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 Benesse Corporation announced the introduction of a new English learning tool, the Berlitz Kids Benny & Friends English book series, the first collaborative product developed jointly by Benesse and Berlitz Japan, Inc.
Tailored to children aged from four to eight, the Benny & Friends English book series has been designed to be used with the CoCoPad*, an educational toy manufactured by SEGA TOYS.

Volume 1 of the series, Benny, a Stuffed Animal Bear and His Toy Friends, will be available in mid-August at the retail price of 2,480yen (pre-tax) through SEGA TOYS' retail network in Japan, as well as from the Berlitz Japan language schools.
Volume 2 Adventures in Nature by Benny and Friends and Volume 3 Adventure in the World of Music by Benny and Friends are planned for release in September and in November respectively.


The new English learning tool has been developed by integrating the unique set of experiences and expertise of both Berlitz and Benesse including: Berlitz's English teaching method for kids and Benesse's well established self-learning materials, the best known of which is the correspondence course "Shinkenzemi" for students.

The book series offers an opportunity for bringing Berlitz's effective English learning method to a wider audience and to children in areas where no Berlitz Kids English schools are located.
In addition, for Berlitz, the introduction of the self-learning book means raising an early brand awareness of Berlitz among young children.
While Benesse was responsible for the book's planning and concept development, Berlitz supervised the English content. Production of the book and the ROM cartridge, and retail marketing is being handled by SEGA TOYS.


Each of the books features an easy-to-learn, fun story of Benny's adventures with his friends.
Each book has a very limited Japanese text and uses subjects familiar to children, and it is designed for children to easily follow a story told only in English by looking at the pictures.
The book teaches not only English words but also sentence structure, using these words.
In addition, the sentences can be converted into question form.
By pointing the CoCoPad pen tip on any word and hearing the English for that word, children are able to repeatedly listen to English and naturally learn basic English words and expressions.



*CoCoPad is a talking storybook with full-color pictures, helping children learn letters and words and how to pronounce words by sounding them out. CoCoPad has been developed by SEGA TOYS in Japan under a license from LeapFrog Enterprises, a U.S. educational toy maker of the LeapPad.