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 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.

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?

Introducing: Conversational English for Mimes

We’re thrilled to announce the release of our highly anticipated, Conversational English for Mimes course!

At Mango Languages, we are proud to promote language and culture learning for the world’s most in-demand languages. Mango Passport: Conversational English for Mimes will provide a user-friendly and practical language-learning resource to support one of the most blatantly underserved and unrecognized cultural communities: mimes.

Helping the world communicate and promoting the growth of a more united global community means more than creating courses to help people learn to speak Spanish or learn to speak French. We are reaching out to a group whose language-learning needs have previously been ignored by our industry, “____________________________  ________________________________________________________
__________________,” said Mime Society President of Verbal Communication.

Mango Passport: Conversational English for Mimes boasts the same innovative features as our other online language learning resources: phonetic pronunciation guides, grammar and culture notes and the mime-community favorite, a voice comparison tool.

Mimes on the go never have to sacrifice mobility with Mango. Our mobile options allow you to learn while you’re performing on a street corner, traveling the world or stuck in a glass box.

What can a mime expect to learn with Mango Languages? Chapter topics include:

• Telling someone you’re stuck in a box.
• Interjections to convey surprise.
• Expressing that you’re sick of pulling that rope.
• Getting help finding face make-up in a store.
• Asking if your beret is artfully askew.

Check out the course in action with Nicolas, Director of Pantomime at Mango:

Outdoor Language Learning

Imagine a typical foreign language classroom. Now imagine the complete opposite.

The furthest thing from typical classroom instruction, Adrienne Blattel’s Anglais en Plein Air (or English Outdoors) provides conversational language lessons to English and French-speaking Montrealers. The coolest part: students learn outdoors while snowshoeing, hiking, rollerblading and partaking in other recreational activities.

We spoke with Adrienne in French to learn more about her language-learning innovation. Click on the link to practice your French and listen to our interview with her!

Entretien avec Adrienne Blattel d’Anglais en Plein Air

Why learn a language?

Yesterday I explained why I bother learning a foreign language. Now let’s hear from you!

Here are a few responses we received when we asked our Facebook fans, “When it comes to learning a language: “What’s the point if you know you are ‘never going to go there [to a foreign country]‘?

“There’s a ton of reasons. Learn about another culture and depending on where you live being able to converse in their language. If it is a in demand language you can get paid more at your job or be hired cause you know it. You can enjoy movies and reading materials in another language.” –Emily Dills

“Learning another language helps you to understand your own native language even better.” –Deb Meinke

“You can keep secrets in another language with your friends!” -Donald Seaman

“When I was young I never thought I would be married to a Russian…” –Kevin Jefferson

“Even though we may never visit another country, it doesn’t mean there aren’t people in the US who are multilingual. I want to learn Vietnamese just to be able to say “Hi” to someone I work with in her own language. Plus, it’s just fun. I learned French in high school and college because I thought it was beautiful.” –Beth Hatch

“Sometimes it is about your family heritage…My father is Irish, where his language was persecuted for probably a hundred years, now it has been brought back, and I want to be part of that process.” –Pj Royer

Why is learning a language worth it for you?

Feature Friday: Language and Thought

Happy Friday Everyone!

Here is a fascinating lecture from linguist Steve Pinker on TED Talks about Language and Thought. Pinker looks at language and how it expresses what goes on in our minds — and how the words we choose communicate much more than we realize.

In his lecture, Pinker says, “Languages is a collective human creation, reflecting human nature, how we conceptualize reality, how we relate to one another. And then by analyzing the various quirks and complexities of language, I think we can get a window onto what makes us tick.”

What are YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Travel Tuesday: No Speak Americano

Obviously, as the crazed Mango fans that you all are, one of the most exciting parts of traveling to far off lands is the opportunity to utilize all that you have learned and practiced (from the comfort of your own home, using your MP3 player, or even on your iPhone). As someone who has lived abroad, the prospect of conversing with native speakers is just as terrifying as it is exhilarating. What if my accent is horrible? Do I use the formal or informal? Which verb tense do I use? These fears can prevent us from making the most of our travels and speaking the language of the land. It seems so easy to slip back into our English comfort zone. If there is one piece of advice I can give you, it’s DON’T DO IT!!! Some of my best travel experiences have occurred in countries where I only knew a few words (hello, thank you, goodbye, etc.). You don’t have to speak a language fluently to earn the respect of the locals. Merely making an effort with these simple greetings and gratitudes (no matter how horrible the accent) is enough to create a connection with someone.

Take it from Benny Lewis, a world traveler originally from Ireland who has a self-proclaimed “love affair with other countries and speaking foreign languages.” At the age of 21, Benny only spoke English. A mere 8 years later, he speaks English, French, Italian, Esperanto, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese and German fluently, and his newest venture is American Sign Language. His website chronicles his language learning and his travels, and he even has an awesome video where he uses all of the languages he speaks to give a tour of his apartment in Berlin. Impressionant, non?!

I actually discovered Benny’s site through a co-worker who thought it would be of interest to me, and she was right! One blog post I found particularly relevant is entitled “What will I talk about when my language level is so basic?” He brings up an awesome point that really makes you think about trying to use that foreign language you studied way back in high school: To be interesting, you have to be interested.

So what does this mean exactly? It means that to have a great conversation with someone, you don’t have to do all the talking. Crazy concept for us Americans, eh? Being able to ask questions and let someone else do the talking benefits you in two ways. Firstly, you really get to know the other person and discover the ways in which we, as humans, are all alike, despite our areas of origin. Also, it allows you to sit back and listen if you are not as comfortable with your speaking skills! He also addresses the common fear that locals will be upset if you speak the language incorrectly. While I can’t say this is 100% untrue, I can say that in my experience, it is almost NEVER the case. Definitely the exception and not the rule. Usually, they are thrilled that you are making an effort to preserve their language and culture.

I highly suggest checking out Benny’s site and taking a look around. He encompasses all that is Mango Languages and definitely lives out our core values. And next time you travel, I encourage you to use your language skills in any capacity that you can. I promise you will not be disappointed. If nothing else, at least be a little more understanding the next time someone from another country speaks to you in broken English. Pay it forward for the next time you are abroad and struggling while asking how to find the restroom.

Have you ever visited a country where you did not speak a word of the native language? How were you able to get around? Did you learn anything by the time you left?