Mango Languages: An online foreign language course

Mango Languages is an online foreign language course offering a myriad of language options for all ages! 

Mango Languages at a glance…

Grade level: preschool thru adult

Use as: stand alone curriculum

Instruction time: none

Prep time: none

Cost: Free through many local libraries sold by 3, 6, or 12 month subscription

About Mango Language

Mango Language is an online foreign language program offering a wide array of languages including:

• Arabic
• French
• Japanese
• Spanish
• Korean
• Ancient Greek
• Swahili
• German
• Russian
• Dutch
• English
• and more!!

The lessons are designed to teach you conversational skills and promises that the first lesson will show results. The program is completely web based and self directed. Language is taught in small step by step chunks to increase understanding and proper pronunciation. Each lesson can be reviewed as many times as needed. You completely control the lesson from being able to repeat the words and review the phrases by a click of the mouse. There are lesson notes provided for the purpose of understanding grammar and cultural differences in the language. Please check your local library to see if this program is offered before purchasing a subscription.

Things of Note with Mango Languages

1. The Ease of Being Web Based Program

Being a web based program offers flexibility that is hard to match by taking a class. The ease in clicking the mouse for review or moving forward as you are able is also hard to match by a dvd course.

2. Focuses on Conversational Skills

This program focuses primarily on conversational skills which is both good and bad. The good is that you will learn as they say, from the first lesson a phrase you can use. You will begin to speak quicker and with more confidence after several lessons. Yet, if you are interested in mastering grammar, writing or reading, you will need to supplement. This is not a deal breaker, as many students taking classes or using workbooks feel discouraged after learning only the alphabet, verb conjugation, and numbers in their chosen language but still cannot put together a sentence. With Mango, you will be speaking in sentences after several lessons. This is more in tune to how we learn our own language. After all, my toddler can say “I want a cookie.” But she cannot point out the verb, subject or noun.

3. Mango Languages is a Solid Language Program

When my daughter came to me saying she wanted to learn Japanese, I was both amazed at her ambition and discouraged with how I would pursue this avenue. Thankfully, I found Mango Languages through my local library. I honestly have to say that because it was free (Note: it is not FREE online. This was a special resource our library procured and offered.) I worried it was going to be a flimsy program. I had never heard of Mango before. Well, I am happy to report my fears were put to rest. Mango is far from flimsy.

My 6^th grade daughter, after only a few lessons, knows several phrases. She enjoys the program so much she does foreign language on days it isn’t assigned. Now, I did purchase a Japanese workbook to supplement a bit and to provide flashcards. Yet, for her purposes the workbook only provided the reinforcement from Mango and not the other way around. All in all, a solid foreign language program for kids and adults alike. I know have my son taking Greek, my other daughter and my mom learning Chinese. My 6^th grader now wants to add in Spanish to her routine.

Purchasing Mango Languages

If you are interested in learning more please visit their website: Mango Languages

But be sure to check your local library first to see if this program is offered before purchasing!

More Foreign Language Options

The Ultimate Guide to Foreign Language Curriculum in Your Homeschool – Here at The Curriculum Choice we have many foreign language curriculum reviews to help make your decisions easy. How to choose a foreign language course for your homeschool? What will work best with a certain homeschool method? Our authors have shared what they love, what works best for their students and examples of how each program works!

~ Originally published November 2009. Written by Richele, classical and Charlotte Mason inspired, homeschooling mom, to four reflections of God’s love.