A Review of the Nintendo DS's Language Learning Title My French Coach

One of the biggest niches that the Nintendo DS portable entertainment system fills is the genre of edutainment, or educational entertainment. This type of game delivers a learning opportunity couched in a fun and friendly experience. A genre already popularized by games like Brain Age, which claims to keep the player's brain sharp and young, one of the more recent additions to the ranks of edutainment is My French Coach and its sister titles, My Spanish Coach and My Word Coach.

Published by Ubisoft, My French Coach delivers exactly what the title suggests -- a game dedicated to assisting the player in his or her efforts toward becoming more proficient in the French language. Upon first delving into the game, the player is asked to take a short placement evaluation. The test tells the game how familiar the player already is with French and at what level to begin. From there, the player can learn new vocabulary and verb conjugation, hone pronunciation, and learn to string phrases together in the more direct learning-based section. He or she can then applying the new knowledge in games that include word searches, crossword puzzles, and timed reaction challenges.

A notable feature of My French Coach that skillfully incorporates the capabilities of the DS is the game's comparison section. Here, the player can read and listen to a certain phrase in French. He or she can then speak into the system's built-in microphone to record his or her own voice saying the same phrase. The user then selects the "compare" option and can hear both the voice of the game as well as the user speaking the phrase simultaneously. Not only does this make use of the DS's technology to great effect, but it is a wonderful and effective language learning tool.

My French Coach is not a no-fail teaching tool, however. In fact, the virtual guide within the game encourages the player to use the game as a companion to "real world" efforts to learn the language. Although players will definitely come away with some basic knowledge of the French language, true proficiency can only come through speaking French with other people. However, this game is definitely a fun, non-traditional learning tool that will bolster language mastering efforts in both adults and children alike.

The game is basic and professional in presentation. Graphics are well-made but not over the top, and are possibly too mundane for younger players. The music is engaging but could become irritating after long periods of exposure.

Overall, My French Coach is a solid edutainment title. Users will come away with a unique experience that allows them to become more proficient in French in a fun way. However, it is not a game in the sense of the Mario or Zelda titles, or indeed any other video game genre, and players should not expect it to be. My French Coach is a well-made and wonderful addition to the genre of educational entertainment.