It is always a good time to travel, and one of the great benefits of being able to see the world is immersing yourself in the culture and customs of faraway lands.
A key to many successful trips is the ability to communicate with the local populations. If you are keen to start learning a new language or want to brush up on your existing language skills, then check out Mango Languages – a full-featured languages education resource available to the University community through the U of L Library.
Some of the languages featured in this resource include: Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese. These are just a sample of the available language lessons; there are 23 more languages included – including the whimsical Pirate module!
With this resource, users will develop practical conversation skills through instruction on vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. Mango Languages also takes it a step beyond the normal language resource and offers users insight into the cultures of the various language groups.
Mango Languages can be accessed via the Internet and is not dependent on whether you use a Mac or Windows-based computer. iOS (iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch) users can also download a free mobile application from the Apple Store.
Another great feature is that, with a microphone, you can also get feedback on your pronunciation. The lessons are not only practical but are designed to be both fun and engaging. With a user-friendly interface that tracks progress, users are able to see themselves work towards becoming an intermediate language user.
There are also language lessons for English as a second language (ESL) users. In total, there are 15 ESL modules for speakers whose native languages may include: Egyptian Arabic, French, German, Spanish and more.
Mango Languages is free for University of Lethbridge faculty, staff and students. You can get started today by visiting http://bit.ly/zlFCas and creating an account for yourself.
