Little Pim: Language Learning Program for Children

By Stephanie Bents

You may have learned a second language by using the library’s Mango Languages instructional database. Now your preschool aged child can learn a foreign language and have fun doing so. The latest addition to the Rapid City Public Library’s informational and instructional database websites is Little Pim. This foreign language database was designed for the 0 through 6 year-old crowd and features instruction in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, English/ESL, German, Russian and Arabic.

Children learn a second language by watching a series of videos online featuring a lovable, animated panda named Little Pim. Although only the instructional language is spoken in each video, children can easily comprehend the vocabulary as the videos contain excellent visual cueing. For example, the segment on eating and drinking first shows Little Pim eating bamboo and then shows real children eating and drinking while Little Pim narrates the action in the instructional language.

Each language learning series features native speakers, excellent pacing, and varied activities to make the learning process fun for children. The videos are each five minutes long, perfect for the attention spans of small children. Sixty new words are introduced each session, and the videos build upon previous instruction and grow more complicated as one views the series in sequential order. Words and phrases are repeated in the videos to help reinforce learning. It is not necessary for the child to know how to read to successfully the complete the lessons. Non-readers can view and understand the videos as well as complete the accompanying activity with each lesson.

Little Pim is a product from Mango Languages, the maker of the adult language program database offered for free to Rapid City Public Library cardholders. The Mango database offers instruction in the same languages as Little Pim, but also offers Dari, Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Irish, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. By creating a login and password, Mango tracks the progress of the user, allowing the user to login and begin a lesson where the user left off at the previous section.

But Little Pim isn’t just for children. If you are an adult and just want to learn something about a new culture and language but not ready for Mango Languages then Little Pim may be right for you.
To access Little Pim or Mango Languages, go to www.rapidcitylibrary.org and click on “Databases.” Next, select “Language Learning” from the Browse Databases by Subject drop-down menu. A listing for both databases appears. Access to both databases is available from any computer with internet access for Rapid City Public Library cardholders.