If one were to ask the average person in the street, which language learning method they believe to be the most effective, they might say that one-to-one teaching skills with a linguistic tutor are best.
There will be many who would say that attending evening classes and reading through the lessons tutorial in any spare time is equally effective. Others might say that watching dramas with subtitles on box sets through a subscription channel help.
Indeed, these methods are good but there is a language learning method that outclasses them both and any others you care to volunteer: Full immersion programs.
Full Immersion Programs
Full immersion programs involve teaching lessons using two languages – the native and the target language. At first, the native language is the primary tongue used in lessons, but as the tuition evolves, the target language (the language the pupil is trying to learn) becomes the dominant tongue throughout the lessons.
Full immersion programs can also involve traveling to a country where the target language is spoken. This means the pupil will engage in day-to-day life trying to decipher the lingo and culture, even after the lessons and classes have long finished for the day.
The immersion process is radical. In the same way some Chinese parents teach their young to swim from an early age by immersing them into water, or like the chicken takeaway outlet that immerses a wing or breast deep into some hot fat for frying – it is full on and a pupil gets it up in their head, whether it is wanted or not.
There are times when you will feel like resting from the language you need to learn and just go back to talking the native tongue. However, daily life becomes a challenge when you cannot communicate with the waiter, gas station attendant, bank teller or police officer.
Often, just making the attempt to say something is enough for the person you are trying to communicate with, to realize that this is not your native tongue. Realising this, they’ll help and guide you through to get the answers you want and need.
As a language learning method, it is dynamic and highly effective. Being forced into a situation where you have to learn, allows the brain to defend itself against this problem in the future. The solution is to learn – and learn fast.
References:
Scalfani, Charles. “The Best and Fastest Way to Learn Another Language – Charles Scalfani – Medium.” Medium, Augmenting Humanity, 23 Aug. 2016, medium.com/@cscalfani/the-best-and-fastest-way-to-learn-another-language-2d8202086ea0.
Blog, Guest. “Learn a Language Through Immersion – It’s The Best Way To Learn!” Day Translations Blog, Day Translations, 1 Sept. 2017, www.daytranslations.com/blog/2017/06/learn-a-language-immersion-8886/.