Given that I am a translator, you shouldn’t be surprised that I love languages.

I started learning Spanish as a child, in a before-school program at my elementary school. I studied Spanish through college, where I also picked up Japanese and Catalan. More recently, I began learning Farsi. I have tried just about every method available to me for learning Farsi in the U.S., and I finally discovered a program that works for me:

Mango Languages.

I have now started learning German through Mango Languages, an interactive, online program. It is similar to the Pimsleur method, which uses repetition to build vocabulary (and covertly introduce grammar).

Why I like Mango:

• It focuses on practical, real-life vocabulary
• It has both visual and audio components
• It lets me record myself to assess/improve my pronunciation
• It prompts me to make educated guesses about grammar (more active learning)
• It has just enough repetition to solidify the vocabulary without getting boring

Of course, it isn’t perfect. Although it’s better than the phrase books targeted at tourists, it still teaches a relatively limited amount of vocabulary and grammar. I feel like I can talk my way through a script, but I am hardly ready to handle the spontaneity of a real conversation.

That said, it’s a great way to become familiar with German and get ready for my arrival in Aachen. If I can pick up some basics now, I will be ready to jump in and really learn the language once I get there!