Teaching sight words to pre k
8 Ways to Teach Sight Words to Preschoolers (2023)
Learning sight words is a critical skill for kids to learn how to read!
Teaching children how to learn sight words can be a challenge.
Why?
Because it all comes down to memorization. There is not a way to sound out these words. In case you are unfamiliar, sight words are words like that don’t follow the traditional rules of spelling or can’t be sounded out phonetically. Some examples of sight words are who, does, and come.
To give your preschooler a great jump start to reading, I have come up with 8 EASY ways that you can teach your preschooler sight words!
#1. Start With TWO Letter Sight Words
Does anyone have a toddler that says no to absolutely everything?
You’ll be hearing it all over again when you start teaching sight words because the word “no” is one of the easiest ones to recognize!
When you start out teaching a child sight words, it’s important to start small and build up to longer words. Starting with TWO letter words for them to memorize is going to be a lot easier than FOUR letter words.
Here are some two-letter sight words that you can start with: of, to, is, in, it, he, on, as, at, be, or, by, we, an, do, if, up, so, no, go
Once your little one has mastered the two-letter words, you can move onto three or more letter words!
While some of the words on this list can be sounded out and others can not, I think it’s easier to have your child just memorize the words so they can say it at a glance.
Here is a list of sight words for each age/grade level?
I use the above sight word checklist when I am deciding what new words to teach my daughter!
#2. Choose Sight Words In Your Child’s Favorite Books
I have a quiz for you.
How many sight words can you find in this sentence below from the book, Where the Wild Things Are?
“His mother called him “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything.
”
I found 12 sight words in that one sentence!
- (his, him, wild, and, said, eat, you, up, so, he, was, to)
Sight words are referred to as high-frequency words because some of them are the most common words in the English language!
When you are reading to a child, and they are starting to learn sight words, make sure to point out the words in their favorite books. They will be more interested in learning the sight words if it’s in a context they enjoy! We have a subscription to Highlights Magazine, and my daughter loves pointing out which words she recognizes.
Your kids will feel so proud when they can read a few words in their favorite stories. It will encourage them to want to learn more!
#3. Practice Daily
Just like teaching your kids the alphabet, numbers, and shapes, it takes repetition for them to understand the material!
At least a few minutes of work on sight words each day will help them immensely when it comes to memorizing sight words.
Here is what works best for my daughter:
I write the sight words that we have previously learned on a small dry erase board, which I limit to about 25 max.
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We take some time and review those words plus add one or two new words depending on how well she does during the review.
Check out this short video of how I review the sight words with my daughter!
To ensure that she remembers the sight words we learned, I make sure to include ones that we learned in the past.
Tip#4: Make Reading Fun!
If I just focused on the above activity over and over again, I think I would struggle badly getting my kids to learn how to read.
It’s essential to come up with EXCITING ways to teach your kids how to read!
Here are FOUR ways to make learning sight words engaging!
Activity #1. Shaving Cream Sight Words
Shaving cream is such an amazing sensory activity! Your kids will be so excited to use shaving cream for a learning activity, it won’t even feel like they are learning!
I use men’s foaming shaving cream because I think it works the best! But other types can be used as well.
How to do this activity:
1. Spray foam shaving cream on an art tray.
2. Spread it out so the shaving cream is all over the tray!
3. Write a sight word that you are working on in the shaving cream and ask your child if they know what it is.
4. Repeat this process over and over again! Let your child erase the words so they get a chance to play in the shaving cream!
Activity #2.
Do-A-Dot Painting Activity
Do-A-Dot painters are one of my MUST-HAVE supplies to have on hand at your house.
They are so much fun to play with and they are pretty much MESS FREE! Can’t beat that right?
Do-A-Dot markers can be used for so many fun and learning activities. This specific activity was great because it worked recognizing a specific sight word while getting to paint!
GRAB YOUR FREE Pre-K Sight Word Do-A-Dot WORKSHEETS HERE!
(Each grade level coming soon!)
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Want to check out my other MUST-HAVE Supplies? Take a look at my list HERE!
Activity#3. Play Sight Word Games
My new thing is trying to turn games into a learning activity!
My kids love to play board games, so why not add a little bit of learning into the mix while getting to play?
How to do this activity:
1.
Materials you need- Don’t Break the Ice Game, dot stickers, and a marker.
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2. On white dot stickers, write some sight words that you are working on with your little one. I wrote one that my daughter already knew so she could play the game and be successful!
3. Explain to your kids that they have to tap lightly on the ice with the hammer instead of trying to hit it as hard as they can because a lot falls at once that way. Tell them they can play the regular way after you practice the sight words. 🙂
4. Ask them to find a specific word and tap on it with the hammer or they can tap on a word of their choice and tell you what it says!
5. After they say or find all the words, then you can play the normal way!
Activity #4. FUN Worksheets
My daughter loves to color, so I created this Popsicle themed Color by Sight Word Worksheet for her to do.
Here are some excellent workbooks available on Amazon that have activities ready to go!
- 100 Write and Learn Sight Word Practice Pages
- Wipe Clean: Learning Sight Words
- The Best Sight Word Book Ever!
Don’t want to buy an entire workbook? I am constantly working on new FREE resources to make available for you.
Click here to grab your FREE Popsicle Color by Sight Word WORKSHEET!
Also, take a look at the other FREE RESOURCES that I have while you are there!
#5. Build Sentences with Sight Words
Building sentences using sight words is a GREAT way to show your child how the specific word is used in real life.
You can do this by verbally saying sentences or you can also do it in an interactive way.
We have a bunch of Thomas the Train, train tracks at home, so I thought it would be fun to work on sentence building with sight words with them!
How to do this activity:
1.
Materials you need- Thomas the Train tracks, labels, and a marker.
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2. On labels, write some sight words that make sense in a sentence that you kids know or you want them to learn!
3. Spread them all apart so they have to work on building the sentence so it makes sense. They will have to read each word then create the sentence!
#6. Add A New Word Each Day
Once your child can recognize words, you can start introducing at least one new sight word each day. In the beginning, you want to start slow.
Since sight words are based on memorization, that’s why learning one word a day is perfect for this age level.
While you should introduce one new word a day, remember to review past sight words that you practiced with them before. It’s crucial to go over these sight words so they won’t forget them.
Remember they are still preschoolers, repetition is key!
#7.
Stay Positive!
You never want to rush the learning process.
Forcing preschoolers to sit and complete work when they are not ready may cause the child to think negatively about learning.
You want your child to be EXCITED to learn.
Don’t get frustrated if they don’t catch on right away or if it takes them a few days to master a word. It will happen with time, and they will feel successful if you encourage them!
There are times that my daughter can just not grasp on to a word.
For example, she had trouble memorizing the word “find.” I asked her every day for TWO weeks about this word, and she still wasn’t getting it. I decided I was going to take a break and come back to it later. I introduced the word to her again after about a month, and now she has no problem with it!
As parents, we have to be patient with our children while they are learning.
We are supposed to be their biggest cheerleaders! Tell your child how proud you are when they learn a new word. They will feel your excitement and, in return, be more excited to keep on learning new material!
#8. Join An Online Learning Program
One great website that works on early reading skills is Kickstart Reading.
Kickstart Reading– This is such a fantastic reading program! I also have a promo code that you can use to get some money off of your subscription! You will receive a FOREVER plan for $39.00(normally $57.00). This is a program that focuses solely on reading, which I think is better than anything else out there. Your little ones will learn about phonetics, sight words, vowel sounds, digraphs and MORE!
PROMO CODE: ABCDEE
Here is a short demonstration of just one of the segments included on Kickstart Reading.
This is my 5-year-old daughter working on word blends.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Deciding when to start your preschooler’s journey into reading is a fun but challenging adventure!
It’s important to start slow, begin with two letter sight words, and stay positive with them! Try to mix up the activities that you do with them to learn sight words to keep them engaged and excited to learn!
I would love to help you on your journey to teaching your preschooler sight words. Whether you need some creative ideas or you need more helpful suggestions, please leave a comment below.
If you have any great ideas that you would like to share as well on what helped you teach sight words to a preschooler, please share them with us!
How to Teach Sight Words
Tips for Teaching Sight Words in Pre-K and Kindergarten
Sight Words
What are sight words?
Sight words are words that are immediately recognizable and do not need to be decoded.
Some examples of sight words are come, does, or who that don’t follow the rules of spelling. These words need to be memorized because decoding them is difficult.
When teaching reading to youngsters, it helps for them to have these sight words memorized because these are common words they will come across frequently.
Sight Word Facts:
- Sight words are the most frequently used words in the English language. These are considered high frequency words.
- Sight words make up about 50% of any written text.
- Students will be able to read more fluently if they have learned to recognize sight words instantly.
Heidi Songs Sing and Spell vols. 1-5
One of the most important things to remember when teaching sight words is to make it both fun and memorable; HeidiSongs Sing and Spell the Sight Words DVDs offer a unique way to do just that. Heidi has a song for every sight word and each song is so catchy your kids will beg to sing them again and again.
What makes Heidisongs unique is the multi-sensory aspect. Each song features movements that the students make with their bodies as they sing the songs. This method works well because it incorporates the different learning styles. When children are seeing, hearing, saying, and moving they are more likely to remember.
I have had such great success using HeidiSongs with my classes I can hardly believe it. The parents could hardly believe it either, their children were learning the sight words so quickly and were singing the songs non-stop day and night. Many parents asked for the lyrics to the songs so they could help their children practice the words at home.
Heidi Songs was such a big hit I decided to incorporate the songs into our homework routine to spice it up. Using flashcards, the students sing the corresponding HeidiSongs each night to their parents. I also incorporated Heidisongs into my Rainbow Words program (see pictures and explanation below).
Rainbow Sight Words
Rainbow Words is a unique combination of a sight word motivational tool, an organizational system, and a tracking system all rolled into one.
It is difficult to remember which words each student knows. I use assessment checklists but it is time consuming to go around the room and look at the list, then figure out what each student needs to be doing. Rainbow Words is a fantastic solution to this problem.
Basically, it’s a large rainbow you place on your wall, each color of the rainbow is assigned certain words that stick on the rainbow with Velcro. Their words follow a certain sequence that our district does not so I just re-arranged the words on the rainbow to suit my needs. You don’t even have to use their words, you can make your own and stick them on the rainbow. I color coded all of my sight word cards to match the words on the rainbow.
Now during word work time each student has their own ring of color coded sight word cards (see picture below) and I know that they are working on the words that they should be. It’s also easy enough for the kids to follow too, they always know which color they are working on.
Rainbow Sight Word Cards
I purchased the matching colored baskets at Really Good Stuff
The motivational aspect of Rainbow Words is another great feature.
The students start out at the bottom of the rainbow on purple with words like “I”. They are highly motivated to move up the rainbow to the next level and so on. Each time they reach their goal and learn all the words of one color they get a certificate of achievement in that matching color. There is also a cloud and raindrop bulletin board motivational system you can create.
Sight Word Resources
Disclosure: Pre-K Pages is a participating member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
More Literacy Resources from Pre-K Pages
Methodology — Banana School
Methodology of teaching in our school:
English, French and Spanish courses in our school are conducted according to the communicative methodology. Since the methodology is constantly evolving, new textbooks appear, our teachers monitor the ongoing changes, annually select only the most relevant textbooks for use in the classroom.
The entire learning process is aimed at using language skills in communication.
In other words, the main task is to overcome the "language barrier". However, this does not mean a complete rejection of the study of grammar, lexicology and phonology. These linguistic components play an important role in the communicative methodology. But they act as a tool, not a subject of study.
Education at the Banana School center is built in accordance with the methodological programs developed by the school's specialists, using educational literature from Pearson, Oxford, Cambridge publications. Thanks to our methodology, you will learn English in a short period of time or improve your knowledge if you already have basic knowledge of the language.
The teaching methodology is based on human psychology and includes discussions of fascinating topics with which you will forget that you were once afraid to speak English. Mini-essays will teach you how to think in a language, and games of charades and Alias will eliminate the need to cram words. All grammar within the framework of the course is introduced gradually, accompanied by a large amount of practice and develops into a single system.
Before the first lesson, each student takes an oral test to determine the level. After that, we determine the appropriate group for it. To understand the structure of English, you will be in a circle of people equal to you in terms of level, which will help you feel confident and study with interest.
What will I own?
We rely on the European Standard for Language Proficiency.
Beginner level
Starter
If you have never learned English and the most you can tell your English-speaking interlocutor is: yes, my name from ... or Landen - from the capital of Great Britain - this level is for you.
After completing the Starter course:
* Vocabulary is about 500-600 words.
* Listening comprehension: phrases and sentences spoken slowly, with pauses, very clearly (eg simple questions and instructions).
* Colloquial: You can talk about yourself, your family, friends, weather, food, hobbies, countries.
* Reading: simple texts with familiar words and previously encountered phrases, as well as studied grammar, simple instructions (for example, assignment for an exercise).
* Writing: single words, simple sentences, fill out a questionnaire, write short descriptions.
Elementary
Elementary
You learned English "once" but remember little. In fact, everything learned is in a passive form.
In the process of training, knowledge is revealed and transferred to an active form. A student of this level has all the basic skills of the English language. We study such everyday topics as: "Family", "Rest", "Travel", "Transport", "Health", "In the Store".
After completing the Elementary course:
* Vocabulary is about 1000-1300 words.
* Listening comprehension: sentences that relate to the most common topics. When listening to the news, watching movies, there is an understanding of a common theme or plot, especially with visual support.
* Colloquial speech: expression of opinion, requests provided that the context is familiar. When greeting and parting, talking on the phone, etc. "blanks" are used.
* Reading: short texts with some unfamiliar vocabulary, announcements and signs.
* Writing: describing people and events, writing simple letters using familiar clichés.
Threshold
Pre-Intermediate
Conversational level. A listener who is confident in everyday vocabulary and basic grammar is able to express opinions on everyday topics. You have a decent vocabulary, but you still periodically refer to the dictionary - this step is just right for you. It is already feasible for you to maintain a dialogue, but you cannot set the direction in it.
After completing the Pre-Intermediate course:
* Vocabulary consists of 1400-1800 words.
* Listening comprehension: a dialogue or monologue on everyday topics, while watching, for example, the news, you can catch all the key points. When watching movies, a listener of this level may not understand certain phrases and sentences, but follows the plot. Understands movies with subtitles well.
* Conversation: you can evaluate and express your opinion on an event, maintain a fairly long conversation on familiar topics ("Art", "Appearance", "Personality", "Movies", "Entertainment", etc.). ).
* Reading: complex texts, including journalistic articles.
* Writing: a written expression of one's opinion or assessment of the situation, compiling one's biography, describing events.
Advanced
Intermediate
Good intermediate. On all vacancies where knowledge of the language is required, Intermediate is implied.
The listener is fluent in the language and can use it in a variety of situations. Usually the Intermediate level is enough to work in a foreign company. A person who speaks English at this level can conduct negotiations and business correspondence in English, arrange presentations.
After completing the Intermediate course:
* The student's vocabulary at this level is about 2000–2500 words.
* Listening comprehension: captures not only the general meaning, but also specific details, understands films, interviews, videos without translation and subtitles.
* Colloquial speech: expresses a point of view, one's agreement/disagreement on almost any non-isolated topic. Can take an active part in discussions or discussions on non-specific topics without preparation.
* Reading: understands complex texts that are not related to familiar topics and areas of life, non-adapted literature. Can understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context (fiction, information sites, dictionary entries).
* Writing: can compose a letter in a formal and informal style, proficient in written English, can write long descriptions of events and history, give personal comments
Proficiency level
Upper-Intermediate
At this stage, learning a foreign language takes place in the form of strengthening the acquired skills. You will improve your speech, give it expressiveness, diversify it.
After completing the Upper-Intermediate course:
* Vocabulary consists of 3000-4000 words.
* Listening comprehension: well understands even linguistically complex speech on unfamiliar topics, almost completely understands videos without translation and subtitles.
* Conversational speech: can freely evaluate any situations, make comparisons or contrasts, uses different speech styles.
* Conversation is both formal and informal. Speaks competently with a small number of errors, can catch and correct his mistakes.
* Reading: has a large vocabulary for understanding non-adapted English texts.
* Writing: can independently write an article, formal and informal letters. Can know and use different styles when creating written text.
Proficiency level
Advanced
Advanced learners are very confident in English and make only minor mistakes in speech that do not affect the effectiveness of communication. Students of this level can study special disciplines in English.
After completing the Advanced course:
* Vocabulary is about 4000-6000 words.
* Listening comprehension: understands indistinct speech (for example, announcements at the station or at
airport), perceives complex information in detail (for example, reports or lectures).
Understands up to 95% of the information on the video without translation.
* Colloquial: Uses English very effectively for spontaneous communication, uses colloquial and formal communication styles depending on the speech situation. Uses phraseological units and idioms in speech.
* Reading: easily understands non-adapted fiction and non-fiction, complex articles on specific topics (physics, geography, etc.).
* Writing: can write formal and informal letters, narratives, articles, essays, scientific papers.
- A0Starter
- A1Elementary
- A2Pre-Intermediate
- B1 Intermediate
- B2Upper-Intermediate
- C1Advanced
Beginner level
Starter
If you have never learned English and the most you can tell your English-speaking interlocutor is: yes, my name from ... or Landen - from the capital of Great Britain - this level is for you.
After completing the Starter course:
* Vocabulary is about 500-600 words.
* Listening comprehension: phrases and sentences spoken slowly, with pauses, very clearly (eg simple questions and instructions).
* Colloquial: You can talk about yourself, your family, friends, weather, food, hobbies, countries.
* Reading: simple texts with familiar words and previously encountered phrases, as well as studied grammar, simple instructions (for example, assignment for an exercise).
* Writing: single words, simple sentences, fill out a questionnaire, write short descriptions.
Elementary
Elementary
You learned English "once" but remember little. In fact, everything learned is in a passive form.
In the process of training, knowledge is revealed and transferred to an active form. A student of this level has all the basic skills of the English language. We study such everyday topics as: "Family", "Rest", "Travel", "Transport", "Health", "In the Store".
After completing the Elementary course:
* Vocabulary is about 1000-1300 words.
* Listening comprehension: sentences that relate to the most common topics.
When listening to the news, watching movies, there is an understanding of a common theme or plot, especially with visual support.
* Colloquial speech: expression of opinion, requests provided that the context is familiar. When greeting and parting, talking on the phone, etc. "blanks" are used.
* Reading: short texts with some unfamiliar vocabulary, announcements and signs.
* Writing: describing people and events, writing simple letters using familiar clichés.
Threshold
Pre-Intermediate
Spoken level. A listener who is confident in everyday vocabulary and basic grammar is able to express opinions on everyday topics. You have a decent vocabulary, but you still periodically refer to the dictionary - this step is just right for you. It is already feasible for you to maintain a dialogue, but you cannot set the direction in it.
After completing the Pre-Intermediate course:
* Vocabulary consists of 1400-1800 words.
* Listening comprehension: a dialogue or monologue on everyday topics, while watching, for example, the news, you can catch all the key points. When watching movies, a listener of this level may not understand certain phrases and sentences, but follows the plot. Understands movies with subtitles well.
* Conversation: you can evaluate and express your opinion on an event, maintain a fairly long conversation on familiar topics ("Art", "Appearance", "Personality", "Movies", "Entertainment", etc.). ).
* Reading: complex texts, including journalistic articles.
* Writing: a written expression of one's opinion or assessment of the situation, compiling one's biography, describing events.
Advanced
Intermediate
Good intermediate. On all vacancies where knowledge of the language is required, Intermediate is implied.
The listener is fluent in the language and can use it in a variety of situations.
Usually the Intermediate level is enough to work in a foreign company. A person who speaks English at this level can conduct negotiations and business correspondence in English, arrange presentations.
After completing the Intermediate course:
* The student's vocabulary at this level is about 2000–2500 words.
* Listening comprehension: captures not only the general meaning, but also specific details, understands films, interviews, videos without translation and subtitles.
* Colloquial speech: expresses a point of view, one's agreement/disagreement on almost any non-isolated topic. Can take an active part in discussions or discussions on non-specific topics without preparation.
* Reading: understands complex texts that are not related to familiar topics and areas of life, non-adapted literature. Can understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context (fiction, information sites, dictionary entries).
* Writing: can compose a letter in a formal and informal style, proficient in written English, can write long descriptions of events and history, give personal comments
Level of professional knowledge
Upper-Intermediate
At this stage, the study of a foreign language takes place in the form of consolidating the acquired skills.
You will improve your speech, give it expressiveness, diversify it.
After completing the Upper-Intermediate course:
* Vocabulary consists of 3000-4000 words.
* Listening comprehension: well understands even linguistically complex speech on unfamiliar topics, almost completely understands videos without translation and subtitles.
* Conversational speech: can freely evaluate any situations, make comparisons or contrasts, uses different speech styles.
* Conversation is both formal and informal. Speaks competently with a small number of errors, can catch and correct his mistakes.
* Reading: has a large vocabulary for understanding non-adapted English texts.
* Writing: can independently write an article, formal and informal letters. Can know and use different styles when creating written text.
Proficiency Level
Advanced
Advanced students are very confident in English and make only minor mistakes in speech that do not affect the effectiveness of communication.
Students of this level can study special disciplines in English.
After completing the Advanced course:
* Vocabulary is about 4000-6000 words.
* Listening comprehension: understands indistinct speech (for example, announcements at the railway station or at the airport),
perceives complex information in detail (for example, reports or lectures). Understands up to 95% of the information on the video without translation.
* Colloquial: Uses English very effectively for spontaneous communication, uses colloquial and formal communication styles depending on the speech situation. Uses phraseological units and idioms in speech.
* Reading: easily understands non-adapted fiction and non-fiction, complex articles on specific topics (physics, geography, etc.).
* Writing: can write formal and informal letters, narratives, articles, essays, scientific papers.
Visual novels: how will they help in learning English?
When learning English, more and more playful moments replace the usual academic teaching.
Not everyone has enough time to read books, and we always have gadgets with us. Therefore, the use of visual novels can expand the tools for learning foreign languages.
The visual novel combines a traditional book and a computer game. The result is an interactive story, which has text, illustrations of characters and different locations. Focusing on reading, visual novels are gaining popularity more and more, allowing you to read texts in English through the familiar world of a computer game.
Although there are several nuances. Most of the visual novels are made in Japan, which is great for Japanese learners. English learners should carefully choose localization, not always successful ones.
You might be interested in Comic book.
When translating text, localizers do not often turn to intricate lexical and syntactic constructions, therefore, having an Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate level, you can safely start reading.
The convenience of short stories lies in the fact that you yourself command the text. You can read one page and five or ten minutes, it will not change until you yourself want it. This setting allows you to understand the shades of the dialogue of the characters, to delve into the subtext.
Visual novel is not just text with pictures. This is an opportunity to change the plot at will, choosing various options in the conversation of the characters. The game developers have provided different endings that depend on your preferences.
The life story of Japanese schoolboy Tomoya Okazaki, who lost his mother and lives with his father. Their relationship is tense, and therefore the boy is rarely at home, preferring to spend his free time outside of it. One day, Tomoi met a little strange, as it seemed to him, girl, whose name was Nagisa.
Novel dialogue example:
Tomoya: I hate this town. It's too filled with memories I'd rather forget.
I go to school every day, hang out with my friends, and then I go home. There's no place I'd rather not go ever again. I wonder if anything will ever change? Will that day ever come?
Nagisa: Anpan! Do you like this school? I have to say that I love it very, very much. But soon everything changes. Well, at least it does eventually.
Tomoya: A girl I don’t know…She isn’t talking to me…She’s probably talking to someone in her heart.
Nagisa: Fun things…Happy things…They'll all…They'll all eventually change some day, you know? But can you still love this place?
Tomoya: Just go and find more. All you have to do is find other fun and happy things. It's not so hard. Come on, let's go. And so we begin…A long, long upward climb…
The localizers took the translation seriously.
The specific moments inherent in the Japanese are explained in a special pop-up window. For example, "Anpan" is a type of Japanese pie.
The novel is accessible in terms of vocabulary and grammar, so even if you have a Pre-Intermediate level, you can start reading it, sometimes only with the help of a dictionary.
A fascinating story about teenagers is large enough and requires about a hundred hours of reading. Despite the exciting plot, empathy for the characters, the possibility of choosing a plot, rarely does anyone reach the end of the game. But it's definitely worth getting started.
Developers of visual novels tried to make them in different genres. "Song of Sai" is a horror genre and, despite its specificity, is very popular.
If you like horror movies, then this story is for you, with its own atmosphere and great drawings.
The story is about a young man named Sakisaka Fuminori. A medical student who got into a car accident, and after that began to see the world from the other side. People began to appear to him monstrous and ugly, and the surrounding things seem like pieces of meat.
But one day, in the midst of all this abomination, he meets an attractive girl who looks like a normal person, not a monster. This meeting changes his life. He begins to understand that he is responsible not only for himself, but also her fate depends on him.
Novella will appeal to fans of the genre. It has everything for the reader to stay with the characters longer: Lovecraftian horrors, detective elements, emotional intensity, which makes it possible to empathize even with negative characters.
In 2009, the novella was published in an amateur translation, but in 2013 the JAST USA studio professionally edited it, and now the novella is available to readers in good quality.
The text looks something like this:
– Did he go crazy?
– Now, Hiromi, you mustn't say things are going, I'm starting to wonder if he's gone paranoid or something.
– Will he be alright?
– Unless he gets help soon who knows?
At first glance, the short story is written in a simple and accessible language, but there are still some semantic constructions that require the Internet. The plot can be understood without them, but if you want to increase your level, then you need to understand everything thoroughly. Therefore, it is recommended for students with an Intermediate level and above.
It is worth remembering that the novel is intended for ages 18+, as the text contains sexual and violent scenes that complement the plot, but there are not many of them.
“When Cicadas Cry” is a series of short stories about an “ordinary Japanese schoolboy” who finds himself in unusual situations. We will talk about the first two parts, which are established stories.
Keiichi Maebara is the name of the protagonist, who recently moved to a small settlement and attends an ordinary village school. He makes friends, hangs out with girls and, in general, lives well. But gradually, the secrets of the village and its inhabitants are revealed to him, secrets that he does not like at all.
The short story is long, two parts of eight chapters. The first four chapters describe the characters, reveal their characters, give an idea of the history of the place. This is where the plot twist takes place. The remaining four chapters reveal secrets to us, and the story is presented much deeper than it initially seemed.
When the Cicadas Cry differs from the others in that there is no reader choice. This is an ordinary book with pictures and sound, but this is more of an advantage than a disadvantage.
The developers have tried to bring Japanese flavor, to talk about the peculiarities of culture through the dialogues of the characters, which open in a separate window, and do not interfere with the main plot.
Sample text from the novel:
[Keiichi is walking home from school with his bat and notices Rena is following him.]
Keiichi: What do you want?
Rena: Um…Nothing…Um…
Keiichi: What happened to the club, huh?
Rena: Well…I…I was worried about you…So I…
Keiichi: Don't follow me anymore. I said don't follow me!
Rena: But Keiichi, I have to go this way. My house is over there.
Keiichi: Then go ahead of me. [Walks to the side] You go first and then I'll go.
Rena: Keiichi, I just wanted to-
Keiichi: Hurry up and go! Now!
Rena: Um…I will, but…Please put that bat down first. You're scaring me.
Keiichi: Keep on walking!
The language of the novel is already available from the Pre-Intermediate level.
There are no complex words and sentences in the text, it is read easily and with pleasure. If you liked the story, then we advise you to stock up on time and patience to finish reading it. Each of the eight chapters takes 10-25 hours of thoughtful reading. It will take at least 150 hours to read everything, but this time will be well spent.
Worthy Russian development, almost unique, since there are very few domestic developers of visual novels.
The story of Semyon, who lives today. One day he gets on a bus and falls asleep in it. When Semyon wakes up, he finds himself in a Soviet pioneer camp in the late 80s. The camp seems very strange to Semyon. He stayed there for a week, made acquaintances with pretty girls and guessed what the secret of the camp was.
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Initially, the game feels like a dating sim. But it's not. Delving into the plot, choosing your own version of the development of events, you will be imbued with a mystical shade of history.
The game was written in Russian, and fans of novel games translated it into English on their own. The translation was not perfect, and then native speakers (native speakers) joined in, appreciating the plot and the game as a whole, so the result was worthy. By the way, they also asked the developers to add pop-up windows that tell about pioneering realities and some points that are not always clear to residents of other countries.
It would seem that for Russians everything should be familiar and understandable. But the natives “tried” and some of the dialogues were rewritten in such a way that they need to be thoroughly understood. This game is recommended for the Intermediate level, but in order to understand all the subtext, is better to own the Upper-Intermediate level.
