World Wide Web, the world appears to be getting smaller—as students can now reach out across the ocean with just a few keystrokes and clicks of a mouse. On the Web, the world is a melting pot, with fun and informative gamesthat teach children about different cultures. In many ways, the Internet is a boon for education. In fact, accord- ing to Cyber Dialogue, 61 percent of all children who are online use the Internet for homework. In addition, youngsters now have the opportunity to learn and interact with people from other cultures. For example, Small World Word Fun—found at www.disney blast.com, a premium content subscription service for kids—fea- tures animated native characters from Japan, the Philippines, Spain and the United States, who take visitors on virtual tours of their homes. Children who check out the site can learn a variety of household words—“house,” “bedroom,” “kitchen,” etc.—phonetically. Within each room of the indi- vidual houses, typical household items are depicted. Clicking on an object highlights its name in the respective language and the English word for it. In addition, a voiceover triggers so users can hear how the object’s name is pronounced. French and German houses will be added soon—all of which will have similar layouts, allowing children to learn more about dif- ferent cultures. To find out more, visit www.disneyblast.com.
