Mango Languages

Howdy, Partner.

Mango is more than just another fruit-themed vendor.  We partner with our clients because we truly care about them becoming a hub for culture and language learning.  How do we love thee? Let us count the ways.

1. The MAP
The Mango Administration Portal is your home for stats galore, training resources and more promotional goodies than you can shake a Mango tree branch at.

2. Freebies.
Speaking of marketing goodies, through the MAP you have access to free downloadable and customizable marketing materials like blog posts, press releases, website images and even sample Twitter posts.  Tweet, tweet.

3. FindMango.com
The more patrons, the merrier. With findmango.com, we’re working to drive more traffic to your library.  New patrons can find their way by visiting findmango.com and entering their zip code.  From there, we link them directly to your site and even instruct them to high-five their librarian when they get a library card!  Check it out: findmango.com.

4. Social Media Feature
We help your patrons show off and spread word of the knowledge they gained at your library. Our new Social Media Feature lets users post their language-learning progress on Facebook and Twitter, earn virtual badges and send all their friends to findmango.com to drive traffic to your library.

5. Mango 101 Staff Training Webinar
This live training session is designed to turn you and your staff into Mango Masters.  We’ll walk you through the program step-by-step, answer any questions, show you how to access your library’s stats, and provide you with tips on how to promote Mango and boost usage at your library.

6.  So many more ways.
Contact your Mango rep today to find out all the other ways Mango partners with you and impacts your community.

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!

Mango 101: Have You Registered?

Do you know how to earn points through the MAP and redeem them for Mango swag?  What about setting up a MARC record for Mango? Or how to filter and export usage statistics?  To find out answers to all of these questions – and much more – be sure to register for our new Mango 101 training webinar.  The purpose of this presentation is to help our existing clients make the most of their Mango account.  By the time you’re done, you’ll be able to navigate the MAP like a pro, be a usage stats whiz, and have tons of fresh ideas on how to spread the word to your patrons.  So if you haven’t had the chance to attend yet, please take a few minutes to sign up through one of the registration links below:

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

Mango Feature Shout-Outs

Did you know you can earn points on our “Mango Checklist” by adding a Mango logo or link to your library’s website?  Prominently feature the link on your website and it’s sure to attract more attention than if it’s buried somewhere the user has to search for it.  Of course, there’s a number of ways that libraries can do this.  To provide some inspiration, we’re going to feature a few rockstar examples from our partner libraries:

Musser Public Library and the Terrebonne Parish Library System both featured Mango in their scrolling homepage slideshow.  Not only does this approach provide a visual “pop” that grabs patrons’ attention, it also allows the library to feature different events and resources on a timely basis.

Boyd County Public Library featured Mango on its homepage in their “Library News” section.  This approach not only increases awareness about the resource, but also provides patrons with the latest Mango news.  In this case, BCPL shared info about our new Social Media Feature and how patrons can earn badges by learning with Mango.  You can easily set up a News Section on your library’s website by linking the content to a blog or other RSS feed.  Ideas for Mango updates can be pulled from our monthly newsletter, blog, or from informational materials posted on the MAP.

Another fantastic and effective way to feature Mango on your homepage is to use one of our eye-catching banners, like Fountaindale Public Library did on their site:

All you need to do is log in to the MAP, visit the “Free Downloads” section under the “Promote” tab, and select “Web Banners” to see all the options we have available.  The banners come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re bound to find something that will work perfectly for your site!  Then just link the banner directly to your Mango landing page, providing patrons with a quick and easy way to access the courses.

We’d like to say a big, big thank you to Musser Public Library, Terrebonne Parish Library System, Boyd County Public Library, Fountaindale Public Library, and all the other libraries that have created awesome features for Mango on their website. Keep up the good work!

If your library would like ideas or guidance on creating a Mango feature for your homepage, please reach out to your Account Rep.  We’d be happy to help!

Thanks, Bedford Public Library.

In the early morning hours at Bedford Public Library, you shouldn’t be surprised if you hear chimes of “un, deux, trois” echoing from the meeting room.  In true Mango spirit, the staff decided to lead their morning exercises in French!  But this is just the first of many signs you’ll notice at BPL that they’re a Mango library.  Turn the corner, and you’ll see the beautiful Foreign Language display, complete with Mango signage and bookmarks:

Look up and you’ll see the Mango TV display, or to your side and you’ll see Mango featured in a digital picture frame:

In the computer lab, Mango is featured on the screensavers:

Come on the right day, and you may even experience a Mango party!

Best of all, the BPL staff are Mango advocates wherever they go – they even carry Mango cards with them!  According to Linda Davis, Reference Assistant at BPL, these cards came in handy at a local eatery after her co-worker discovered that the restaurant staff wanted to improve their English.  He handed out the cards and told them all about how they could access Mango for free at the library!

Bedford Public Library – we just want to say a big thank you, merci, and gracias for all your hard work and efforts!  We’re really inspired by your creativity and enthusiasm to promote Mango.  Keep on rocking!

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.

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.

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 Learning Motivation: Love.

Meet Mango user Jason. Here was his motivation to learn a new language:

“I met and am engaged to a Brazilian who was already living in the US.  I’m doing everything I can to learn the language because our wedding is next year in Brazil and I want to be able to do my vows in both English and Portuguese.”

We heard Jason’s story and wanted to help. We had Josiane, a Mango from Brazil, help us translate Jason’s vows and record herself saying them so he could practice the pronunciation.

Last month, during their wedding ceremony in the states, Jason delivered his vows in his now wife’s native language, Brazilian Portuguese.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Jason. And for letting us be a part of your journey. We have goosebumps.

What motivates you? Have you completed a Mango lesson today?