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Mango Languages Expands Into Education Market

Farmington Hills-based Mango Languages announced that it has expanded the audience for its award-winning foreign language learning programs with its entry into the education market.

Offered online and easy to use, Mango is a Web-based learning system that teaches practical conversation skills. Its courses build critical thinking and communication skills and provide real life language interactions that students can start using immediately. By focusing on the key language components of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture, the software increases both comprehension and retention of the language. Mango's curriculum covers 37 languages including Spanish, Mandarin, French, German and ESL Spanish. Additional languages will be added in the coming months.

The Mango program is now available for use in educational institutions of all types, including public, private and charter elementary, middle and high schools, occupational and trade schools and colleges and universities across North America.

Teachers will benefit from the variety Mango adds to the classroom. Because the lessons are based on real life conversations and incorporate cultural components, they are a perfect supplement to traditional course materials. Its Web-based format makes it easy for teachers to download a variety of resources and also utilize automated pre and post-tests, chapter level assessments and related reports that allow effective tracking of a student's progress.

The virtual classroom, which can be used in the physical classroom as well, allows students to access courses from anywhere at any time. As a result, they can go through each lesson at their own speed, using the tools that are most valuable to them, and tracking their progress as they go.

"As Mango Languages looks to continue to grow and attract new users, we identified the education market as the next logical step," Mango Languages marketing director Beverly Cornell said. "Many now realize that being fluent in multiple languages is becoming increasingly important to their own success, in school and in the working world. By leveraging the tremendous success we have achieved in the public library space, we knew that we could tailor our product to provide teachers and students with a learning tool that is effective, fun and easy-to-use."

Each Mango language course is available for purchase, and fees are based on full time enrollment, allowing a school to customize its purchase to its specific language needs and student enrollment. Additionally, because Mango includes pre and post-test assessments, it may qualify for Title I and Title III funding.

Founded in 2007, Mango Languages is recognized as a leading provider of online language learning services to libraries, educational institutions, government agencies, corporations and the general public. Designed by a team of linguists, teachers, software developers, human interface specialists, writers, voice talents and designers, the company's award-winning language learning system has drawn acclaim from prominent national and international reference groups, educational resources, Web organizations and travel guides.

More at www.mangolanguages.com.

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.

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