According to a very unscientific Google search, bilingual people are….”smart, creative, and better lovers”, “brain ‘bodybuilders,’” and simply “smarter” than their monolingual counterparts.
We here at the Laramie County Library want to help our patrons become the beautifully brilliant bilinguals they wish to become in 2017.
Here are 7 resources available through the library to help get you started:
- Mango turns language learning into a game. The digital lessons are interactive and build your conversation skills from the ground up. If you get tired of lessons, Mango also has a movie mode similar to Netflix. In this mode you can test your language skills while watching a foreign film. Currently, there are 72 languages available on Mango. This service is free for library patrons and can be accessed via GoWyld.Net.
Color coding to help simplify even the most difficult of languages!
Movie Mode: Features subtitles in both the language you are learning and English. Be prepared, this mode also quizzes you about the film!
- Speaking of movies, did you know the library has a diverse selection of foreign films available to rent on DVD? A few of my favorites are Snowpiercer, Spirited Away, and anything starring Gael García Bernal.
- Even busy people can squeeze in time to learn a foreign language! Using Books On CD you can turn your morning commute into a classroom on wheels. Our digital audiobook service, OneClickdigital, also has several audiobook courses based on the studies of linguist Dr. Paul Pimsleur.
- Maybe only 90’s kids will remember the pain of seeing the Muzzy infomercials and begging their parents to purchase the $170 kit. Luckily, these days the library has several copies of Muzzy in a variety of languages. No longer do children have to suffer a Muzzy-free existence!
- Learning Spanish? The library has an entire section dedicated to Spanish language materials located on the first floor.
- Of course, we also have a robust selection of foreign language study books and dictionaries in our nonfiction collection. These items live in the 400s. However, if you want to learn more about the culture and geography behind the language you’re studying, be sure to check out the 800s (literature) and 900s (travel and history) as well!
- If you can’t make it into the library then check out the latest addition to our ebook services, TotalBoox. With just a few clicks you can access titles such as The Everything Spanish Phrase Book for Health Care Professionals or 1001 Easy German Phrases.
As always, be sure to ask your favorite library employee for help if you have trouble accessing these resources. We love to help!
Further Reading:
I love Benny Lewis’ Lifehacker article “How to Successfully Learn a New Language This Year”. Lewis has practical advice and links to some extremely helpful apps.
Nervous? Here are a few TED Talks to help inspire your language learning in 2017!
じゃまた,
~Kaci