwise, this is a great game with some challenging vocabulary that not only makes you feel smart sometimes - but even improves your knowledge :)
  
  
• An Excellet Word Game
  By A3HZHTHOSEHHXT on 2008-01-14
  My Word Coach is another highly addictive game for me. It starts out with 3 basic games that establish your baseline in terms of communicating and expressing yourself. The professor will guide you through a short but detailed tutorial as you progress through the games. He/she will also guide you on how to create your profile and change the professor you wish to monitor your progress (i.e., there are also several female professors). After playing the initial 3 games, you will receive your initial Expression Potential and the category that characterizes that EP (i.e., high school student, university student, etc.). As you get more proficient, more and more word games will be added to the original 3, and additional levels in the existing games will appear as well. By the second time you play, you will have a progress report.
  
  The game (through the professor) will advise you to stop after playing for a few minutes in order to keep the words you have read in memory. This feature is particularly attractive for me because I don't have to keep doing something to improve my results for the day (the EP won't change anymore for that day even if you go on playing), unless I was only doing it for fun. In this case, the game also offers for fun word games like Block Letters, which is an untimed version that allows you to keep making the words on the chalkboard until the blocks reach the top and it's game over. Anyway, I like the fact that you only have to play 20-30 minutes each day, sometimes less depending on how fast and good you are, which allows me time to do this on the commute to or from work or just before going to sleep or even to play other DS games!
  
  There's also a glossary that shows the meaning of various words you type into it, including words you already saw or reviewed during your daily play. I have used this as a dictionary at work sometimes since I always have my DS in my satchel.
  
  This game is highly recommended for high school and college students and older. Those of us in the university crowd, particularly in the freshman to sophomore years, tend to still talk high schoolish, often using words such as "like" all the time. I've found that you kinda get bored on some dates when you keep hearing the other person say "like" every 3 words or so. I won't recommend this game for younger than the high school age group, unless you have an elementary- or middle school-aged kid who would like to be the next Spelling Bee champion. It's a good game for adults, too especially since they sometimes can get bogged down using the same words to speak over and over again.
  
  
• A fun addicting game.
  By A28CCN6VYHRUKS on 2008-01-15
  My Word Coach for the Nintendo DS is billed as a game that can not only entertain, but also improve the users vocabulary.
  
  First things first.
  
  There are 6 games within this title. They are:
  
  1. Missing Letters
  2. Split Decision
  3. Pasta Letters
  4. Block Letters
  5. Word Shuffle
  6. Safecracker
  
  These six games are varied and entertaining enough to become close to addicting. They are easy games to learn, and offer enough variety that the games don't feel as though they blend together.
  
  In regards to improving vocabulary. I am not to sure how much improvement there will really be, unless it is a child playing the game. The description says there are 17,000 words I only recall running into duplicate words a couple times. So there seems to be enough variety there as well.
  
  Some have complained about the difficulty for users who are left handed. I didn't find it to be a problem at all. That could very well be a personal thing though.
  
  Overall, I enjoyed this game and found it to be very addictive. I also like the daily score that you need to reach to advance to higher levels. It's a nice touch and encourages people to play. While it may not have the depth in number of words I would have liked. It held my interest and provided hours of entertainment. I recommend this game to the younger crowd, I am not sure how much benefits adults will get out of it aside from fun.
  
  
  
• A game & an educational tool second-to-none
  By ABOTQXNUBA1MM on 2008-01-16
  My Word Coach starts out with a welcome screen that allows you to write your name with the stylus. You can store up to two players on one DS cart, so you don't need two buy multiple games if a second person wants to play. When you access your name, it acts as your save file, which you can load up and continue your game. The coach of your choice will give you a "Word for the Week" on the top screen, and you can then choose to play training sessions (in green), progress review options (in red), or tools (in blue). Your coach will either tell you your Success Count (how many you got right) or Expression Potential (how many words you know out of all the words needed to fully express yourself).
  
  Challenges such as Missing Letter, Split Decision, Pasta Letters and Block Letters will challenge your vocabulary skills as you play these games to figure out definitions of words in puzzle form. Once your score is reviewed, you will be notified of your Daily Objective, which is how many correct answers it is recommended you get for the day to improve your vocabulary skills. Once you reach your quota, it's recommended you stop playing for the day and come back the next day to continue your training.
  
  After completing several daily objectives, you will be able to unlock new game challenges that will further test your growing vocabulary skills. It may sound like a lot of work, but it actually ends up being quite fun while teaching you at the same time. The stylus accuracy works well when drawing letters and selecting blocks on the screen. Word puzzle buffs will absolutely get a kick out of this game, and as an educational tool, it's second-to-none. Highly recommended.
  
  
• 5 stars for vocabulary building concept meets DS controls
  By ATMQ311QH86HN on 2008-01-16
  While not necessarily a game this vocabulary building software for your DS is more of a daily brain bulding diversion much like a Brain Age.
  After several weeks of playing this daily I have unlocked all the single player game modes and all of the available multi player modes. The ability to choose which word lessons you engage in and the initial selection of which character will guide you through the game as your word coach are the only really individualized concepts at work here. However the games ability to determine your vocabulary level is fairly uncanny making it a unique experience for each player and skill level.
  The multiplayer word games are fun for more than one and the 15 to 30 mins you will get out of this on a daily basis make the "game" coated educational software go down smoothly. The Wii and DS versions are virtually identical I would say go with the DS version as it has better controls for the writing and letter grabbing games this title offers.
  
  
  
• Boost your vocabulary!
  By A1NU8K0Y5J5V3H on 2007-12-28
  My Word Coach allows a person the chance to learn new words and their definitions in the English language. I am enjoying this game. It appears that DS is doing it again with the release of more educational games. I have the Brain Age 2 game and this is a great addition to the educational and memory game series produced for the Nintendo DS. These types of games allow for players of all ages to test their knowledge, skills and abilities with words. I have not unlocked all the games yet. I have played about three or four different games so far and it appears I will have the opportunity to unlock more as I play each level.
  
  Types of word building games:
  Missing Letter (fill in the blank)
  Building Blocks (use the blocks to spell the words from the given list)
  Word Pasta (basically unscramble the words)
  Match words to their definitions
  
  My favorite thus far is the Building Block game.
  
  The one thing that annoyed me was the useless dialogue your "word coach" gives you about your progress. I like graphs and pie charts, so it would be much easier to give me the information in a nice glossy and colorful chart than a long winded explanation from the "word coach."
  
  In all, this game is great for kids and adults alike.
  
  Who said learning can't be fun?
  
  
  
• No fun, but remarkably well thought out like a well taught class.
  By A24RT6AVJXJZHF on 2008-01-16
  CON first: I can't help but start out this review by mentioning how needlessly long winded the explanations are, which aren't the least bit helpful or instructional. Even in a live class, if the professor were to prattle on like this the audience would be lost out of boredom and wondering what motivated it. Explain it in the book or on a website, not page after page on the tiny screen.
  
  But there is more on the positive side to say about this software than on the negative.
  
  PRO: This is not a game. While it could be more engaging and enjoyable I have to say it's extremely well done and really does provide a quality evaluation, drilling, and learning experience.
  
  I do not agree that a mastery of word structure or a more sophisticated vocabulary makes for better communication, but in terms of linguistics this is far more than you could expect from a piece of software made for a handheld gaming device. Praise goes to Nintendo of course for creating this subculture of handheld gaming as a learning device--and on the cheap--but the creators of this particular software deserve a lot of credit for the level and quality of the content here.
  
  BOTTOM LINE: While I wouldn't recommend this as fun or agree with the premise that better communication is a matter of greater vocabulary, this is a great piece of software for those who want to develop their ability to understand even unfamiliar words, where it's more about your ability to reckon an answer rather than know it.
  
  I love the fact that it teaches the student to think of the composition of words, because this is a valuable reasoning skill. On the other hand, if you're looking for a fun way to digest this material, it doesn't make the grade.
  
  I recommend it for those serious about improving their linguistic abilities, but don't buy the idea that it will make you a better communicator and therefore do such magical things as increase your income or cause people to listen to what you have to say any moreso than they do currently as it seems to be claiming.
  
  I only take one star away overall simply because I don't agree with the hypothesis, but this is five star work.
  
  
• Expanding your vocabulary, one minigame at a time...
  By A1P4RH7KMJ1SV2 on 2008-03-20
  "My Word Coach" was made for those who of us who love words -- spelling them, learning their definitions, and -- in the end -- having the ability to sound like a walking, talking dictionary in front of our friends!
  
  Through a series of minigames, you'll become more familiar with words in the English language. There's a nice variety of activities; over the course of seven days, at least seven new games or game levels were unlocked for me. Some are fun; "Pasta Letters" is one of my favorites. In this minigame, you try to unscramble a word whose letters appear in an alphabet soup. If you wait too long, they'll begin to sink under the surface of the soup; to retrieve them, you may have to blow into the DS's microphone. In "Word Shuffle," you have to match vocabulary words to the appropriate definition on an index card. In "Split Decision" you must rapidly choose the correct definition of a word from two choices, all the while trying to beat your previous time record.
  
  I am impressed by the variety of activities that have appeared so far. However, I do not like all of the minigames. "Safecracker" is difficult for me. "Missing Letter" sometimes doesn't recognize the letter you've written; like, I'll write an "O" and it'll recognize it as an "R." You are allowed to fix your mistakes within a certain amount of time, but I think the recognition software could be a little better. Furthermore, I don't like how some of the games time you and penalize you if you don't complete it quickly enough. No matter how quickly I play "Block Letters," or how many times I try, I can't finish within the suggested time. The good news is, you get to choose which games you want to play each day, so if there's one you loathe, you can avoid it.
  
  Other fun features in this game include an extensive glossary and a place where you can monitor your progress on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Thanks to this game, I've not only learned some new words, but I've had a few epiphanies, ala "Hey, I've always wondered what that word meant, but I've been too lazy to pick up my 15-pound Webster's dictionary! But now I know!"
  
  "My Word Coach" puts a fun spin on expanding your vocabulary. Recommended for word lovers ages 8 and up.
  
  
• Could be so much better
  By A2ULVYV9E9VUFX on 2008-03-28
  It has potential, but falls way short. It needs pronunciations with the words - much like My Spanish Coach. It should also include part of speech in the definition, and at some point, should give you an example of the word being used. They need more games - some are just too tedious to do very often. It focuses more on spelling than on learning definitions. Nonetheless, both my husband and I have persisted through the game for two months and have both reached a point where our expression potential has not updated for three weeks of daily play regardless of the fact that we have reached our word quota almost every day. I hope UBI Soft will put some more time into this game and make the improvements necessary to make it both useful and fun.
  
  

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