Mango Languages

10 Tips for Traveling in Germany

So if you’ve been reading our blog this past month, you may have seen the last two posts I wrote in which I shared a few of the red-faced, cultural faux-pas moments I have experienced over the years.  In case you missed it, you can check out them out here and here.

To wrap up the series, I’m going to divert from the topic just a bit to share a few cultural lessons that I wish I had learned before traveling to Germany.  Luckily, my ignorance on these topics never led to an overtly embarrassing moment – but knowing about them definitely would have made my life easier!  So for any of you planning a trip to Deutschland in the future, consider these tips my little gift (“mein kleines Geschenk”):

1)   This is how the number ‘seven’ is generally written in Germany:

And this is what the ‘one’ usually looks like:

Mix them up (like I did, on at least one occasion) and you’ll end up calling a very confused German.

2)   If you order “Wasser” (water) at a restaurant, you will more than likely be served a glass of sparkling water.  If you feel the same way I do about sparkling water, then this is an outcome you’d probably like to avoid.  Just remember to clarify when you’re ordering by saying “stilles Wasser” (still water) or “Wasser ohne Kohlensäure” (water without carbonation).

3)   I know I mentioned this is my last post, but I think it’s important, so I’m going to say it again.  Whatever you do, be sure to look the other person in the eye when making a toast.  You’ll find that most Germans are very serious about this – it’s a sign of bad luck to divert your eyes!

4)   Don’t expect to find stores open on Sunday.  Restaurants and gas stations are generally the only places with Sunday hours, so be sure to get all your shopping done on Saturday.  You don’t want to run out of something vital (read: toilet paper) and have nowhere to go.

5)   Despite what you may have heard, speed limits (Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen – there’s a fun word for you!) do exist in Germany.  It’s true that many stretches of the Autobahn (freeway) are limitless, but over 50% have a posted speed limit, particularly within populated areas.

6)   Jaywalking is never a good idea, but especially not in Germany.  You’ll find that most Germans are pretty respectful of pedestrian laws, so have patience and wait for the Ampelmann (“traffic light man”, as you’d see at most cross walks).

7)   When visiting a German household, don’t be surprised if you see your host switch from outdoor shoes to indoor shoes (commonly known as “Hausschuhe” or “house shoes”) the minute they walk through the door.  In fact, they may even offer you your own pair of shoes to wear while visiting their home!  Most German houses have tiled or wooded floors, so the shoes are used to provide comfort and warmth while walking around at home.

8)   Should you be seek the comforts of home and stop at a German McDonalds, be warned: the condiments will cost you!  Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are sold in packets, so you’ve got to decide how much you think you’ll need and pay accordingly.

9)   Relax and enjoy breakfast.  When I first visited my husband’s family in Germany in 2004, I was blown away by the production that was “Frühstück”.  Baskets of bread rolls and pretzels, endless platters of meat and cheese, bowls of fruit and yogurt, even a serving of cake.  To put it in a word, I was amazed.  Not just by the food, but also by the feeling of community and togetherness that these breakfasts create.  There was no rush, we’d sit for a couple hours chatting and enjoying each other’s company.  To be sure, this kind of thing isn’t a daily event for most Germans.  Usually these longer breakfasts are enjoyed on the weekends with friends and family – but I can tell you it’s a great thing to look forward to!

10)  This is mostly important in Bavaria, but still worth sharing: Weißwurst is boiled, never grilled.  And always eaten before noon.  My Bavarian-born husband still cringes every time he sees a Weißwurst thrown on a grill here in the States.

I hope you enjoyed my little insight into the German culture!  For those of you who are culture fans, be sure to check out one of my favorite aspects of the Mango program: the Culture Notes.  Popping up several times a chapter, they guide you like a friend, providing gentle nudges on what-to-do and what-not-to-do.  They also provide a great little “brain break” from all the language-learning you’re doing and keep you interested in the lesson!

What’s your favorite part about the Mango program?  Is there a particularly good cultural lesson that you learned?

Mango Shows Love for Academic Clients

September is here, which means “back to school” season is in full swing.  We’re delighted to say more and more college and university libraries are using Mango – some to supplement a smaller language program, others to assist ESL or study abroad students, and many simply because Mango is a resource with broad appeal.  Mango benefits students, faculty, alumni, and campus organizations alike.  Check out the video below to learn more.

Ready to get your school started?  Click here to set up a free trial, sign up for an informational webinar, read case studies, and much more.

Inspiration: It’s What Keeps Me Going

At the gym the other day, between the monotonous stomping of my feet on the treadmill, I overheard a woman speaking in heavily-accented English.  She was asking her workout partner to show her how to correctly do a push-up.  I listened to her for a few minutes, as she struggled to find the words to describe what she wanted to say.  It made me reflect upon my own experiences as a study abroad student in Munich.  I remember how frustrating it would be to run into situations where I couldn’t accurately express myself.

On one particular occasion, my inability to remember the verb “to pay” meant that I couldn’t tell the waiter that I had already paid my bill.  I recall repeating over and over again: “ich habe schon…ich habe schon…” (“I already…”)  But the word escaped me.  I tried to motion a “paying” action with my hands, but it just confused the waiter even more.  Finally, I remembered the verb and was able to complete my sentence, satisfying the waiter and setting him on his way.

Running into situations such as these occurred on almost a daily basis when I first moved to Munich.  Things that should take moments to complete, often became stressful, drawn-out processes simply due to my inability to correctly express what I wanted to say.  As a grown adult, it was extremely frustrating to have my vocabulary set back to the level of a child, particularly when I still needed to do “grown-up things” (like set up a cell phone or register with the city).

So suffice to say, I completely sympathized with the woman at my gym when I heard her struggling in broken English.  But when I turned around and saw who she had been speaking to all along, I felt an even higher level of respect.  The woman had been speaking with her husband.  It was obvious that they shared the same mother tongue, so it would have been much easier for her to carry on in their native language.  But the fact that she chose to instead practice her speaking skills and converse with him in English, made me beam with admiration.

I’m now married to German-American man, but I have to admit that our daily conversations in German are usually limited to short words and phrases.  Rarely do we commit to conversing fully in German, simply because English is the more natural medium for both of us.  My husband moved to the US when he was 10, so he speaks English as if it were his native tongue.  Plus, we met before I even started studying German, so it’s become what we’re used to.

But I have to admit that seeing this courageous couple made me realize that there’s no excuse not to try.  It also made me think of all the people living in the U.S. who struggle to learn English because they want to create a better life for themselves.  I’m lucky that learning a foreign language has never been imperative for me – it’s always been a choice.  A choice that nonetheless opens the door to many opportunities and experiences.  So what excuse do I have not to practice more often?  Better yet: why would I not want to?

What motivates you to study a foreign language?  When things get tough, what “keeps you going?”

To join Mango Languages’ Language Resolution campaign, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or use the hashtag #LanguageResolution to join the conversation.  Our goal is to make this the year that you commit to learning a foreign language by providing daily challenges, tips, and motivation.  Together, we can do this.

Learn Tagalog with Mango: New Course Launches to Libraries and Institutions

Learn Tagalog online for free through your library!

To celebrate the recent release of Mango’s Tagalog course to libraries, I sat down with our resident Tagalog-speaker, Eon Rodrigo, for a little chat about the language and his native country, the Philippines.

Originally from Batac, Eon joined Mango’s creative team in 2011.  During our conversation, Eon offered up his advice to learn Tagalog, indulged us in his recommendations for top-notch Filipino food, and even provided insight into his favorite Tagalog word (you’ll never guess what it is!)  Read on below for more on my conversation with Eon.

learn tagalog

Tiffany Neumeyer:  Hi Eon, thanks for sitting down with me today.

Eon Rodrigo:  No problem.

TN:  For starters, could you tell our readers a little bit about your background?

ER:  Sure.  I was born in Batac, which is in the northern Phillipines.  Growing up, I spoke Ilocano at home, but both Tagalog and English were taught at school.  When I was three, my Dad emigrated to the United States in order to offer our family a better life.  Nine years later, my Mom and I were able to join him.

TN:  So you were 12 years old when you moved.  Were you completely fluent in English at that time?

ER:  Yes, but I spoke it with a very heavy accent, so I was extremely shy around other kids to begin with.  It actually took almost two years until I was able to completely drop my accent.  Watching TV – especially music videos – really helped me.

TN:  Since moving, have you had the chance to go back and visit the Philippines?

ER:  Yes, once, in 2005 – but I’m hoping to go back again sometime this year.

TN:  What is your favorite thing to do or see when you’re over there?

ER:  Obviously, catching up with family and friends is the most exciting and important thing.  But in my free time, I love spending time outdoors or going to the beach.  My family lives 30 minutes from the Pacific, so it’s an easy drive.  Plus, living in Michigan now – where it’s relatively flat – makes me appreciate the beautiful mountain landscape that surrounds my hometown in the Philippines.  Oh – and the food!  I can’t forget the food.  It’s awesome.

TN:  I bet.  Do you have a favorite dish?

ER:  It’s really hard to pick just one.  Given a few, I’d say chicken adobo, arroz caldo, and Ilocano empanadas.  The empanadas sold by the street vendors there just can’t be beaten.

TN:  Shifting gears to a completely random question: what would you say your favorite word or phrase in Tagalog is?

ER:  That is a random question!  I guess I would have to say “pare” (PAH-reh), which means “buddy” or “friend”.  It’s a pretty common word that you’d hear a lot on the streets.  Another word that I love is “kili kili” (kee-LEE, kee-LEE).

TN:  What does that mean?

ER:  Armpit!  I know it’s a strange word to like, but it just sounds so funny in Tagalog!

TN:  Haha, I have to agree with you there.  So Eon, what advice would you give to students learning Tagalog?

ER:  First of all, I would encourage them to try to think in the language as much as possible.  Just like with most foreign languages, it’s almost impossible to directly translate phrases from English into Tagalog.  So I would encourage students instead to focus on learning the rules and structure of the language – and then try to formulate sentences while thinking in Tagalog.  It’s much more effective than trying to directly translate from English.

Also, don’t be afraid to pronounce something incorrectly.  Most Tagalog words are written exactly as they sound – but even if you do make a mistake, that’s just part of the learning process!

TN:  Agreed 100 percent!  I’ve just got one final question, Eon.  What’s your favorite part of Mango’s Tagalog course?

ER:  There’s so many great features, but I personally like the Cultural Notes.  It’s a feature that I’ve enjoyed in all of Mango’s courses, not just Tagalog.  For me, to learn a foreign culture provides you with greater insight and understanding into the language.  For example, when is it appropriate or not appropriate to say certain things?  When should a formal or informal case be used?  These are all things that are important to consider when learning a foreign language.

TN:  Eon, thanks so much for giving up some of your time to sit down with me today.  I really appreciate it!  And readers – don’t forget to check out Mango’s newest library course and learn Tagalog!

To find a library near you that offers Mango, click here.

Eon’s favorite Mango feature is the Cultural Notes.  What do you like best about learning with Mango?

Learn Icelandic with Mango Languages: New Language Release

Dreaming of traveling to Iceland? Looking to finally be able to pronounce the name of the famed Icelandic volcano of 2010, Eyjafijallajökull?

You can now learn Icelandic for free online through your library and Mango Languages.

Judging just by its name alone, Iceland seems like the home of nothing but frozen tundra, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A hotel made of ice, sunshine at midnight, natural hot springs, a prime view of the Northern Lights and active volcanoes all attest to the fact that Iceland is a place of excitement and energy. In fact, you might say that visiting Iceland is as epic as its proud Norse sagas.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll see in the Icelandic course.

For example, to say, “Hello, how are you?” in Icelandic, you literally say, “Blissful. How do you have it?”

learn icelandic

Cultural notes like this one throughout the course teach you about Icelandic culture and reinforce what you’re learning in the chapter.

learn icelandic

 
Mango teaches you the most relevant information you need to know to start to speak Icelandic right away. Most importantly, you’ll have some fun in your new language by learning things like this:

learn icelandic

Already use Mango Languages through your library? Check out the course list to see these new additions.

Want to see if your library offers Mango? Visit findmango.com to find out and start learning!