1. A fast and engaging, real-time voice translation system comprising: a processor; a microphone for receiving sound input from a user, wherein, in operation, a portion of the sound input is associated with a spoken source phrase in a source language selected from multiple languages; a multilanguage database embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a plurality of phrase templates associated with a respective plurality of phrases; a speech recognition module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for converting the spoken source phrase into a recognized source phrase; a translation engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for translating the recognized source phrase in the selected source language into a destination phrase in a destination language selected from multiple languages, wherein the plurality of phrases in the multilanguage database include the destination phrase; a template look-up engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for finding the phrase template associated with the destination phrase from among the multiple languages; a parameterization module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for deriving parameters from the sound input and applying the parameters to the phrase template associated with the destination phrase; and a speaker for outputting the parameterized destination phrase template to the user as a spoken translation in the selected destination language; wherein, a total time is required between the input of the source phrase and output of the destination phrase, the total time being no slower than 0.010 seconds.
1. A fast and engaging, real-time voice translation system comprising: a processor; a microphone for receiving sound input from a user, wherein, in operation, a portion of the sound input is associated with a spoken source phrase in a source language selected from multiple languages; a multilanguage database embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a plurality of phrase templates associated with a respective plurality of phrases; a speech recognition module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for converting the spoken source phrase into a recognized source phrase; a translation engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for translating the recognized source phrase in the selected source language into a destination phrase in a destination language selected from multiple languages, wherein the plurality of phrases in the multilanguage database include the destination phrase; a template look-up engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for finding the phrase template associated with the destination phrase from among the multiple languages; a parameterization module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for deriving parameters from the sound input and applying the parameters to the phrase template associated with the destination phrase; and a speaker for outputting the parameterized destination phrase template to the user as a spoken translation in the selected destination language; wherein, a total time is required between the input of the source phrase and output of the destination phrase, the total time being no slower than 0.010 seconds. 10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a portable, single-unit device, that is (i) designed for use by children of pre-school or elementary school age and (ii) adheres to United States national curriculum guidelines by including a combination of teachings comprising math, science, and social studies.