Mango Languages

Language Learning Motivation: Love.

Meet Mango user Jason. Here was his motivation to learn a new language:

“I met and am engaged to a Brazilian who was already living in the US.  I’m doing everything I can to learn the language because our wedding is next year in Brazil and I want to be able to do my vows in both English and Portuguese.”

We heard Jason’s story and wanted to help. We had Josiane, a Mango from Brazil, help us translate Jason’s vows and record herself saying them so he could practice the pronunciation.

Last month, during their wedding ceremony in the states, Jason delivered his vows in his now wife’s native language, Brazilian Portuguese.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Jason. And for letting us be a part of your journey. We have goosebumps.

What motivates you? Have you completed a Mango lesson today?

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 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!

Travel Tuesday: This is what life is all about

When I was 15 years old, I saw an article in the local newspaper about an exchange student program where families hosted teenagers from around the world in their homes for a school year. I thought this was an amazing idea and begged my parents to be a host. You see…I am an only child and had always wanted an older brother or sister! My parents thought about it and they decided to bring over a girl from Brazil named Nara. We picked her out from a catalog, which to this day we find really funny. She was 18 years old and we had a ton in common. We both played the flute, took ballet lessons, and loved to travel.

I had no idea how much this random article would change my life forever. She lived with us for one year. We went to school together, we lived together and we traveled to Niagra Falls and Disney World. Yes, we fought and yes we eventually became “sisters.” When she left, I was so sad but forever changed. My world had opened up in ways I never knew were possible. I learned some Portuguese, I learned about her culture and food. I learned that we are the same yet different in really cool ways.

When I was 18 years old, I was able to go to her home in the capital of Brazil, Brasilia. I lived with her and her family for about 4 months. This was an awesome opportunity and such an eye opening experience. As our roles were reversed, I was know the foreigner in a strange land. She has a much larger family so I gained sisters and brothers and another set of parents. She comes from a fairly wealthy family, so I even got to have maids. My mom was worried I would forget how to make my bed. I learned so much about Brazil, the world, and myself through this experience.

What I find more amazing is over the years we have stayed in touch. We even wrote real handwritten letters to each other before the internet, chat, and skyping were even possible. It has now been more than 20 years since we first met that summer day in 1990. We have traveled back and forth for special events and I even went to her wedding. Now she has two beautiful children and this past weekend, she brought her family to Disney World in Florida. I surprised my mom for her birthday with a trip down to Disney for the weekend to meet her granddaughters. Of course the most magical place on earth!

It was so amazing to see my Brazilian sister Nara, and meet her two daughters, my nieces, who are four and five years old. I truly fell in love with them. They are wonderful children who, despite a bit of a language barrier, wanted to hold my hand and play as if we have known each other their entire lives.

This weekend was one of those moments that makes you so thankful for the people who have come into your life and changed you forever. I am better for knowing Nara. She inspired me to love language and culture, and want to share my experiences with others. I am blessed and so grateful to have her as my sister.

Who has inspired you?

Learn Portuguese – Go to the Olympics

A couple of weeks ago Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Brazil is a wonderful place with happy people, music and dancing. Over the last decade the country has become part of the emerging BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) markets. Especially, when it comes to bio fuels as the country is completely independent of oil.

The national language is portuguese. Portuguese is part of the romance family of languages (along with Spanish, Italian and French). The language has roots in Latin and was create about 2000 years ago. Due to historical struggles, colonization and migration; French, Creole, Arabic and other languages have influenced the language.

According to Wikipedia, Portuguese is one of the world’s major languages and is ranked 6th according to number of native speakers (between 191 and 230 million). It is the language of about half of South America’s population, even though Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas. It is also a major lingua franca in Portugal’s former colonial possessions in Africa. It is an official language in nine countries, also being co-official with Cantonese Chinese in Macau and Tetum in East Timor. There are sizeable communities of Portuguese speakers in various regions of North America, notably in the United States (New Jersey, New England, California and south Florida) and in Ontario, Canada.

We hope the Olympics inspire more people to learn this beautiful language. What about you, are you going to learn Portuguese?