Mango Languages

Intuitive Language Construction – Part V Comprehension

We are excited to continue sharing our language learning methodology–we call it the linguistic science behind the Mango Languages Online Language Learning Software.

Doesn’t that sound really smart?

Intuitive Language Construction was developed after looking at current products on the market and listening to feedback from users.

The one thing we heard over and over is that they wanted a program that was fun, easy, completely integrated, and that included the following components:

1. Vocabulary (Click to see previous post)
2. Pronunciation (Click to see previous post)
3. Grammar (Click to see previous post)
4. Culture (Click to see previous post)
5. Comprehension
6. Retention

In this post we are going to talk about comprehension.  No one wants to go through an online foreign language learning program and not understand what they learn.

Our system was conceived as an online experience–not as books and tapes that were later forced into an online format.  We incorporate strategic instructional design, custom developed to be as effective as possible for online learners only.

Although online learning definitely has benefits in the form of accessibility, affordability, pace, and convenience, it opens up a wide variety of new difficulties that were not present in traditional learning environments.

Our Intuitive Language Construction methodology accounts for those difficulties and is specifically designed to help students manage and overcome them, actually increasing comprehension as they learn.

Intuitive Language Construction – Part IV Culture

We are excited to continue sharing our language learning methodology–we call it the linguistic science behind the Mango Languages Online Language Learning Software.

Intuitive Language Construction was developed after looking at current products on the market and listening to feedback from users. The one thing we heard over and over is that they wanted a program that was fun, easy, completely integrated, and that included the following components:

1. Vocabulary (Click to see previous post)
2. Pronunciation (Click to see previous post)
3. Grammar (Click to see previous post)
4. Culture
5. Comprehension
6. Retention

In this post we are going to discuss the fourth component of Intuitive Language Construction…Culture.  This is another big difference in the Intuitive Language Construction methodology.

Mango integrates cultural notes and tips into every lesson, ensuring our students develop an understanding for the expectations, traditions, and etiquette of the people with whom they want to communicate.   Most language learning systems simply ignore culture, but at Mango we think it really is critical to a student’s success in a foreign country.

For example, imagine you didn’t understand the difference between formal and informal greetings.  You wouldn’t want to walk into a meeting with your new boss and exclaim, “Hey Dude. What’s up?”  It would be inappropriate, and in some cultures, it would be a really big offense!  It could possibly even get you fired.

At the same time, you wouldn’t want to be introduced to a new friend at a café, and say something like “I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”  That’s a little too formal and can be off-putting.

Understanding culture helps people understand which conversational tools are most appropriate for which situations and which audiences.  Our curriculum is developed by native speaking professional language teachers – many of whom teach at the university level and hold PhDs.  They really understand the cultural challenges that a learner will face for a specific language, and they carefully design each learning experience to help students overcome those challenges.  You just can’t get that through the common word and phrase lists that other learning systems offer.

Why do you think culture is important in the language learning process?  Or do you have a funny cross cultural story to share?

Intuitive Language Construction – Part III Grammar

We are excited to continue sharing our language learning methodology–we call it the linguistic science behind the Mango Languages Online Language Learning Software.

Intuitive Language Construction was developed after looking at current products on the market and listening to feedback from users.  The one thing we heard over and over is that they wanted a program that was fun, easy, completely integrated, and that included the following components:

1. Vocabulary (Click to see previous post)
2. Pronunciation (Click to see previous post)
3. Grammar
4. Culture
5. Comprehension
6. Retention

In this post we are going to discuss the third component of Intuitive Language Construction…Grammar.  Grammar is the way the words combine to form sentences, and this is really at the core of what makes our Intuitive Language Construction methodology unique.

Many other language learning systems minimize the importance of grammar by teaching you simply to utter phrases and vocabulary rather than to carry on a real conversation.  I think this is so strange, because when I was in school all of my teachers stressed how important grammar is.  Unfortunately, it is underserved in most language learning tools.

Mango is different.  Because Intuitive Language Construction is based on real conversations, Mango students are continually learning sentence structure and grammar in addition to vocabulary and pronunciation and culture.

Mango incorporates a variety of grammar tools such as semantic color mapping, literal translations, grammar notes, and critical thinking exercises, which help users learn to adapt their skills and apply them to similar conversations.

They start to identify and recognize linguistic patterns, and they come to understand intuitively how to recombine the pieces they learn to construct new meanings.  The coolest part of it all is that this knowledge is acquired without the student even realizing they are learning it.  We really should call it “stealth grammar” because it sneaks up on you.  Grammar doesn’t have to be hard, but it is an essential part of learning a foreign language.

What do you think language would be like without grammar?

Intuitive Language Contruction – Part II Pronunciation

We are excited to continue sharing our language learning methodology–we call it the linguistic science behind the Mango Languages Online Language Learning Software.

Intuitive Language Construction was developed after looking at current products on the market and listening to users and what they wanted.  The one thing we heard over and over is they wanted a program that was fun, easy, and completely integrated.

We listened.  Mango Languages includes the following components:

1. Vocabulary (Click to see previous post)
2. Pronunciation
3. Grammar
4. Culture
5. Comprehension
6. Retention

In this post, let’s look at pronunciation.  Mango gives you a better, more accurate sense of pronunciation.  I bet you never knew a fruit could do that!

In each course, our audio is recorded by a professional, native-speaking voice talent, using a standard “accent free” dialect.  Why is this important?   Native speakers using a standard accent give you the best possible baseline to model your own pronunciation after.

We also provide additional pronunciation tools to help users:
1. They can see a phonetic spelling at any time, by simply rolling over the word with their mouse cursor.  Users LOVE this feature…

2. We also provide the option to hear 2 different audio speeds:  fluent and articulate.  These are two separate recordings by a professional, native voiceover.  This is totally unique to Mango…
Our competition often provides a “slowdown” button, which plays the same standard audio clip, but mechanically slowed down, creating distortion in the voice, and making it difficult to effectively mimic.  How do we do that?

3. We offer voice comparison technology in our online language learning system!  This feature allows you to speak into a microphone and compare your pronunciation with that of the instructor’s, until you really get it right.  This system allows you to compare your voice with both fluent and articulate speeds.

Most language learning systems incorporate some form of pronunciation instruction, but Mango takes it to a much more interactive and accurate level.

Which pronunciation tool do you use the most? Why?

Intuitive Language Construction – Part I Vocabulary

When learning a foreign language it is important to understand the Linguistic Science behind the book, tapes, or in our case, the online language learning software. Mango Languages is very excited to share our foreign language learning methodology.

Intuitive Language Construction was developed after looking at current products on the market and listening to users and what they wanted.  The one thing we heard over and over is they wanted a program that was fun, easy, and completely integrated.

We listened.

Mango Languages includes the following components:

1. Vocabulary
2. Pronunciation
3. Grammar
4. Culture
5. Comprehension
6. Retention

In this post, lets first look at vocabulary.  These are the words themselves that make up the language.

Most language learning systems focus a lot, if not solely on vocabulary…and there’s no doubt that it’s important. However, Mango focuses on the words and phrases that will be usable in common, real life situations for the language and culture you’re studying.

Mango helps you understand context and makes the most of your valuable time. Vocabulary words are given to you in the form a conversation, rather than just a list.   Some systems provide long lists of terms all at once, making it difficult to follow and learn how all the components work together. Others provide individual “flashcards,” but not a complete conversation, making the vocabulary much less useful since there is no context for the words.  Ultimately, spending hours going through stacks of cards just isn’t fun, but after using Mango you can actually hold a conversation and communicate, which really is the point of learning a foreign language, right?

What do you think is the most important part of a language learning product?

New Voice Comparison Feature!

We are excited to announce that on Monday, Mango launched our new voice comparison feature.

This feature is automatically included in your current subscription at absolutely no charge!

Voice comparison helps users improve their speaking skills.  It’s completely integrated within each Mango Basic Lesson (currently not in the Complete version).  All you need is a microphone and a passion for perfectly proper pronunciation!

This is how it works:  after a user completes a slide, the voice compare button will appear.  They can then record their voice and play it back to hear themselves speak.  In addition, they can align a visual representation of their recording with the native speaker’s version for comparison.  Users may adjust their pronunciation until it lines up with ours–they’ll be speaking like a native in no time!

Want to see a one-on-one demo? Contact us at a 877-Mango-11.

"Wai" is Product Development So Fun?

Product Development at Mango, with all its varied duties typical of the department, is naturally intriguing.  From working with our tech team and their newest technologies to dealing with team members in distant countries (which sometimes requires unusual middle-of-the-night meetings), the constant demands that keep you on your toes is characteristically fun for us.  And the good times continue during those moments of inspiration, wherever they may occur, when those seemingly good ideas for new features come suddenly and make you scramble to jot them down before they float away beyond your reach.  But, most fun in the product development department, at least for me, is coming across the cultural notes found in the Mango chapters.  I think it is so amazing how the different cultures from all over the world do things.  For example, the “wai” was so cool that I was doing it over and over again in front of my computer.  This explanation of “wai” comes straight from the Mango software:
 
The “wai” is the Thai greeting and shows respect.  Just press your palms together near your chest and bow.
 
This “wai” is such a nice break from the usual handshake that incorporating it into my day and experiencing the occasional reciprocation is extremely enjoyable.  It is discovering cultural information like the Thai “wai” that is extremely fascinating about developing the Mango product.