In addition to the well-known tiptoi, there are other interactive listening pens such as the TING listening pen. Find out here whether it can be an alternative for you.
TING works just like other read-aloud pens: if you tap on a symbol, specific image or text, the pen plays additional information – in the form of sounds, languages or music. This is how books, games and toys come to life. TING recognizes the code when tapped and plays the matching file through the integrated speaker (or through the headphone output).
TING can be used across all publishers. Examples of publishers are: Langenscheidt, Cornelsen, Duden, Klett, Haba, Coppenrath or also Finken. Language learning is also possible with the TING through various language learning programs and games.
So far, there are two TING versions: TINGclassic and TINGsmart. Both versions offer up to 4GB of storage. The TING program can be used to manage the data on the pen.
It is exciting for children to experience the information they find in a book in different ways. If, for example, it is not only explained how the call of an owl sounds, but an audio example can also be played, this is an exciting reading experience for children.
The TING hearing pen is easy to operate with just two buttons. Thanks to the various partner publishers, there is a large and diverse range of products.
This provider advertises the features of its product: “The device is characterized by a short response time and excellent sound quality”. In addition, the reading pen offers a headphone output.
The Ting is available from €39.99. The pen does not offer a recording function. File management via the TING program is possible from Windows and Mac computers using the supplied USB cable.
They want to help children learn to read or enhance the classic book with audio files: read-aloud pens. The digital listening pens bring a new reading experience for children and promise great learning effects. But how do the interactive pens work?
You can’t write with them, even though they look like a big pen. Such read-aloud, listening, or digital pens expand content from specially made books, puzzles, or games by tapping the pen tip on the symbols or codes they contain. The pen then plays the audio behind it – this can be animal sounds, music, sentences read aloud or prompts. Usually it is additional information and not the content that is already in the book anyway. The sound files can be downloaded from the Internet and loaded onto the pen.
It is exciting for children to experience information from a book in different ways. For example, not only explaining what an owl’s hoot sounds like, but also providing an audio example of it, enhances their learning experience. Children are better able to connect information through different sensory channels. In addition, it is a good feeling for children when they can trigger things themselves – even if you just don’t have time to read together with him. Such a pen can increase reading motivation through a playful approach and help with language development. Listening pens are suitable for children from about 3 to 10 years, depending on the model.
Despite these advantages, such pens are not a full substitute for reading aloud. Although a listening pen can help with understanding and learning a book, that should be your job as a parent, not any pen’s. Because with you, your child can ask questions and learn more than what is stored on a listening pen. In addition to the positive effects for learning, moments like reading together are also an important emotional experience for you and your child. A listening pen can be a good addition.
There are a number of different listening pens on the market. We present some of them in individual articles:
You can also find out here how to use listening pens to set your child’s favorite book to music.
