The world grows smaller everyday in the ways that we are able to connect with each other. To speak another language, is in essense, to aquire another soul. The ways in which words are combined, the phrases, the slang, etc. give us another view of the lives of our neighbors. San José is a community of communities. We invite you to partake in the banquet and share in some of the languages that are spoken here.

Learn simple words & phrases, in these introductory, six week, drop-in classes on conversational Assyrian, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish.

Impress your friends, communicate with neighbors or prepare for travel.

King Library Conversation Cafés:

• Assyrian:   Saturdays, 1:00 – 2:00 PM,   May 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8, 15
• Hindi: Saturdays, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, May 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8, 15
• Korean: Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM, May 8, 15, 22, 29 & June 5, 12
• Mandarin: Wednesdays, 3:30 – 4:30 PM, May 8, 15, 22, 29 & June 5, 12
• Spanish: Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM, May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6, 13

Study Room 390, 3^rd floor

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library

1-408-808-2397

While you're at it, please remember the SJ Library's wonderful resources to help you build those language skills:

• Mango Languages
• Assyrian
• Hindi
• Korean
• Mandarin
• Spanish

San Jose Public Library provides a variety of ESL resources to customers including the print collection, electronic resources, and programming events. The ESL collection at SJPL consists of print books combined with media such as CDs or DVDs, where users would enjoy learning English as a Second Language by reading and listening to words, phrases, grammar and practicing the language in a conversational approach.  Moreover, customers with a valid SJPL library card can download or have access to the ESL electronic resources that are in the eBook formats and databases.  ESL Conversation Club (ESL CC) is one of the  most popular ESL programming activity at SJPL where users can come and join the ESL Conversation Club sessions and start practicing English in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. By joining ESL CC at SJPL users will interact with others and make new friends and all levels are welcome.

Three new languages have been added to MUZZY Online - Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian. Check out this online language learning database and start learning a new language today!

Not only available for English learners to improve their English, Mango Languages database offers lessons in many other languages. If you are interested to learn the following languages: Arabic (Levantine), Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Madarin), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dari, Dutch, Farsi (Persian), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Pashto, Portugese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin America), Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Urkrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese; don't hesitate to take a few minutes to explore this database.

Please follow this video clip to navigate the database.

You will need to have a valid PIN and library card number to access the database. Your profile can be created by entering your email address and password. You will have to go your email and click on the link provided by Mango to activate your account.

To get a library card please go to your local library with a proof of address and valid CA picture ID. The online application is available if you want to fill it out in advance.

The San Jose Public Library offers you the convenience of learning a language from your home computer, laptop or any mobile device with access to an Internet connection. There are 34 different languages, plus English, to select from in Mango Languages. In addition this database offers a translation feature where you can type in a word or phrase and it will respond with the equivalent in the language of your choice. The individual, learn-a-language lessons can be done at your own pace where you can pick up where you left off upon your next log-in. There are "cultural notes" recommending when one might use certain greetings and phrases.  I enjoyed using the Narrator option where a speaker reads each lesson page along with the words being learned. Reinforcement was gained along with learning as I went along and was asked to repeat phrases that were previously covered.

This is a wonderful program and is free to you. On our homepage just click on the "Research" square in the lower left hand corner. This will bring you to the next page where you choose "Find Articles Online."  It is here you will find among the list of Subject Specific Resources our Learn a Language link. Check it out!  ¡Buena suerte! 

Mango Languages, SJPL’s online language learning database, now includes the following new languages: Cantonese Chinese, Croatian, Danish, ESL for Mandarin Chinese speakers, Finnish, Haitian Creole, Irish, Levantine Arabic, Norwegian, and Urdu.

Mango uses repetition and step-by-step lesson plans that work through common conversational elements, so you can quickly pick up basic conversation skills for travel or business.