Did you know that December is National Learn a Foreign Language Month? What better way to start or continue your language-learning adventure than at your local library!? Charles County Public Library has great resources for you, both digital and print, that can get you on your way to learning that new language faster and easier than ever before.
Mango Languages is CCPL’s digital language learning database that can be used on your personal computer and through the Mango Languages app. You can learn as a guest, or you can create an account, which will save your progress. All you need is your library card to access 72 different languages right at your fingertips.
Books
The Pocketbook Guide to Learning Languages by Kenneth Trent
Learn a new language—any language—naturally and efficiently with the principles outlined that are perfect for adults and teens. Drawing on academic research and more than a decade of personal experience with seven languages, Kenneth Trent teaches you the successful method of language learning that’s being used all over the world—through the use of media. Motivate yourself and others to speak a second language in a snap! (picture and description from Goodreads.com)
Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World by Benny Lewis
Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World is a new blueprint for fast language learning. Lewis argues that you don’t need a great memory or “the language gene” to learn a language quickly and debunks a number of long-held beliefs, such as adults not being as good as language learners as children. (picture and description from Goodreads.com)
Languages of the World: An Introduction by Asya Pereltsvaig
What do all human languages have in common, and in what ways are they different? How can language be used to trace different peoples and their past? Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, the new edition of this engaging textbook introduces readers to the rich diversity of human languages, familiarizing students with the variety and typology of languages around the world. Linguistic terms and concepts are explained in the text and in the glossary and illustrated with simple, accessible examples. Numerous language family charts enable students to place a language geographically or genealogically. Important websites are integrated into the text, and each chapter includes a ‘Do it yourself’ section comprising assignments, questions, and problem sets. Supplementary online resources include illustrations, key-term flashcards, and useful links. This introduction is an essential resource for undergraduate courses on language typology, historical linguistics, and general linguistics. (picture and description from Goodreads.com)
Linguistics has long shied away from claiming any link between a language and the culture of its speakers. But now, acclaimed linguist Guy Deutscher has dared to reopen the issue. Can culture influence language —and vice versa? Can different languages lead their speakers to different thoughts? Could our experience of the world depend on whether our language has a word for “blue”? (picture and description from Goodreads.com)
Still interested in more that the library can offer in regards to language? Check out our newest addition, The Shelf, Charles County Public Library’s newest streaming database that has a collection of Spanish-language content.
Looking for more resources to help you learn a new language? Check out what Charles County Public Library has for adults, and children by heading over to our website at ccplonline.org or by contacting your nearest branch.
