December is Learn a Foreign Language Month!

December is learn a foreign language month, and the Red Bank Public Library is here to help you!

At the library, we recognize that learning languages is a skill—not an indication of intelligence. Learning new languages can be also fun, exhilarating, and even connect you closer to your personal heritage.

That’s why we want to share all of our free resources, tips, and more to help you begin your language-learning journey!

When you’re at the library:

  • Browse our nonfiction collection for books on:

    • learning a foreign language

    • traveling to foreign places

    • exploring foreign cultures

  • Check out a fiction book in a different language to read:

    • We have both English and Spanish books in the Library.

    • You can also place a hold on another foreign-language book; browse our catalog to search through all of our sister libraries.

  • Hop on the computer to develop your skills:

    • Use your library card or guest pass to access our public computers, an iPad, or Chromebook.

    • Print language-learning resources, worksheets, even foreign-language articles so you can develop your skills on your own time—Remember you can print up to 10 free black-and-white pages a day!

    • Visit our 24-Hour Library webpage to explore all of the free language-learning resources available to patrons.


Speaking of free language-learning resources…

have you heard about Mango Languages?

Mango Languages is an online language learning site that teaches real conversation skills for practical communication. Mango is the only personalized language-learning experience, providing you with tools and guidance to support your learning style.

Patrons have access to Mango—with more than 70 world languages—at no cost! You can create a profile, save your progress, access on a computer, a smartphone, even create a Family Profile to learn a new language with others! To get started:

  1. Create a profile with Mango Languages.

  2. Select your language course.

  3. Start your learning wherever and whenever with the Mango Languages app!


Interested in more digital resources?

Have you considered checking out an e-book, audiobook, magazine, or even children’s book in a foreign language? Use one of the free resources to expand your horizons:

  • E-Library and Libby make it easy to download and read on the go, and all you need is your library card.

  • Kanopy is a movie-streaming service providing you with access to free films, TV shows, even foreign-language films.

And if at the end of the day, you just want to explore a foreign country without actually learning the language or even leaving your chair, just check out World Book Online.

Use World Book Online to:

  • explore interactive maps to find articles on interesting places

  • travel to a new city or country

  • search the World Book Atlas

  • download maps to color

Good luck learning!

And don’t hesitate to visit our Reference Desk for assistance. We’re happy to help!