Adventures in Language

Do musicians have an “ear” for language learning? Can you learn a second language by listening to music? Why do some languages seem to sound so “musical”? In our latest episode, Kaitlyn Tagarelli (Linguist, PhD) examines the connection between music and language, including how music helps language learning.If you want to learn more about the scientific research consulted for this episode, and how Mango guides learners, take a look at our blog post on this topic: https://blog.mangolanguages.co...

You can probably think of someone who has a great personality. But can you have a great personality for language learning? In our latest episode, Kaitlyn Tagarelli (Linguist, PhD) takes a look at how all the little quirks that make us unique come into play when learning a second language.If you want to learn more about the scientific research consulted for this episode, and how Mango guides learners, take a look at our blog post on this topic: https://blog.mangolanguages.com/can-you-have-a-gr...

All languages have a certain musicality to them – a specific kind of rhythm, intonation, and melody. This is called prosody, and it contains a lot of linguistic, social, and emotional information. In this episode, Mango Languages linguist Emily Sabo (PhD) is breaking down what exactly prosody is and how it works in your everyday speech. You’ll also learn how to listen for prosody’s 3 main acoustic features. Enjoy! Come join the Mango family by subscribing to the podcast! Test your knowle...

Have you ever felt scared, nervous, or anxious when using your second language? In our latest episode, Kaitlyn Tagarelli (Linguist, PhD) discusses how language anxiety shapes the language learning process, and outlines some tips for managing anxious feelings. If you want to learn more about the scientific research consulted for this episode, and how Mango guides learners, take a look at our blog post that accompanies this episode: https://blog.mangolanguages.com/why-do-we-get-anxious-about-le...

We often don’t always say what we mean, and yet we still manage to communicate with each other. How is this possible? Pragmatics! In this short episode led by your friendly neighborhood linguist Emily (PhD), you’ll discover the basics of what pragmatics is, why it matters, and how it works. Enjoy!Come join the Mango family by subscribing to the podcast! “How Semantics Works” ~ https://www.buzzsprout.com/1818324/11101678Test your knowledge here: https://mangosurvey.typeform.com...

You may have heard of Mr. Rogers – but do you know MRS. Rogers?! In this episode, you’ll get to meet Mrs. Rebecca Rogers, a high-energy high school teacher and social media content creator. Listen in as our host Emily Sabo (linguist, PhD) sits down with Rebecca to talk about (1) the pros and cons of being active on social media as a teacher, (2) how to find your teaching persona when just starting out in your career, and (3) tips for deciding which technology works for your classroom. Since R...

What criteria should you consider when buying educational technology (EdTech) for your school? How can you evaluate the effectiveness of EdTech your school has already purchased? What are some best practices for helping teachers integrate new software into their classes? In this episode, our host Emily Sabo (linguist, PhD) sits down with Irving ISD District EL Instructional Lead Enid Sierra to discuss 4 secrets to shopping smart when it comes to EdTech software! ‘You can connect with Enid Sie...

What does it mean to be a motivated language learner? In our latest episode, Kaitlyn Tagarelli (Linguist, PhD) discusses the role of motivation in second language learning, and the different ways people motivate themselves during their language learning journeys. If you want to learn more about the scientific research consulted for this episode, and how Mango guides learners, take a look at our blog post that accompanies this episode:https://blog.mangolanguages.com/what-motivates-you-to-learn...

If you’re like a lot of language teachers today, you’re trying to shift learning objectives from a hyper focus on grammatical accuracy to a more holistic communicative competence. And that’s no easy task! In this episode, our host Emily Sabo (linguist, PhD) sits down with Georgetown University linguist and Second Language Acquisition researcher Dr. Lara Bryfonski to discuss one of the best solutions out there right now: Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT). Listen to find out what TBLT is and ...

Words words words. How do they get their meaning? That’s what semantics is all about! In this short episode, led by your friendly neighborhood linguist Emily (PhD), you’ll learn the 5 things you need to know about semantics. Listen and discover how the relationship between words and their meanings is oddly similar to the the relationship between money and its value. Enjoy!Take our Semantics Quiz: https://mangosurvey.typeform.com/to/mqfj7HpCLooking for more? Check out our related content: How ...