Philadelphia residents speak 85 languages besides English, with Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin as the top three. Learning a new language is not only a great tool to keep your mind sharp, it also opens doors to connect more deeply with your neighbors.
Spanish is the second most spoken language in Philly besides English. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)
If you have a library card, you have access to Mango Languages, an online learning tool that provides lessons in grammar, pronunciation, and cultural nuances in immersion-focused classes. You can choose from over 70 languages including Spanish, Korean, French, Arabic, Tagalog, and Igbo.
I have been learning Japanese with the Mango Languages tool. I could not recommend it enough. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)
The second floor of the Free Library’s Parkway Central location also has a Language and Learning Center, which offers language learning and conversation circles as well as tutoring services. Residents can check out world language non-fiction books and audiobooks.
I’ll leave you with this Chinese proverb: “To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”
Happy learning!
