Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? I personally love
the idea of knowing at least enough to get around in several languages, but I
don’t always the extra money to spend on classes or on services like Rosetta
Stone. I also love to travel and think it’s important to at least make an
effort to speak the local language instead of just walking around and hoping
someone in the vicinity speaks English. For that I want something practical
that I can use in conversation. The last time I tried this I was going to
France and wanted to learn the basics. Instead, the CD I bought wanted to teach
me to count. I just needed to know where the train station was, not show off my
ability to count to ten! That’s why I
was really excited to learn about Mango Languages. Mango is a fast and
effective way to learn to hold practical conversations in a new language. It’s
got both audio and visual elements which helps me follow along. And the best
part? It’s free with my library account!
Mango Languages has lessons available in 63 different
languages, including languages you’d expect to find like Spanish, French or
Italian. But Mango doesn’t stop at the expected languages. They have also have
languages like Arabic, Yiddish or even Hawaiian. There are special languages as
well like Biblical Hebrew, Latin, or Ancient Greek. You can even take a course
on speaking Pirate! (I have to admit: I've added that one to my own personal
list.)
Mango also has English lessons available for anyone who
speaks English as a second language and wants to learn more. There are English lessons available in 17 different languages!
To access Mango for free, go to our website at www.bossierlibrary.org and find the
Mango Languages link on the right hand side. There are links to access from
within the library or from home, so you don’t even have to be sitting at a
library computer to use Mango.
Once you’re on the site, it will ask you to enter your
library card number and PIN. Your library PIN is the last four numbers on your
card. Once you've entered that, Mango will ask you to create an account with an
email. This lets you keep track of your lessons so that you can pick up where
you left off.
Mango even has apps available for iPhone/iPad and for
Android devices. You can learn on the go or on your lunch break. You can even
use it to entertain yourself and your family on those long boring car rides.
