First, please make sure that the Mango Languages website has access/permission to use your microphone. If you are unsure how to do that in your computer browser, click HERE.
Look for the microphone icon in the lower left side. Click on this microphone icon to begin using the voice compare feature.
After you have clicked the correct icon, you can begin voice recording by clicking the large microphone icon in the center of the screen.
The recording will start immediately and the icon will become a button with a square in the center . The recording will last the same amount of time it takes for the native speaker to say the phrase, then will end automatically. You can re-record your voice as many times as needed.
Once you are done recording, click, hold, and drag your voice-wave to adjust it so it aligns with the narrator's voice-wave.
Now, you can listen to each voice individually or at the same time to compare pronunciation and inflection.
If you are performing all of these steps properly and you are still experiencing issues, try clearing your browser's cache. You may also want to try another browser to verify whether or not the issue is specific to your browser or your system.
Our voice comparison feature allows you to compare your pronunciation/enunciation with that of a native speaker. And this tool uses the most advanced technology to do so; our ears! Our own ears are exceptionally tuned to pick up even the smallest variations in pronunciation, enunciation, inflection, speed, rhythm, syllable stress, glottal stops, nasal sounds, vowel length, tone etc. -- all essential components to language learning.
Auditory Feedback
Why do we need to compare our voice to a native speaker? Imagine you are learning to sing a song, and when you sing it, it sounds great. But when you hear a recording of your singing, the playback reveals that you didn't quite hit all the notes like you thought you did. You realize which notes you need to work on, and with a bit of practice, you are able to improve. If you hadn't ever heard a recording of your voice, you would have never known what you can do to improve. The same is true of learning a language.
We need direct feedback about our progress in the language. Hearing a playback of ourselves speaking this language, and playing it against that of a native speaker, helps us dramatically improve all the aforementioned aspects of language learning (pronunciation, syllable stress, vowel length, etc.).
Visual Feedback
In addition to providing auditory feedback about our performance in our new language, the voice comparison feature offers a visual indication of our performance. After you record your voice with this tool, you will see a waveform of that recorded audio. You can drag it and line it up with the waveform of the native speaker. Comparing these two waveforms will give you a good idea of where you need to make improvements.
Are you not pronouncing vowels clearly enough? If so, your waveform may not show as many peaks as that of the native speaker. Is your overall pronunciation too slow? If so, the waveform may be longer than that of the native speaker.
Repetition
Learning how to perform any task that requires precision is not easy. We need to have permission to fail until we get it right. With the voice comparison feature, you can record your voice and compare it to that of the native speaker as many times as you'd like. There is no limit! Try and try again until your ears are satisfied.