Mango Languages

Language Brings Long Distance Relationship Closer

This story comes to us from a library patron of the Kent District Library in Michigan.  How has language brought you closer to the people in your life?

“My fiancé and I (marrying on December 8th of this year) have been in a long-distance relationship for the last six years. I am American and he is Swedish, and while we have a wonderful relationship, occasionally things would inevitably get lost in translation.

I’ve tried everything to learn Swedish, and for some reason, it just wouldn’t stick. I have bought just about every book and CD on the subject, including the extremely expensive Rosetta Stone, and though I picked up some vocabulary, I could barely string together a coherent sentence.

I first started using Mango because I wanted to learn German. Within days, I already knew more German than Swedish, and I’d been trying unsuccessfully for years! When Mango released Swedish, only weeks ago, I started using it immediately and my Swedish has improved exponentially in only days!

Mango has changed my relationship and my life for the better! For FREE, through the library, I’ve finally found a language program that works!”

Want to see if you can learn for free through your library? Head over to findmango.com and type in your zip code to find out.

No Excuses: 20 Simple & Fun Ways to Practice a Foreign Language

“I can’t afford to buy study materials”

“Between work and responsibilities at home, I just don’t have the time to study.”

“I can’t find a partner for speaking practice.”

Excuses.  Trust us, we’ve heard them all.  And they just don’t work with us.  The truth is, if you really want to learn a language, you’ll find a way to do it.  There’s actually many easy, simple and fun ways to infuse language-learning into your everyday routine – most of which cost little or nothing at all.  To prove it, we put together a list of 20 suggestions to get you started.

1.  Read a news article in a foreign language.

2.  Write a status update or tweet in a foreign language.

3.  Listen to the live feed of an international radio station online.

4.  Sign up for an international pen pal and exchange emails on a regular basis.

5.  Cook from a recipe that is written entirely in a foreign language.

6.  Rent a foreign movie and watch it without the subtitles.  If that’s too difficult, try turning on the closed captions so that you can see the lines written in the original language, rather than the translated version.

7.  Download a trivia app for your smartphone that’s in the language you’d like to learn.  Still a beginner?  Try looking for a children’s version for simpler phrasing.

8.  Next time you go to the store, practice writing your shopping list entirely in the language you are studying.

9.  Visit a foreign restaurant and try ordering in the language.

10.  Have a partner to study with?  Try playing “I Spy,” “20 Questions,” or Scrabble in the language you’re studying.

11.  In a relationship?  Come up with some fun pet names for your significant other that are in a foreign language (like “Schatz” in German or “Chéri” in French).  Up for a challenge?  Practice writing an entire love letter.

12.  Check out the foreign music charts, pick a couple songs, and see if you can understand the lyrics.  Too difficult?  Look up the lyrics online and you’ve got a great translation challenge!

13.  Next time you need directions, look them up in a foreign language by going to an international version of the Google Maps site (for example: the German, French, or Spanish site).  It’s a great way to learn vocabulary!

14.  Join a foreign language Meetup in your area.

15.  Finding foreign or international clubs or associations in your area is probably easier than you think.  Think outside the box when you’re searching: schools, college campuses, and even churches or other religious organizations can be a great place to look for clubs.

16.  What’s your favorite TV show?  Chances are it either has a counterpart (like American Idol or Survivor) or a dubbed version in a foreign language.  Try downloading episodes or look for clips online to watch.  Alternatively, you could purchase a DVD set online – just be aware that you may need an international DVD player in order to watch it.

17.  “Like” or “follow” a foreign company on Facebook or Twitter.  This will infuse your newsfeed with foreign language content.

18.  Looking for a fun way to practice vocabulary?  Each day, pick a different topic to focus on (e.g. animals, food & drink, or family members) and see how many words you can list for that topic.  Each time you make a list, try to list more words than the day before.  If you want to take this challenge to the next level, see if you can come up with a word beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

19.  Did you know that official Wikipedias have been created in 285 languages?  So if you’re looking for seemingly endless content and articles to browse (on almost any topic), then look no further.

20.  Turn your down-time into language-learning time.  Practice vocab while getting ready in the morning, have a conversation with yourself in the shower (nobody will know – we promise!), or doodle conjugation charts on your lunch break.  Sitting in traffic?  Listen to foreign music and practice singing along.  See?  Almost any situation can be turned into a language-learning opportunity.  There’s simply no excuse not to try.

Remember everyone – let’s make this the year that you commit to learning a foreign language!  Join us on Facebook and Twitter.  #LanguageResolution.  Together, we can do it.

Language Resolution

Help your library patrons complete their new years’ resolutions. Learning a new language consistently tops resolution lists each January. But now it’s August and your patrons have five months left to reach their goals. Let’s help ‘em out.

You and your patrons can ‘like’ and ‘follow’ Mango on Facebook and Twitter for daily motivation and ideas on how to make the language-learning journey even more fun. Patrons can even share their progress with their social networks to help them keep on track with our new social media feature.

We’ll be sending you materials to help you spread the word to your patrons and get them motived. Tune into the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag: #LanguageResolution.

This is the year. Let’s do this together.

Happy new year! Yes, we know it’s August.

Remember that resolution you made to learn a new language this year?

You only have five months left. But don’t panic.

We’ll whip you into prime language-learning shape in time to wish your friends and family a happy new year in Italian. Or maybe chat up some charming locals in Brazilian Portuguese on your holiday vacation.

Just call us coach Mango. We’d tell you to get off your couch and get started but there’s really no need. Stay where you are and grab your computer or your phone. We’re bringing the language learning and motivation to you.

Day 1 to-do:

Login and complete at least one lesson today. It only takes around 15 minutes. Let us know what you’ve learned today on the Mango Facebook page or on Twitter @mangolanguages!

Like and follow Mango for daily motivation and ideas on how to make your language learning journey even more fun.  Share the conversation or join in with the hashtag #LanguageResolution.

This is the year. Let’s do this together.

An (Educated) Argument for Language Learning

Let’s be honest: being a college freshman can be pretty overwhelming.  In between all of the important decisions to be made (Which associations should I join?  Can I find a mentor?  Should I pursue research opportunities?), it can often be challenging to fit in everything a student wants to do.  But one part of the higher-level education experience that we don’t think anyone should forgo is the opportunity to study and gain skills in a foreign language.

Of course, we’re clearly biased.  So in true academic style, we’re going to lay out our supporting arguments for why we think you should make language learning part of your educational experience.

1)   Increase job prospects and get an edge on the competition.

Knowledge of a foreign language not only increases the number of jobs you qualify for, but it also helps you stand out from the competition – even for jobs that don’t require bilingualism.

2)   Open doors to international opportunities.

Ever wanted to join the Peace Corps?  Volunteer for an overseas Habitat for Humanity project?  What about an international mission trip?  Or perhaps you’d like to teach English abroad?  Knowledge of a foreign language opens the door to a wealth of experiences and opportunities.  Don’t miss out.

3)   Study works in their original form.

We all know that nothing compares to studying a work of literature, poetry, or song in its original form.  Having an understanding of the language provides you with the ability to pick up on tone, voice, and other literary nuances that you likely wouldn’t be able to appreciate if studying a translated version.

4)   Be awesome.

Let’s face it.  Speaking a second language is just plain cool.  Being able to say that you’re bilingual not only impresses friends and colleagues, but also provides you with a greater understanding and appreciation for foreign cultures.  This knowledge will benefit you both academically and professionally, and also opens doors to incredible adventures.  Being able to travel without language barriers allows you to venture off the beaten path, bond with locals, and essentially have the trip of a lifetime.

So we know you may be thinking, “sure, this all sounds great…but how am I going to fit this in to my busy academic calendar?”  We know that it simply isn’t realistic for every student to invest in a full-time foreign language course.  Well here’s the good news: Mango offers instruction in over 40 foreign languages, and it’s available anytime, anywhere for free through most libraries in the U.S.  Log in from home, on campus, or even from your smartphone.  Mango is designed to teach you practical content that you’ll actually use in the real world.  So ask your college library today if they offer Mango Languages.

For more on how Mango Languages can benefit academic institutions – or to sign up for a free trial – click here.

It’s a Mango social: now share your progress on Facebook and Twitter

Earn social badges and share your language learning progress with friends when you access Mango through your library.

Show off.
You can now let you friends and followers know when you’ve finished a Mango lesson or chapter by posting to Facebook and Twitter from within the course.

Game on.
Don’t let your hard work go unnoticed.  With every chapter you complete, you’ll unlock a new Mango badge as a reward for your progress. Post your badges to Facebook and Twitter to strike up some friendly competition with fellow Mango users.

So, go ahead. Shout your progress from the mountaintops, rally a support group, find a study partner or heck, just show off a little.

Want to learn a new language free through your library? Head to findmango.com to find Mango Languages in a library near you to get started.

Adventures in Language Learning: Mango Fans Share “Moment of Pride”

This week we asked our Mango fans on Facebook to share with us their proudest language learning moment.  The responses we got were awesome.  Each of the stories – while unique – demonstrated how fruitful it can be to understand and communicate in a second language.  Here’s just a slice of the feedback we received:

• “In Tokyo, I was given the incorrect change when purchasing boat tickets… I was pretty proud when I politely pointed out the cashier’s mistake and he apologized and gave me the correct change.” – Alan D.
• “I outwitted a crooked cabbie in China, found a private club in Mexico, helped a Spaniard navigate the trains in Italy, and swept a cute French girl off her feet, but my happiest moments are when I can help foreigners right here in the USA.” – Donald S.
• “Haggling for art on Montmartre [in Paris]!” – Lola M.
• “I figured out how to purchase a cell phone at the mall in Chile years ago as an exchange student.  I was very proud that I was able to get all my questions understood and answered.” – Danielle S.

These stories of worldly adventure got us thinking about how helpful Mango can be to students who are planning to travel abroad.  While many students traveling overseas may be part of a foreign language program, there are a growing number of programs taught abroad in English that appeal to students of other disciplines, such as Art History, Ancient Civilizations, or International Studies.  Mango provides these student travelers with exposure to content that they will actually need when traveling to a foreign country.  You won’t find any lessons here about “the red cat sitting under table.”  We prefer to focus on practical content used in everyday conversations, such as: names and introductions, getting around, shopping and payment, dining, and asking for help.

And don’t forget the value of Mango’s unique culture notes!  Even if you’ve already taken French 101, Mango may teach you things you never knew about living in, getting around, and avoiding an embarrassing faux pas in France.

So before you book a ticket to study abroad in Italy or plan a volunteer trip to Latin America, make sure Mango is at the top of your prep list.  The experiences you’ll have will be enriched by your understanding of the language.  And who knows?  It may even get you out of a sticky situation…or lead you to love.

For more information on how Mango can benefit college and university students, check out our academic page.

3 Ways to Make Language Learning Suck.*

*sometimes mangoes are facetious.

Want to wake up dreading to learn a new language? Looking to hate every second of it? Follow these simple steps:

1. Make it tough to access.

The less accessible, the easier to put off. Make sure you have to go through a lot of steps to get started like having to sift through piles of CDs stuffed in your desk drawer.

Foreign language learning mobile apps? Forget it. Make sure you can only learn tethered to an uncomfortable desk chair.

2. Make it super boring.

Think of your least favorite middle school teacher. You know the one. Make sure your experience feels like you’re stuck back in those little desks.

3. Make it impractical.

Being able to use what you’re learning in a new language is too fun. Here are some of the top phrases you should be learning:

The boy eats the elephant.
The tired man sat on the purple bus.
The young girl likes to waterski.

To learn a new language is a lot of work. It’s never easy. But it can be simple. And it doesn’t have to suck.

Mango is easy to access.
You may even have free access through your public library. Go to our website and and click on the library locator at the bottom of the page to find out.

You can learn remotely online at home in your PJ’s. Bonus points if you can find PJ’s with mangoes on them.

Take language learning with you wherever you go with our mobile apps for Android and iPhone mobile devices.

See? Super easy to access.

Mango is not boring.
With interactive features like phonetic pop-ups and a voice comparison tool that lets you hear your accent compared to a native speaker, you won’t be able to wait for the next lesson.

Mango is practical.
Here’s the deal: Mango takes practical conversations, splits them up into bite-sized parts, teaches you those parts and shows you how to build the original conversation and others. It doesn’t get much more practical than that.

Give un-sucky language learning a try with Mango Languages.

Kiss me, I speak Irish!

Dia duit, hello!

Gearing up for St. Patrick’s day? For a wee bit o’fun in the pub, you can learn to speak Irish with Mango Languages!

Here’s an interesting culture note you can use to impress your friends over green beer!

Want to learn more? Mango Languages is available online at thousands of libraries across North America. Find Mango near you!

Mango Monday: Do you speak Texan?

Do you speak Texan?
Mangoes traded the snowy Michigan weather for some southern hospitality (and sunshine) while attending ALA Midwinter 2012 in Dallas, Texas!

While we got a little taste of the south, we gave a taste of mango smoothies to stoppers-by at the Mango booth. Attendees could also check out demonstrations of the Mango iPhone app, Little Pim and learn some Hindi!

While we were sporting tie-dye and mango smoothie sugar-buzzes, we saw many wonderful familiar faces, made great new friends and heard inspiring language learning success stories.

We even got a short lesson in “Southern English” from a few true Texans, y’all!

Check out some pictures from our adventure and let us know: did you drop by the Mango Languages booth at ALA Midwinter in Dallas this year? Do you still remember how to say, “where is the bus station” in Hindi?