New Language Resource Available

Bonjour...Hola....Ni Hao...Ohaiyogozaimasu

Most people know that each of these words is a form of greeting in its respective language. French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, in that order, to be exact. Most people probably wouldn't know how to say much else. But now, thanks to its Friends group, Bernardsville Public Library has added Mango Languages to its list of online resources. According to Mango, only nine percent of the population in the United States is bilingual while the number internationally is nearly 70%. Why is that number so low? It's not because people don't want to learn a second language. It's because people think it's too hard, or will take too much time, or will cost too much money.

With the Mango database, these barriers are removed. It’s is a simple, easy-to-use language learning program and is a very effective way to learn a language. It's not just about learning words and phrases. It's fun. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of grammar and culture. Students learn actual conversation, breaking down complex conversational elements within an audio-visual framework that allows the user to draw important connections between pieces of information they have already learned.

Mango is available in two versions. One is Mango Complete, a 100-lesson course that is designed to provide a full understanding of an entire language and its culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. The second is Mango Basic, which teaches everyday greetings, thank you’s, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time and is designed to appeal to a beginner in a new language. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

"Language resources are expensive to purchase and making them available at the library saves people in the community a lot of money,” said Director Karen Brodsky. “We are very grateful to the Friends of the Bernardsville Library for funding Mango, which is an engaging and efficient tool."

To learn more about Mango and see what the program has to offer, visit the library's website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org. Click on Online Resources and then Learn Languages. Even better, with a Bernardsville library card and an Internet connection, the actual courses can be accessed remotely from anywhere.

For more information, stop by the Circulation Desk at the Library. And, by the way, Au Revoir...Adiós....Zài Jiàn...Sayonara!