Reading and language learning are cousins.

Both challenge your mind, expand your world, and provide an escape.

So why not incorporate language learning into your library’s Summer Reading program?!

If your library subscribes to Transparent Language Online, we have some ready-to-run ideas to choose from or customize for your library this summer.

1. The Language Learning Log

Best for: younger patrons (or the young at heart) and families looking to balance screen time with learning.

How it works:

• Download the Language Learning Log coloring sheet from the Transparent Language Online Marketing Kit. (Be sure to customize it with your library’s logo and registration link!)
• Hand out copies at the front desk, in the world languages section, or in your Summer Reading welcome packet.
• For every 10 minutes a patron spends learning in Transparent Language Online, they color in one globe.
• Once the whole sheet is filled in (5 hours of language learning total), they bring it back to the library for a contest entry.

Why it works: The coloring sheet doubles as motivation and a quiet-time activity. As completed sheets pile up at the desk, you’ll have growing evidence that your community is learning languages. A great way to encourage others to give it a try too!

2. The 100 Word Challenge

Best for: patrons who want a clear, measurable goal.

How it works:

• Challenge patrons to learn 100 words in a new language this summer.
• Once they hit the milestone, they run their “My Transcript Report” from inside Transparent Language Online.
• They can print it and bring it in (or email a PDF copy) to be entered into the contest.

Why it works: The transcript report makes verification easy and self-serve. Want to ratchet up engagement? Offer one entry for every 100 words learned! Give your patrons a reason to keep going past the first milestone, so they build a habit that will outlast Summer Reading.

3. The Alphabet Learning Challenge

Best for: curious patrons who want to try something genuinely new.

How it works:

• Challenge patrons to pick one of the 40+ alphabet courses in Transparent Language Online and work through it over the summer.
• Once they’ve learned a new alphabet, they can visit the library and write their name (in the new alphabet of course) on a card or sticky note.
• They add the card to a dedicated library display for a contest entry.

Why it works: By the end of the summer, you’ll have a collage of patrons’ names in dozens of languages, from Ukrainian to Korean to Arabic. A display to celebrate the diversity of learning your library supports!

4. Language Learning Bingo

Best for: patrons who want to explore as much as possible.

How it works:

• Download the Language Bingo board from the Marketing Kit and hand it out at the library.
• Each square represents a different milestone: learning 5 new words, completing a lesson, trying a new language for the first time, etc.
• As patrons hit each milestone in Transparent Language Online, they mark off the corresponding square.
• Once they reach BINGO, they bring the board in for a contest entry.

Why it works: The format nudges patrons to try things they wouldn’t have otherwise. Someone studying French might dabble in a Swahili lesson just to fill in that square.

Tips for a Successful Rollout

A few small choices will make any of these ideas land more cleanly with your community:

• Promote everywhere: Add the language challenges to your Summer Reading signage, website page, social channels, and email newsletter. There are lots of promo materials in the Marketing Kit to help spread the word.
• Sample on-site: At your Summer Reading kickoff event, set up a Transparent Language Online corner with a laptop or tablet so patrons can try the platform and sign up on the spot.
• Prep your staff: Encourage staff to use Transparent Language Online so they can answer “How do I get started?” questions at the desk. We suggest staff take one of our language courses for librarians or watch our training sessions for staff.

Include Transparent Language Online into your Summer Reading program to give your patrons one more way to grow this summer.

Happy summer & happy learning!