Have you ever wanted to learn a second language? Perhaps you would like to speak with a friend in her native tongue, travel in a foreign country, or connect with your family history. Maybe you learned a new language in the past and would like to refresh your skills. All of these possibilities can become reality with the help of Mango Languages, a language-learning platform included for free with your library card!
Those of us who have tried learning a second language know how difficult it can be. Studying vocabulary, grammar, and cultural differences between languages is daunting to even the most advanced learners. Combine these difficulties with a busy schedule and expensive tutor costs – all of a sudden, learning a new language feels impossible! Thankfully, it is possible, and Mango Languages helps reduce the difficulty, cost, and stress of learning a new language, enabling you to connect with people and cultures in new and exciting ways.
What makes Mango so effective? Mango is “the only personalized, adaptive language-learning experience that provides the tools and guidance you need to expand your language skills wherever and however you learn best.” Simply put, Mango changes its teaching strategy to suit your individual strengths and weaknesses as a learner. Struggling to nail difficult vocab words? Mango will include those words in your daily review until you have them locked in your mind. Once you have those words mastered, Mango will then present new vocabulary and phrases to push you further down the path of your chosen language.
If you are skeptical about the usual downsides of digital language learning – robotic voices, awkward and unrealistic dialogue, etc. – worry not! Mango Languages only uses real-world conversations that you would hear when speaking to someone in a foreign language or traveling in a foreign country. And there are no fake voices here; every soundbite of language that you listen to is spoken by a native speaker, so you hear your chosen language in an authentic accent. You can even record and listen to your own voice as you speak to ensure that your pronunciation is on point!
Mango Languages proves to be a valuable resource for all types of language learners. Are you always on the go? Mango syncs to your car radio or headphones for on-the-go audio lessons. Maybe you would like to learn with your family? Mango’s family profiles make that possible. Want to learn with your little ones? Little Pim, Mango’s resource for children ages 0-5, offers entertaining video lessons that provide “the essential building blocks of a new language.”
The only difficulty in learning a new language with Mango is picking which language to learn! Mango offers over 70 world languages to choose from, including a number of indigenous and endangered languages. As of this month, LCO community members are mostly learning Spanish, German, and French. However, some learners prefer languages like Irish, Russian, and Croatian. Mango even offers specialty courses for learners who want to study a specific topic, like Shakespearean English, Oktoberfest in German, and wine and cheese in French!
Ready to start learning a new language? Mango Languages is accessible online on LCO’s Digital Services page. A mobile app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store as well. Simply make a Mango account, enter your LCO library card account information, and start learning! Au revoir!