Contents

Introductions	Features

System requirements	Sound Systems

Help 	Configurations 	Reset

Teaching Pen

Writing Checker

Reading

Quiz

Write

Configurations

Teaching Pen	Examples	Writing Checker

Speak	Romanization	Score

Others

Voice Button	Save

English	Double Click

Hello Japanese Language Teacher

Registration of your own applications	From Screen

Type any key to stop drawing of character.

Japanese children learn how to write Kanji from their parents. Now you have got your own Japanese parents by StrokeTeacher.


Introductions

Just watch the computer screen and repeat the strokes on your exercise sheet.   That's all and it is so easy.  It is so important to watch and copy the stroke movement to learn how to write Kanji characters.

1. StrokeTeacher simulate the pencil movement on the computer screen to teach you how to write Japanese Hiragana and Kanji.   Simply watch and copy the characters as they are being written.

2. Writing Checker

Writing checker will check your Kanji writing. Using your pointing device, try to write Kanji on the computer  screen by yourself.  The program will check the shape and stroke order of your Kanji automatically.

3. Reading Quiz

This is a quiz to test your reading of Kanji.

4.Kanji Quiz

This is a challenge to identifying the correct Kanji in a given sentence.

5. Meanings Quiz (English vs Japanese)

This is a challenge to practice the meanings of the Japanese examples.

6. Chalkpad

You can write Japanese sentence  by using this function. Then, the sentence can be used as an example for Kanji.

7. Speak

You can hear the pronunciations of the Kanji.  Japanese parents sometimes teach the reading of Kanji  to their children one character at a time.  We are using this method to improve hearing ability.   These readings are different from normal speaking of native Japanese people but proves very helpful for students who have different native languages.

8.Romaji

You can view the Romaji by using this function.

9. Education and Entertainment

To make learning the Japanese language more fun,  we have organized a scoring competition and a hangman game.


Features

StrokeTeacher is a simple, effective, easy-to-follow program which helps you study writing Japanese making it easier and more enjoyable.

We firmly believe that one of the best ways, to learn and remember how to write Japanese characters, is to watch and copy the characters as they are being written. Every Japanese parent teaches Kanji strokes to his/her children by hand. Watching the movement is very important to learn Japanese characters.

StrokeTeacher was developed based on this belief. Therefore, we are confident that it is one of the best computer software applications available as an educational tool for writing  Japanese characters.

Special font for this purpose

We have developed special vector font for this purpose. This font is different from dot matrix fonts  in that we can show the stroke movement step-by-step on the monitor.

Voice Button

We have developed "Voice Button" to provide sound capabilities.

Education & Entertainment

We have developed an exciting hangman challenge to make learning more fun.

Not  boring

It is fantastic to watch each stroke movement become a character on the monitor. The movement keeps anyone's attention to  watching the  screen.


System Requirements

StrokeTeacher can work on any standard IBM compatible computer

 under the Microsoft Windows 3.1 environment.

No special hardware required.

No special Japanese DOS required.

No special Japanese Windows required.

Usually Japanese computers have Kanji fonts  in its hardware, but we have developed vector font as software for  English computers.

- IBM or IBM compatible Computers

  (No Apple Macintosh series)

- Microsoft Windows 3.1

- VGA Adapter Required

- 640 x 480 dots 8 color monitor -  CGA/EGA is not suitable because of resolutions.

- Hard disk space 1.0 MB

- Keyboard

- Pointing device, e.g. a mouse.


Sound Systems

The Windows version of StrokeTeacher has voice ability to pronounce Japanese character one by one.

You need special  hardware (sound card and speakers) to use this function.

1. Internal Speaker

Any computer comes with an internal speaker.  StrokeTeacher uses this speaker for the special sounds of drawing characters. But you cannot use this speaker to hear voice.

2. PC Speaker

Some versions of IBM compatible machine have PC speaker which is better than the internal speaker. You can hear the drawing sounds and voice from this speaker.

3.  If your computer is not equipped with a sound system,  we can recommend the following  options:

- We can supply an inexpensive sound system called SoundJr .

SoundJr is a registered trademarks of SiliconSoft Inc. in U.S.A. You can connect either  	amplified speakers or earphones to the adapter.  This small adapter allows you  to hear the 	sounds for StrokeTeacher.

-  SoundBlaster

SoundBlaster is a registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. in U.S.A.

- Other windows 3.1 compatible sound boards.


Help button

 1. Click on "Help button" from graphic menu .

 2. Graphic menus turn to the menu with help button.

 3. Click on the menu that you want to see.

Configurations

 1. Click on "Configurations button" from graphic menu .

 2. Graphic menus turn to the menu with configurations button.

 3. Click on the menu that you want to configure.

Reset

 1. Click on "Reset button" from graphic menu .

 2. Graphic menus return to a normal menu.


Table

1. Select "Table"  using the button or selecting on the "Teaching Pen" menu.

2. "Kanji Select"  dialog box comes up.

   This box includes all casts of Kanji of this product sorted by number of strokes.

3. Click any Kanji in the box.

4. The Kanji is going to be written.

5. This function loads the Kanji and examples.

6. The background color turns a different color to show how many times have you clicked the Kanji.

   You can clear the color by clicking "Clear"  button.

If you want to stop drawing at any time,  press any key.


List

1. Click on the "List"  button or select "List" from the "Teaching Pen" menu.

2. The "List"  dialog box comes up.

   This box includes all casts of Kanji of this product sorted by On-yomi, and Kun-yomi.

3. Choose any yomi  in the list box then click " OK" .

4. The Kanji is going to be written.

5. This function loads the Kanji and examples.

If you want to stop drawing at any time, press any key.


Example

1. Select "Example"  by clicking on the button or by selecting from the "Teaching Pen" menu.

2. Selection dialog box comes up.

3. Choose one of the ten examples by pushing an option button to show the examples,  then click on "OK" .


Writing Checker

1. Select  "Checker" by clicking on the button.

2. You can challenge yourself to write Kanji, and the computer will check the stroke order and shape by stroke recognition system.

3. You have to write over the markers that belong to each stroke.

4. You can control the settings of the recognition system by selecting "Checker" from the "Configurations" menu.


Checker off

1. Select  "Checker" by clicking on the button.

2. You can challenge yourself to write Japanese character.

3. In this mode computer does not check your writings .

4. You can control the settings of the recognition system by selecting "Checker" from the "Configurations" menu.


Speak

1. Select "Speak"  by clicking on the button, or select on the "Reading"  menu.

2."Speak"  reads the Hiragana in the Hiragana boxes one by one.

3. You can change the speaking speed and volume by selecting "Volume/Speed" from the "Configurations"  menu.


Romaji

1. Select "Romaji" by clicking on the button, or by selecting "Romaji" from the "Reading" menu.

2. "Romaji"  shows Romaji readings of the example.

3. If you want to use a different Romaji system, select "Romanization" from the "Configurations" menu   to change the system.


Kana

1. Select "Kana" by clicking on the button, or by selecting "Kana"  from the "Reading" menu.

2. The "Kana Box"  comes up.

3. The Kana box shows the readings of the Kanji.

Hiragana is used for Kun-yomi that is native Japanese readings.

Katakana is used for On-yomi that is taken from Chinese.


Meaning

1. Click "Meaning"  from push button or menu.

2. "English vs Japanese Box"  comes up.

3. Now you have to choose correct translation of the example.

4. Click on the correct answer, then push " OK" .


Reading

1. Select  "Reading" by clicking on the button or by selecting "Reading" from the "Quiz" menu.

2.The "Reading"  function  rewrites the sentence of the example number using question marked Hiragana boxes.

3. Now you have to read the Kanji.

4. Click on the first question mark.

5. The "Question box"  comes up with hangman.

6. Select the correct Hiragana of the " !"  marked box.

7. Be careful, score is counted.


Kanji

1. Select "Kanji " by clicking on the button, or by selecting "Kanji"from the "Quiz" menu.

2." Kanji"  function  rewrite the example of the example number with blanked Kanji box.

3. Now you have to write the Kanji.

4. Click blank Kanji box.

5. The "Kanji Choice box"  comes up with hangman.

6. Select the correct Kanji to be filled in.

7. Be careful, score is counted.


Chalkpad-Clear

1. Select "Chalkpad "  by clicking on the button

2.Blank Kanji and Hiragana boxes come up.

3. Now you can write Japanese compounds or phrases.

4. Click one of green color box or Hiragana box.

5. "Choice box"  comes up.

6. Select any character with which you want to write.

7. You can choose Kanji, Hiragana, or Katakana.

8. You can save this example by clicking on the " Save"  menu.


Chalkpad-Modify

1. Select "Chalkpad "  by clicking on the button

2.You can modify the example that has been chosen by Example menu.

3. Click one of green color box or Hiragana box to modify.

5. "Choice box"  comes up.

6. Select any character with which you want to write.

7. You can choose Kanji, Hiragana, or Katakana.

8. You can save this example by clicking on the " Save"  menu but you do not need to replace the example because of modification mode.


Configure-Teaching Pen

1 Tone

You can change the tone of the sound that is followed by the drawing of every stroke.

This sound uses beep speaker which any computer comes with.  This type of speaker has no volume control.

Tone count 0 provides no sound.

2. Speed

You can adjust the drawing speed. The highest speed provides CPU speed. If you have a faster computer, the speed goes faster.

3. Stroke description

 Stroke description button toggles stroke on/off.

 Stroke On mode stops at every strokes to show the movement carefully.

4. Auto-start

Kanji will be chosen automatically with continuous mode on.

If the continuous mode is on, StrokeTeacher starts drawing after 3 minutes with no mouse movements.

5. Pens

You can choose solid or doted line to draw the Kanji.

Dotted lines can be used for dot-to-dot exercise.

6. Grid

Grid helps to measure every stroke for checking the length.

7. Show (for Table and List functions)

This setting has the settings to show the title kanji and examples for the Strokes and List choice functions.

Title Kanji on  ---Show title of Kanji.

Title Kanji off ---Don't show title of Kanji.

Examples on  --- Show examples after the title kanji.

Examples off --- Don't show examples after the title kanji.

8. Color

You can choose your own color for the characters, background, and grid.


Configure-Examples

 1. Show hiragana boxes

 You can hide the hiragana boxes of the Hiragana writings.


Configure-Checker

1. Click on the "Writing-Checker"  button.

2. " Recognition Level"

Recognition Level controls the difficulty of the recognition system.

Recognition level 5 should be suitable for the first stage.

3. " Pen Thickness"

You can choose the pen thickness to draw. You had better choose thickness 1 for higher

recognition levels.

4. " Dot-To-Dot"

You can ignore the writings of Kanji with doted line for reference. You have to still follow the

marker boxes in this mode .

5. Show Table

You can choose the character that you want to use for writing checker.


Configure-Speak

1. Voice Levels

<Speed>

You can adjust the speaking speed of Hiragana boxes.

<Volume>

You can change the volume of reading Hiragana boxes.

Click on "Voice"  button to test the levels.

This function does not affect voice level, if your sound system is not compatible with windows sound system.


Configure-Romanization

1. You can choose your own romanization system.

2. This choice affects dialog boxes and " Romaji"  functions.

3. You can choose the romanization of HE/E, HA/WA.

 ex.   Use the letter --- Wa ta shi ha gakkou he ikimasu.

        Use the voice --- Wa ta shi wa gakkou e ikimasu.


Configure-Score

Be careful when you click on this button because the score is reset to zero.  This can also be done by selecting "Reset Score" from the "Configurations" menu.


English Box

1. English box contains following the information:

[Meanings]

[Readings]

[Examples]

[Number of strokes]


Voice Button

1. Click on "Voice Button"  from the main menu.

2. Choose " Single Character"   or "Double Character".

3. "Voice box" comes up.

4. This box contains Hiragana, Katakana, and Romaji Table.

5. Click any box to hear the pronunciation against each character.

6. If you are using different Romaji system, try " Romanization"  to change the system.


Save

1. Click on "Save" from main menu.

2. "Save"  function saves entire examples and the contents of English box.

3. You can save the example that was written in "Chalkpad" function by replacing the example with one of the ten examples.

4. Choose one of the ten examples to replace by pressing option button, and then the "Replace"  button.

5. By pressing " OK"  button, your example will be registered in a hard disk drive.


Double-Click function

 Try to click twice on one of the Kanji box, the box will be rewritten.


Registration of your own examples

This product is targeting people learning Japanese who live outside of Japan. We are selling this product in the U.S. , Australia, Singapore, Asia, and Europe.  This means that people of different cultures and languages are using this product. The student could be a tour operator, a public school student, business professional, etc.. We have met lots of Japanese language teachers and have received lots of suggestions from them. Eventually we found that  each teacher has their own teaching method and policy because they have teach many different levels of students. In this version of StrokeTeacher you can organize your own examples for your students by using the very easy methods on the screen.

Hello Japanese Language Teachers

With the StrokeTeacher you can organize a lecture of Kanji writings in a computer room.  You just browse around the students to check the achievement of your students as they use the Software.  If someone has poor achievement you can let him/her complete it as  homework with  StrokeTeacher.  We agree with teachers that it is hard to teach the writing of Kanji to students because it requires much practice, repetition, and  a lot of time.  StrokeTeacher is an ideal self-learning tool for Kanji writings.


From Screen

Adding Examples

1. StrokeTeacher has a file of each character including the definitions and located it's current directory.

2. Each file is named " Exxxx.TXT"  , where " xxxx"  is a Shift JIS code of the character.

3. Each file includes;

The definition of the character	[Basic meanings][Readings][Number of strokes]

Examples written Japanese	up to 10 examples

Translation of each example

4. The definitions are shown in English box for reference.

5. Examples and the translations are used for quiz.

Adding Examples

1. Use "Chalkpad"  to write your own example.

2. Add the translation into English box at [Translations] section on the corresponding number.

   Each  number ( 0.  1. ....) corresponds to example number.

   If you do not register the translation, the translation won't appear on during the "Meanings" Quiz.

3. Use "Save"  to add and save it to hard disk.

   "Save"  function saves entire examples of the Kanji and the contents of English box.


Hiragana

1. Select "Hiragana"  using the button or selecting on the "Select" menu.

2. "Hiragana"  dialog box comes up.

3. Click any Hiragana in the box.

4. The Hiragana is going to be written.

5. This function loads the Hiragana and examples.

6. The background color turns a different color to show how many times have you clicked the Hiragana.

   You can clear the color by clicking "Clear"  button.

If you want to stop drawing at any time,  press any key.


Katakana

1. Click on the "Katakana"  button or select "Katakana" from the "Select" menu.

2. The "Katakana"  dialog box comes up.

3. Click any Katakana in the box.

4. The Katakana is going to be written.

5. This function loads the Katakana and examples.

6. The background color turns a different color to show how many times have you clicked the Katakana.

If you want to stop drawing at any time, press any key.


 V vs H (Voice vs Hiragana)

1. Click on "V vs H" from push button or menu.

2."Voice vs Hiragana" comes up with Hiragana boxes and hangman.

3.Press "Start" , then one of the voice in the hiragana table will be heard.

4. Click on the Hiragana of the voice.

5.Push "Repeat" button to repeat.


V vs K (Voice vs Katakana)

1. Click on " V vs K" from push button or menu.

2."Voice vs Katakana" comes up with Katakana boxes and hangman.

3.Press "Start" , then one of the voice in the katakana table will be heard.

4. Click on the Katakana of the voice.

5. Push "Repeat" button to repeat.