Mango Languages

Mango, Dr. Seuss Style.

Looking for a fun way to promote Mango that will really get your patrons excited?  You might want to take a note from the super-creative folks over at Bedford Public Library.  When they told us about their plan to launch a “Seussified Mango Poem Contest”, we couldn’t help but get excited.  It’s such a unique way to promote the database – and one that all patrons of all ages can enjoy!

Here’s an excerpt from one of the winning entries:

It’s known by all the world ’round
Languages all have a sound
Where you make it, you’ll be known
Among the foreign as their own.

So join us on a learning trip.
You’ll like it; it’s done in a zip.
It’ll be Fred and Ginger, you and me-o
Flying all together down to Rio.

We’ll speak the lingo and we’ll tango
Thanks to the language system Mango.

Would you like to host a Mango-themed contest at your library?  Or maybe you’d like to get other ideas for promoting Mango to your patrons?  We’re here to support you – just contact your Client Care Rep!

Ringing in the new year…in four new languages.

Want to learn Romanian?  Good news: Mango has a course for that.  And for Swahili, Modern Standard Arabic, and Egyptian Arabic – four new courses released today to our complete database subscribers.  Expanding our language offerings is just one of the many ways we’re working to make Mango sweeter, both for you and your patrons in 2013.

The new year also means it is time for us to travel to Seattle for the 2013 ALA Midwinter Conference.  Stop by booth #1215 to learn more about these four new courses and all the ways Mango shows our love for clients.  Tell us how to say “I love Mango” in Romanian, and we’ll give you our free “Language Love Affair” mini-course download.

English: I love Mango
Romanian:  Eu iubesc Mango (ee-YOH YOO-besk MAHN-go)

Happy new year and happy learning!

Signed Up for Mango 101 Yet?

Mango is dedicated to helping your library become a hub for language and culture in your community.  Join us for a short and sweet virtual training on how to make the most of your Mango subscription.  Topics include:

-  Quick Mango demo: get your staff up-to-date on what Mango is all about!
-  Frequently asked questions
-  Ways to promote language-learning in your library and boost your usage

Join the party and register for Mango 101 on any of the following dates:

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST

Ohio libraries, please register for one of the following sessions:

Wednesday, November 21, 2012 from 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 2:00-3:00 PM EST

Mango: A+ for Academic Value

Fact: libraries love Mango, and Mango loves libraries.  But when it comes to our academic clients, we’ve found that Mango’s broad appeal makes it a hit not only at the library, but with many other programs as well.

Here’s just a few of the on-campus programs that Mango can benefit:

Career Center:  As a professional development tool, Mango helps students and alumni build in-demand language skills for the job market.  According to Salary.com, the average pay range for bilinguals is approximately 5-20 percent more per hour than the base rate for their position.

Study Abroad Program:  Mango is the ideal resource to help students prepare for study abroad, volunteer trips, or international internship programs, especially for languages not taught on campus.  Did you know we offer over 50 foreign and ESL language courses?

International Student Programs:  International and foreign exchange students benefit from Mango’s large selection of ESL (English as a second/foreign language) courses.

Alumni Association:  Unlike most other databases, Mango is available to Alumni Associations through your library at no additional access fee.  Alumni Associations can offer Mango as an attractive membership perk.

Faith-Based Organizations:  Mango can help members prepare for international missionary or volunteer trips.  Also, our specialized religious courses appeal to those who wish to explore Biblical texts in their original language.

So whether preparing to study abroad in China, trying to learn Spanish as a resume booster, or helping international students acquire practical English skills, Mango is the go-to resource to help students, alumni, and even faculty succeed in their mission to learn a foreign language.

To learn more about how Mango Languages can benefit academic institutions, click here.

Throw a Mango Social.

Looking for a great way to attract new patrons and spread the word about your digital resources?  Consider hosting a Mango Day!  Not only is it a ton of fun for staff and patrons alike, it’s also great opportunity for your library to earn checklist points to redeem for swag through the MAP.

Every Mango Day is unique.  Some of our partner libraries focus on a community initiative, like ESL literacy or the benefits of a second language, others center their party around a particular holiday or event, like Chinese New Year, Carnival, or Back-to-School time.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Give away goodies: Mango promotional items make for happy patrons.  Ask your rep about the items we have available.
• Chow down: Mango-flavored treats, like smoothies, go a long way.
• Focus on ESL: Invite patrons to study groups where they can gather to practice English together with Mango.
• Host a meet-up: The library is a great place for learners of a particular language to congregate and practice.  And what better meeting place than one chock-full of language-learning resources?
• Show how it’s done: schedule a live demo to give patrons a taste of Mango in action!  If you need a refresher course beforehand, sign up for our Mango 101 training webinar.

Want even more ideas?  Check out this Pinterest board with examples from other libraries.  And don’t forget to email your Mango Rep photos from your Mango Day to be featured on Pinterest!

Mango Languages: LJ’s “Best Database for Library Outreach”

Mango is excited and honored to announce that we were voted the “Best Database for Library Outreach” by Library Journal!  Check it out in Library Journal’s first annual Reference Issue, coming out on Nov. 1^st.

This recognition is especially meaningful, since our goal is to be a partner for our library clients, not just a resource.  We work with libraries to promote awareness of their digital resources and help them become a hub for language and culture in their community.

One of our newest awareness campaigns is the launch of FindMango.com.  This website helps users locate libraries in their area that offer Mango, driving traffic to our partner libraries and promoting awareness of their resources.  Mango also offers a host of free marketing materials, live training sessions, detailed usage statistics, and a bunch of other awesome services to help our clients optimize their Mango experience.

Want to learn more about how Mango benefits libraries?  Check out our webinar!

Care to share?

Mango loves libraries.  And we love hearing from their patrons.
We want to know: how has learning a language through your library impacted your life? Tell us your story and we may feature it on our blog!

This is the Year: Join Mango’s Language Resolution

Help your library patrons reach their goals!  Learning a new language consistently tops resolution lists each January, but now it’s September and your patrons only have a few months left before the end of the year.

You and your patrons can like and follow Mango for daily motivation and ideas on how to make the language-learning journey even more fun.  Download this poster to hang in your library and spread the word.

What’s in for your library?  Well, increased usage means that Mango will be a more cost-effective resource for you.  Not to mention, the prizes:

Each month, we’ll recognize the library with the best results based on user sessions. The winners will be entered in to a grand prize drawing at the end of the year for a $500 Mango party at their library and a slew of Mango prizes for library staff and patrons.

Spread the word: this is the year we learn a new language.

Mango Language Resolution – Weekly Recap 1

We started our Language Resolution campaign with one goal in mind: to help you learn a language by 2013.  We hear excuses all too often: “I wanted to learn a language this year, but couldn’t find the time to practice” or “I ran out of steam and lacked motivation.”  This year, we’re not going to let that happen.  Mango’s got your back – not to mention daily tips, challenges, and motivation to keep you on track.  All you have to do is stay tuned to our pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Last week things got off to a strong start on Monday when we challenged our followers to write their grocery or shopping list in the language they were studying.  On Tuesday, we followed this up with a vocab challenge focused on greetings and terms of gratitude.  Translations of “thank you” and “goodbye” were shared in a handful of languages, including French, Arabic, Japanese and German.  Plus, Philip E. shared his personal translation of those phrases into “Southern U.S. English,” as ‘obliged’ and ‘later’.  Thanks for giving a mini-lesson to our Detroiter Mango crew, Philip!

Wednesday is all about motivation, so we shared a touching story from one of our patrons based at the Kent District Library in Michigan.  Having been in a long-distance relationship for 6 years, she tried everything to learn Swedish without success – including Rosetta Stone.  But after starting Mango, she experienced more improvement in a few days than she had done in years!  Read her full story here.

We dedicate Thursday to a roundtable discussion of issues and challenges faced when learning a foreign language.  Last week we focused on how to successfully learn vocabulary.  Our followers had fantastic tips for tackling this challenge, including: using flashcards, playing video games, reading foreign signs or packaging, and creating associations with English words that have a similar sound.  The one thing that everyone seemed to agree on is that repetition is key, no matter what method you use.  We also agree with this point – which is why repetition of phrases and vocabulary is an important theme in Mango’s courses.

On Friday, we closed out the week with one final challenge for our followers: to “like” or “follow” a foreign company’s page on Facebook or Twitter.  This is a great way to infuse foreign content into your feed!  Haven’t had a chance to complete the challenge yet?  Commit to doing it today!  It only takes 5 minutes.

Ready to get things geared up again this week?  We’ve got a week chock-full of fun challenges, motivating inspiration, and helpful tips/tricks ahead!  Check out our Facebook and Twitter pages daily to keep updated.  Remember, 2012 is the year.  #LanguageResolution.  Let’s do this together.

What have you learned in your new language today?

We all do it: eagerly dive into our new year’s resolution lists in January and February but stuff them into a drawer in March and forget about them by April.

If learning a new language was on your list this year, consider this your reminder: you still have a few months left. And we want to help.

Last week we asked you what keeps you motivated and what challenges you face when learning a new language.

Pauline Lévesque posted on the Mango Facebook page, “What keeps me going in learning a new language is to be able to speak with the natives when I go on a trip…very satisfying.”

If you’re in a language-learning rut, have you thought about going somewhere where you can speak with a native? It doesn’t have to be around the world; does your city have a China Town or Little Italy? How about popping in a foreign film tonight to get you motivated to keep learning? Check out our post from last week to get some ideas for more fun ways to practice your new language.

What have you learned in your new language today?

Look for more motivation and join the conversation on Facebook or follow the hashtag #LanguageResolution on Twitter.