Immersion
December 28, 2010
Immersion is not just being surrounded by the 2nd language, it is about the 1st language being mostly absent. This is why some immigrants will live in their new country for years, but never learn the language. When you stay in your native language community within your new country, you are receiving more 1st language input than 2nd language input. This is not a new revelation, but it is critical. We all know that it is much more difficult to learn a new language in your home country. Four hours each week of a 2nd language simply can not compete with the other 164 hours a week where you listen to, speak, read and write your first language. Here are a few things I do to keep German language input in my life, and which you can do to increase your English input wherever you are in the world:
1. Change the language of your laptop or computer to English. This will change your calander, calculator, web browser, menu, etc. to English, and will keep you immersed as you work on your computer.
2. Change the language on your cell phone/ipod/ipad/GPS to English. Most cell phones have at least two language options; The 1st language where they are sold, and the most likely 2nd or 3rd languages for the region in which they are sold.
3. Look for English speakers in your community. Everywhere I have lived, I've met other English speakers who get together for drinks or to hang out on the weekends. Do some research, find them and join them when they meet. They definitely won't mind and you get free English conversation!
4. Find English radio stations to listen to online. Simply google "English radio ______". Insert a topic you like to listen to. Examples: pop music, talk, news, fashion, etc.
5. At www.espn3.com you can watch international sports games in English or choose a different second language. We watched the World Cup in German!
6. Read blogs in English, not just ABOUT English, pertaining to topics you are interested in. Sports, fashion, decorating, cooking, news, etc. It is all out there in abundance. These blogs are NOT geared towards English learners which means that they use natural English, like that which you will hear in the real world.
7. Write a blog in English and invite teachers or tutors from Twitter to read it. People love to read blogs and offer opinions. As a result, you get free and easy corrections on your work, and you get practice using the language to talk about things you care about.
As you do everyday things, just ask yourself, "could I be doing this in English?" With the digital world, it is actually very easy. Think of it this way; If you sprinkle yourself with small amounts of something, it will dry up before it soaks through and sticks; but if you soak yourself, you will stay wet for a long time. So go soak yourself in English!
1. Change the language of your laptop or computer to English. This will change your calander, calculator, web browser, menu, etc. to English, and will keep you immersed as you work on your computer.
2. Change the language on your cell phone/ipod/ipad/GPS to English. Most cell phones have at least two language options; The 1st language where they are sold, and the most likely 2nd or 3rd languages for the region in which they are sold.
3. Look for English speakers in your community. Everywhere I have lived, I've met other English speakers who get together for drinks or to hang out on the weekends. Do some research, find them and join them when they meet. They definitely won't mind and you get free English conversation!
4. Find English radio stations to listen to online. Simply google "English radio ______". Insert a topic you like to listen to. Examples: pop music, talk, news, fashion, etc.
5. At www.espn3.com you can watch international sports games in English or choose a different second language. We watched the World Cup in German!
6. Read blogs in English, not just ABOUT English, pertaining to topics you are interested in. Sports, fashion, decorating, cooking, news, etc. It is all out there in abundance. These blogs are NOT geared towards English learners which means that they use natural English, like that which you will hear in the real world.
7. Write a blog in English and invite teachers or tutors from Twitter to read it. People love to read blogs and offer opinions. As a result, you get free and easy corrections on your work, and you get practice using the language to talk about things you care about.
As you do everyday things, just ask yourself, "could I be doing this in English?" With the digital world, it is actually very easy. Think of it this way; If you sprinkle yourself with small amounts of something, it will dry up before it soaks through and sticks; but if you soak yourself, you will stay wet for a long time. So go soak yourself in English!
Posted by Jill Wilken.
