Mango Languages

And the winners are…

We asked what Journeys you would take with more advanced language learning content from Mango Languages. The results are in and the following Mango fans are each receiving a  free Mango Passport Journeys One, Two and Three bundle! Congratulations and happy learning to everyone who submitted a response!

Tony from Redondo Beach said:

I have completed your free trial for Brazilian Portugueses over 38 times. Over the last 17 years, I have trained in the Martial Art of Brazilian Jiu jitsu, have met so many people who are Brazilian.  I am traveling Brazil in August and it has been time to finally learn the language.

With Mango, I am excited and your program is fun and keeps my attention with the interaction on screen.  

With the Brazilian Portuguese bundle it will open more doors for my in Brazil this summer and help with social projects I am doing the children such as “Kites for Kids!”

 Jason said: 

After my husband died in 2000, I started to travel with two ladies who grew-up in Puerto Rico, and are fluent in both English and Spanish. 

I wanted to learn Spanish and surprise my Puerto Rico friends with my accomplishment, so I began taking lessons from a college student. Unfortunately, I was having a terrible time trying to learn a new language in my late sixties.

Recently I discovered Mango Languages when it was offered through my local library. I was thrilled with the teaching method used by Mango Languages, and I was learning Spanish at age 70!

We are so thrilled and honored to have amazing fans like all of you. Your stories have touched us. Enjoy your courses and stay in touch. We all want to hear how your journeys unfold!

Learn Spanish to experience a country in a whole different way in Journey Three

Warren and Betsy Talbot of marriedwithluggage.com applied what they were learning in Spanish with Mango during their first stop on their amazing trip around the world: Ecuador.

In his own words, Warren Talbot describes their Journey learning Spanish in Ecuador and interacting with locals:

“We started our trip in northern Ecuador, just outside of Otavalo. This area does see a fair amount of tourists for their huge and diverse Saturday market, but the vast majority of people speak no English. This turned out to be the perfect scenario to start to learn a language.

Our first of many funny experiences occurred when we headed into the local food market for breakfast. We were clearly the only foreigners, and from the looks of it, it appeared like we were the only outsiders to enter this area in some time. We sat down at a stall and decided to order desayuno (breakfast). We started in with the limited Spanish we had learned in our first 2 weeks with Mango Languages, accompanied by as many smiles as we could fit into the request. The woman was delighted that we were trying, though she clearly had no idea what we wanted. Through a series of pointing and finger gestures we were able to order the best empanadas we have had on this trip and some wonderful sweet coffee.

That one experience began a 6 month immersion into Spanish that we absolutely loved. We found that people were always friendlier when we tried to speak Spanish, even if we did it wrong.

A couple of months into our trip we arrived in Baños, Ecuador, a place famous for living in the shadow of a live volcano and for having plenty of hot springs as a result. By this time we were more comfortable with our Spanish and during a hike one morning we stopped at a remote guesthouse for coffee. There were no other guests, and the elderly owners showed us around their beautiful gardens, pointing out plant and animal life and telling us about past eruptions of the volcano. Had we not learned some Spanish, we would have never had this very special memory.

As we neared the end of our time in Ecuador we discovered one of our friends from Otavalo was leading a tour in Cuenca and would have a few hours free to see us. His wife was bilingual and always paved the way for any misunderstandings, and this would be our first time with him alone. He didn’t speak any English. We ended up having a great time together, taking a tour of the city, enjoying a local specialty in a roadside restaurant, and strolling around the main square with ice cream to end the day. We bonded with him like never before because there was no middle man paving the way. And believe us, when you no longer have need of a middle man, you experience a country in a completely different way.

 

Through the last 18 months we’ve had some wonderful interactions with locals as we work to pick up Spanish, Thai, and now Mandarin. From a Spanish-only 4-day trek in Peru, to chatting with monks in a temple in Thailand, and recently to eating with a family in China our ability to communicate, even in a small way, opens people’s hearts (and sometimes homes) to us.

For us, learning a language serves many practical purposes on this adventure: getting directions, buying groceries, asking for help on public transportation, finding the restroom. At one point we got sick and needed to see a doctor. We were able to find out where the doctor’s office was, tell him our symptoms and even engage in a bit of small talk about our travels, and go to the lab and pharmacy. Knowing some language when you travel in a country gives you comfort that you can handle most things that come your way, expected and unexpected.

However, the true benefit to learn a language is the opportunity to communicate and learn from people in a completely different culture. Even if it is just a few words in the local language, people will smile and light up your day. New experiences and opportunities will appear that you never thought possible. Inevitably you will engage in a discussion and learn something new about a person, a place, or a culture all by being able to share a common language. It does not require you to be fluent, but merely be willing to start learning. Most importantly you must be curious, as curiosity leads to the greatest discoveries.”

What inspiring stories would you like to bring back from an adventure like Warren’s? Tell us what kind of Journey you would take with more advanced content from Mango Languages and you could win a Mango Passport bundle containing Mango Passport Journeys One, Two and Three!

Learn Brazilian Portuguese, Adopt a New Culture in Journey Two

After meeting and marrying a Brazilian woman living in the US, Shawn Howe fell in love with his new wife’s native language and culture.

Starting off with a friendship that developed into a romance, Shawn’s relationship with his wife has opened his mind and expanded his world view.

“When I first met my wife, I thought they spoke Spanish in Brazil! The only things I thought about that country were beaches and beautiful people everywhere. I didn’t know how amazing of a culture they have, what great food, how warm the people are- I didn’t know any of that. I’ve learned so much over the past two years.”

During those years, he has not only dedicated himself to learning Brazilian Portuguese to better communicate with his wife’s friends and family in Brazil, but also to better understand and appreciate their culture.

“I feel like I’m a part of the Brazilian culture now. Whenever I hear something about Brazil, I tune in or look it up. I’m totally consumed with it now. My favorite part is the food though- I love Brazilian food. I would be stuffed out of my mind but people would keep saying, ‘have some more.’ It was so good I couldn’t say no.”

Meeting his wife provided Shawn with the motivation and means to learn a new language and broaden his horizons.

“My mind is much more open now. Growing up, [my hometown] was my world. I met my wife and she introduced me to new foods, new drinks and new people. She opened my mind completely. Before, I never really cared to learn a new language. Now, I’m motivated. I’m enjoying learning and I’m proud of myself.”

Through studying with Mango Languages, Shawn was able to better connect with his wife’s friends and family and navigate his way through stores and restaurants in Sao Paulo.

Do you want to fall in love with a new culture like Shawn did? Tell us what kind of Journey you would take with more advanced content from Mango Languages and you could win a Mango Passport bundle containing Mango Passport Journeys One, Two and Three!

Learn Thai for the adventure of a lifetime in Journey One

Jean-François Dubé, 27, of Montreal set out to learn Thai with Mango Languages before his thrilling and culture-rich experience discovering Thailand.

Without plans or even a hotel booked, Jean-François Dubé jetted to Thailand to immerse himself in the language and culture during his month-and-a-half stay. Nighttime spearfishing, motorcycling through remote Thai villages and connecting with the locals filled his spontaneous itinerary.

“My favorite experience is when we went spear fishing and got enough fish to feed fourteen people. That was the best experience of my whole life. We took a lot of risk from what I’ve heard later. I guess it’s not a good thing to swim at night with dead fish attached to you when there are sharks around…I didn’t think of it at the time.”

Although he believes that when it comes to travel, “the less plans, the better,” Dubé did prepare for his trip by learning Thai with Mango.

“I wanted my first trip to Asia to be a full experience. For me, to learn a language is a cultural thing. The experience is totally different when you try and immerse yourself in the culture.”

Dubé’s adventure took him outside the city where he had to use what he learned of the language to find his way.

“I took a motorcycle into the country and got a bit lost. In the little cities, they don’t speak English as well as in the touristy places so knowing some Thai saved me a lot of trouble because I could say where I was going and get help. Because I used Mango to learn Thai, it created a link with the locals also.  There’s a use for us to learn a language but it’s also a basic respect to talk to someone in their own language. It’s the same as if I were in Montreal. If an American came to me and tried to speak to me after they took the time to learn French, I would enjoy helping him more because I would feel an openness with our language.”

A native of the francophone Canadian province of Quebec, Dubé’s first language is French, adding an interesting layer to his language-learning experience.

“French is my first language but I learned Thai in English with Mango. While I was doing it I said to myself, ‘Wow, I’m starting to learn a language in another language that I don’t usually speak!’ At the end of the course, I was often thinking in English.”

For Dubé, the importance of language goes far beyond learning solely for travel but is deeply rooted in his upbringing and day-to-day life in the bilingual city of Montreal.

“Even if you don’t travel, learning languages opens your mind to other cultures. When I speak another language, I feel like I’m in that country. Every time you learn a language, there’s always a story that goes with it. I feel like I share something else with the rest of the world. There’s something special about it.”

Dubé plans to continue his culture and language adventures in India this fall, “I’m planning to spend two months in India by myself. India is a passion for me even though I’ve never been there. This summer I’m going to use Mango to learn Hindi and I am even learning their national sport! I started practicing cricket two weeks ago; I want to play with them there because that’s their sport.”

Are you an adventurer like Jean-François? Tell us what kind of Journey you would take with more advanced content from Mango Languages and you could win a Mango Passport bundle containing Mango Passport Journeys One, Two and Three!

Learn a language with more Mango Passport content

More Mango Languages content = more adventure.

We are excited to announce the addition of Mango Passport Journeys Two and Three to our online language learning course offerings.

With triple the content for eight of the world’s most popular languages, Mango Passport now takes you even further.

Your Journeys await. Start learning today.

Formerly the original Mango Passport, Journey One features the basic tools you’ll need to get the most out of your trip, such as greetings, getting around and ordering food:

Journey Two goes beyond the travel-focused content learned in Journey One. In no time at all, you’ll learn how to describe surroundings, make small talk, plan leisure activities and more:

In Journey Three, build upon the knowledge gained in Journeys One and Two. Topics covered include discussing culture, addressing medical conditions, expressing thoughts and feelings and making plans:

Check out our blog posts all this week to hear about the journeys of users just like you and for the chance to win a free bundle of Mango Passport Journeys One, Two and Three in one of eight available languages!

Your Journeys await. Start learning today.

Learn Spanish, 20% off for Cinco de Mayo

Muchas conversations for less dinero.

Heading to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta this weekend? Brush up on your Spanish and impress your amigos with your authentic accent. Olé!

Learn Spanish before your fiesta with 20% off of Mango Passport Spanish. Click here to get started and use the discount code, “CincoMangos” at checkout.

How will YOU be celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

Share Your Story!

One of the best parts of working at Mango Languages is seeing the product in action. Our company’s core purpose is to enrich lives with language and culture, so we love to hear from people who have used Mango Languages to do just that!

Last month, Mango traveled to Philadelphia for the Public Library Association 2012 conference. We had the chance to talk to many librarians who shared success stories of those who had used Mango to learn a language. Check out the video below to see some of our favorites!

Do you have a story to share? How has Mango enriched YOUR life?

Mango Mobile Library App now Available for Android

Take your language learning everywhere you go for free with Mango Mobile, now available for Android!

Whether you’re killing time at the laundromat, waiting for your flight or conversing with locals on an exotic adventure, Mango Mobile makes the world your classroom.

Mango Mobile apps include:

• Full access to Mango courses offered for free through your library*
• Interactive phonetic spelling
• Semantic color mapping
• Articulated and fluent-speed pronunciations
• Literal translations and understood meanings
• Grammar notes
• Cultural notes
• Strategic memory building exercises
• Critical thinking exercises

  
  

To start learning from your mobile device, download Mango Mobile Library Edition for Android, iPhone or iPod and login with your Mango Languages username and password.

For the apps to work, you must first have an account with Mango set up through your library’s website and an iPhone or Android mobile device. Once the apps and lessons have been downloaded, you can learn at your own pace, with or without an internet connection

Happy learning. Let’s all do the [Android] robot.

*Due to techy reasons beyond our control, not all languages are available on Android devices.

Mango Implements Unlimited Paid Time Off. Seriously.

At Mango Languages, we pride ourselves on bringing language learning innovations to enthusiastic learners across the world. But our innovation starts much closer to home: in our work environment.

Mango’s headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan resembles an office plucked out of Silicon Valley with its open work areas, neon colored walls, and young, casual atmosphere.

Adding to the list of reasons why it’s awesome to work here, Mango recently implemented an innovative paid time off policy: unlimited. No more counting vacation days at the end of the year or questioning whether you have enough days left to take that awesome trip. Mango employees now follow the simple policy: get stuff done while you’re here and take time off when you need to.

We’re results focused. We believe that it’s not the amount of time you spend in the office that matters, it’s the goals you’re able to reach. Providing an unlimited paid time-off policy affords team members the flexibility to stay motivated, spend time with friends and family abroad and see the world. Thanks to this new policy, Yana, Marketing Project Manager, will reunite with her mom and sister in her birthplace of Kiev, Ukraine- somewhere she hasn’t visited since she was two years old. That’s just one example of how this policy is changing the work and personal lives of Mango employees.

So let’s recap, shall we?

1. Unlimited paid time off.
2. Fiestas every Friday (alcoholic refreshments included).
3. Casual day, everyday.
4.  We make beloved language learning solutions that enrich lives.
5. We’re hiring.

What is your workplace like? What would you do with unlimited paid time off?

Mango to Welcome Challenge Detroit Talent

While the Mango team hails from all over the globe, we are proud to call Detroit, Michigan home.

Mango is excited to be involved in Challenge Detroit, an effort aimed at attracting and retaining young, innovative talent in our home town! Out of over 900 applicants, 30 young professionals will be chosen to live, work, socialize and give back in the city of Detroit.

We are excited to welcome a lucky candidate to the Mango team in September!

Check out this innovative program that is bringing young, eager, energetic and innovative talent to Detroit:

You can see the candidates and learn more about this program at ChallengeDetroit.org.