Mango Languages

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!

Learn Latin, Koine Greek, Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew with Mango Languages

We are thrilled to announce the release of Mango Languages’ Religious and Scholarly Language Collection.

This means you can now learn Latin, Koine Greek, Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew for free through your library and Mango Languages, the only language learning company offering a Religious and Scholarly Language Collection.

These specialized courses focus on passages from historical books, poems and religious documents, providing insight into the cultures in which the languages were spoken.

Learn Latin 
While Latin may be considered a dead language by some, it is still alive in so many ways! Due to the expanse and longevity of the Roman Empire, Latin influenced both English itself as well as many of the other languages that influenced English years later. So, by choosing to study Latin, you’re not only connecting with texts that were written thousands of years ago, you’re also connecting with many of the modern languages we know and love today!

Learn Biblical Hebrew
Travel back thousands of years to the time of the Old Testament to learn the language in which Genesis was actually written: Biblical Hebrew! Although these stories and scriptures might be familiar to you, approaching them from the viewpoint of a new language will give you a whole new perspective – you may feel closer than ever to words you’ve known for years.

Learn Koine Greek
Koine Greek was the universal Greek dialect spoken from about 300 BCE to 300 CE.  Spread in part by the conquests of Alexander the Great, Koine Greek sprung up as a common language among troops of the prolific conqueror and was spoken in the many countries they conquered, all the way from Egypt to India.  It is the language in which the Septuagint and the Christian New Testament were originally written as well as the language in which Christianity was spread during its early years. Koine Greek was also spoken in the Roman Empire but was later replaced by Latin in the West, while it survived in the East.

Learn Ancient Greek
Since the Renaissance’s revival of Ancient Greek philosophy and literature, the works of Homer, Plato and Aristotle have established themselves as Western canon that is still taught today. Prevalent in more than just the arts, Ancient Greek – which was spoken primarily from the 9th century to the 4th century BCE – was also the language from which revolutionary breakthroughs in science, math and architecture were first developed. An impressive culture indeed!

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!