I have students who diligently attend all classes and do homework, but at the same time they cannot achieve the much-desired ease in expressing their thoughts and understanding speech and writing, because they waste time translating from their native language into a foreign language. It takes them time to switch. The most effective thing you can do in this case is to surround yourself with language as much as possible.
As you know, the best way to learn a language is complete immersion in the language environment. In a stressful situation, the brain works with greater efficiency, and a foreign language is perceived and remembered faster. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to go to the country of the language they are learning for a couple of years. But even from the most dead-end situations there is a way out. If the mountain does not come to Mohammed, then why shouldn’t Mohammed go to the mountain; If you don't have the opportunity to go abroad, you can arrange a small piece of abroad at home.
It is not necessary to travel thousands of kilometers; it is enough to read books, watch movies and TV shows, listen to the radio, etc.
Books
It is best to choose books adapted to your level, otherwise you will bury yourself in dictionaries and quickly get tired of reading. Do not try to translate every unfamiliar word, try to guess their meaning from the context; you should consult a dictionary if the meaning of a sentence is not clear without translation. You can make a small dictionary of interesting words and expressions that you found in a particular book. You can add listening to audiobooks to your regular reading of books; this will help save time, since you can listen to books on the way to and from work or while doing physical work that does not require much concentration, and will be a good training for your hearing.
Movies
First, you can watch films in the original language with Russian subtitles, you will be able to hear the speech and intonations of the characters, and subtitles in your native language will help you navigate the plot. True, such viewing has a drawback: often attention is concentrated on reading the subtitles and foreign speech flies by. Watching films in the target language with subtitles in the same language is more beneficial, since at the same time your hearing is trained and your vocabulary is expanded. Well, the highest level is films in the original language without any subtitles for your own pleasure.
TV and radio programs
TV and radio channels are good because there you can hear modern living language and different accents. In addition, an interesting program is a strong enough motivation for careful viewing and listening. If you don’t have time for targeted viewing, you can simply turn on the TV so that foreign speech sounds in the background.
Live communication
In our age of high technology, there are a large number of social networks on the Internet where you can make acquaintances with people from other countries, including from the countries of the language you are learning. Programs such as Skype will provide you with live communication with new friends.
Try to surround yourself with language as much as possible and the result will not keep you waiting. Ask your teacher to help you select books and films of your level, and if you are not comfortable going to language courses or to your tutor’s home, you can always take lessons via Skype.
Hello to all English learners! How are you doing? Are you satisfied with your progress in English, or do you want to somehow speed up the process of learning the language? I'm sure you want to. By the way, how often do you exercise? Two or three times a week? 45 minutes each? By the hour? Two? Very good! Regular lessons are the basis on which we need to rely, because no one can guide and correct speech and writing as well as a favorite teacher.
But now the lesson is over, we return to our office, home, to our friends. How do we spend this time? If we subtract the time for sleep, then we are left with 7 × 16 = 112 hours a week, during which we communicate, read, watch TV shows, listen to the radio in our native language. And now simple math: 2-3 hours of lessons (on average) + 2 hours (I’m an optimist) for homework out of 112 hours of wakefulness. That is, 3-5 hours of communication in English per week out of 112 hours of stay in a comfortable environment of your native language! Not much for a student with an ambitious goal of learning a language!
To change this ratio, immersion in the language environment is necessary. This can be done in two ways:
- Live six months in England. This is the shortest path to perfection, although, of course, not the cheapest. There are many intensive language programs in the UK, Ireland, USA, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Malta. If possible, be sure to go there to practice.
- About the experience of traveling to a language school, read the article by our teacher Irina “”.
- Invite England to your home. If you cannot currently get into an English-speaking environment for a long period of time, you need to artificially create this environment around yourself. How to do it? In this article you will find several techniques for creating a language environment that I myself use to keep my English in shape.
Step 1. Create your own personal dictionary
This could be a simple notebook or notepad. I'm leaning towards the latter, since the notepad is more compact. Always carry it with you in your pocket or bag. Immediately write down new words and expressions that you come across during the day. Next to the new word in parentheses, write the source in which you came across the word (text such and such or TV program such and such). Experiment with new words - try to use them in your speech and writing. If you have time, for example on the subway or minibus, flip through old entries and refresh your memory of the words you have learned.
Try to write down in the dictionary not only individual words, but also phrases or whole sentences - words are easier to remember in context. Some students prefer to keep an electronic file for new words or use mobile applications - also an option. Just don’t forget to look into it sometimes!
Step 2. Listen to the radio in English
Every morning at breakfast or while exercising and in the evening at dinner, instead of TV, turn on the English-language radio for 15-20 minutes. My choice - .
This station has news, interviews, talk shows, comedy shows, theater productions and much more. You can listen to programs both live and recorded. Both can be done absolutely free.
Don't worry if at first you only understand certain words or phrases. Over time, you will begin to pick up more expressions and understand entire sentences and monologues. Try to make it a habit. When you wake up, immediately turn on the radio and listen to the morning news. When you come home from work and start heating up dinner, turn on an evening talk show and let English be heard in the background in the kitchen. While you are cleaning on the weekend, you can simultaneously listen to an interview with a musician, actor or politician, so you can immerse yourself in the language environment at home.
If you liked a word or expression you heard, write it down in your dictionary.
Like radio, TV series and films in the original are a wonderful source of words and grammatical structures, a listening comprehension trainer and a model of correct pronunciation. Besides everything else, it is also entertainment. While watching our favorite TV series or a new film, we learn to understand the speech of native-speaking actors and their characters, and to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words and expressions. Here are a couple of popular resources: and, where you can watch films and TV series online with Russian or English subtitles. The first resource can be used for free for 1 hour a day, but there are restrictions on the translation of words in subtitles. You need to register on the second resource; there are also restrictions on the free use of subtitle translations and exercises.
Choose those shows, programs, films that you like. Watch the entire series first without stopping and try to grasp the general meaning of what is happening on the screen. During the second viewing, read the subtitles, pause and write down new phrases in your dictionary notebook.
A striking example of a resource where you will find hundreds of relatively short (from 5 to 20 minutes) very interesting monologue speeches is the portal. All videos in this format have subtitles available, as well as the full text of the speech.
If you prefer to listen to audio recordings, try short podcasts on different topics on websites and.
Don't forget to also record interesting vocabulary from these sources in your dictionary!
Step 5. Read in English
Again, everyone’s preferences are different, so it’s up to you to decide what to read. It can be fantasy, historical novel, detective story, modern prose - anything that captures and arouses interest. Decide on the level of difficulty: whether to immediately read the work in the original or an adapted version. If there are 5 completely unfamiliar words per paragraph of 100 words, this is the level for you. Ask your teacher to recommend a book to read. And if you don’t have a teacher, we’ve put together a table with recommended books for reading by level.
In addition to fiction, there are online publications, news portals, and online magazines. For example, articles from one of the most popular newspapers in the UK are available on the publication’s official website. On this resource you will find materials on various topics: society, politics, sports, business, culture, health, etc. This is an excellent technique for creating a language environment.
Step 6. Speak English
Take every opportunity to practice. If you have familiar native speakers - friends, colleagues, business partners - talk to them on various topics during a meeting, on the phone or on Skype. Maybe they are studying Russian? Then offer to exchange experiences: one day you communicate in English, the next in Russian. Do not hesitate to ask them the meaning of unfamiliar words that you heard during your conversation. They will only be happy to help a person interested in their native language. Write these words down in your notebook and actively use them in conversation.
If you don’t come across native speakers very often, find a conversation club in your city that brings together people who are interested in the language, and attend it regularly. In addition to the fact that in such communities there is an opportunity to practice your speech, it is also a great pastime, new friends, exchange of thoughts, joint holidays, picnics and other amenities. If there is no such club in your city, create one yourself! Now, with the help of social networks, you can gather like-minded people in one place in a matter of days. Any cafe will be happy to provide a cozy corner for regular English-speaking “get-togethers”.
When traveling abroad, do not miss the opportunity to exchange a word with a waiter in a cafe, a receptionist in a hotel, local residents, other tourists, etc. Such seemingly simple tasks as finding out the route to a museum, making an order in a restaurant, choosing shoes the right size also require practice and a certain amount of courage. So don't be shy!
Step 7. Learn songs, poems, jokes in English by heart
By memorizing the lyrics of one song, we immediately replenish our vocabulary with several ready-made phrases and linguistic constructions of modern English. If you like to sing, then combine business with pleasure and learn the songs you like, sing them to friends and acquaintances - at karaoke, at a party or just in the shower. Nowadays the lyrics of any song can be easily found on the Internet. If you like listening and telling jokes, try to memorize a joke in English, for example, and tell it to your teacher in class, using phrases from the text.
And lastly: remember the motto “ Use it or lose it!”. This saying means that it is not enough to simply learn, read, hear and understand a word, phrase or sentence. Definitely necessary “ use it” - use it, pass it through yourself, reproduce this word in speech, oral or written. Otherwise it “ lose it” – is lost, forgotten, and then it is difficult to fish it out from the depths of our memory. Therefore, all the exercises listed above should be performed regularly! Practice makes perfect! I hope these simple tips for immersing yourself in a language environment will help you on the path to your cherished goal - confident language proficiency. Have fun learning and feel free to ask questions in the comments!
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It's no secret that an internship or living in an English-speaking country is the fastest and most effective way to learn English. Still would! Walk the streets of London, where everyone speaks only English, order a traditional English breakfast in a cafe, haggle with a street vendor or watch a movie in English at the cinema, …
Where English is literally in the air and instantly absorbed into the subcortex of the brain, you can actually speak it in a month or two.
A foreign language is more easily learned in the kitchen than at school.
It is much easier to learn a foreign language in the kitchen than at school.
~English proverb
But to travel to England or the USA you need not only money, but also free time, which few people have now. The solution may be creation of a language environment within your personal space, without leaving the country and without even leaving home!
It's about about the language immersion method when learning a foreign language. Today we will tell you what it is, whether it has any disadvantages and how the immersion method can be useful to you in learning English via Skype.
What is the immersion method?
The English word immersion very accurately conveys the meaning of the method of immersion in the language environment, since it is translated into Russian as “immersion in water.”
Since childhood, we have become accustomed to the fact that studying English means tedious cramming of grammar, words and doing boring exercises. For many, schooling discouraged them from studying the language further; neither we nor our parents saw any results, and the process itself was not enjoyable.
Fortunately for our contemporaries, the traditional grammar-translation method has been replaced by language immersion method, which makes learning English enjoyable and results are noticeable in a short time.
You can learn about other effective methods of teaching English in the article
History of the language immersion method
Even before the emergence of the “immersion method” as we know it, the German teacher Berlitz deliberately avoided using his native language in teaching. In his classes, he insisted that students talk more in the language they were learning, and thus learn vocabulary and grammar without annoying cramming.
The term immersion appeared in the 60s of the last century in Canada. It was in this country that they faced the problem of learning a second foreign language as a native one.
As you know, Canada has two official languages - English and French, but not everything is as easy and simple as on paper. Official documents and government papers in all provinces must be duplicated in both languages, which cannot be said about private companies and everyday life.
Many Canadians can only speak one language, which creates significant difficulties for them when applying for a job or in everyday communication.
67% of Canadians speak only English, 21% of Canadians (mostly Quebec) speak only French. And only 17.7% can speak both languages fluently.
In the 1960s, the government decided to correct this problem in a rather extreme way: children from English-speaking families began to be accepted into French schools, where not a word of English was spoken and vice versa.
And so it arose language immersion method when a teacher teaches or voices instructions during a lesson in a foreign (non-native) language. As a result, a foreign language begins to be perceived as a native one.
Language immersion method in linguistics
Method of immersion in a language environment (language immersion) is a method of teaching a second (or foreign) language, in which the teaching itself is conducted entirely or partially in the target language.
The Canadian experiment turned out to be successful and began to actively spread in other countries. Recently, the immersion method has been actively used for learning foreign languages.
The video below, in English, explains the essence of the immersion method in a simple and clear way.
Degrees of immersion in the language environment
Depending on age language immersion can be divided into early (from 5-6 years old), middle (from 9-10 years old) and late language immersion (over 11 years old). The sooner you start learning English using this method, the better results you can achieve.
Now the immersion method can be found in private kindergartens and schools, where everything is carried out exclusively in English. Then the child comes into contact with the tongue every day for several hours. And of course, this is an expensive and rare pleasure, but the result is worth it.
Important!
Children who begin speaking two languages before the age of 6 using immersion have a good chance of growing up bilingual, meaning they will be equally proficient in both languages as their native languages.
Depending on the intensity or number of hours you hear or speak English, it can also be about full or partial language immersion .
For example, a full immersion school curriculum should include the teaching of any disciplines only in the target language. If you study English in courses or via Skype, then with complete language immersion, the use of your native language should tend to zero.
Classification of immersion by age and degree according to Kondakova M.F.
The immersion method is easily confused with direct (translationless) teaching method when the teacher simply communicates with students in English. Two or three classes a week will clearly not be enough to immerse yourself in the language.
remember, that true language immersion involves rotating in an English environment for at least 6-8 hours a day.
Just imagine your day in which you watch 2-3 hours of original movies, listen to a podcast on the way to work (about 2 hours) and attend an hour and a half English lesson on Skype. It’s great if working in an office brings you communication with colleagues and clients only in English (+ another eight hours of English). Have you thought about it?
Immersion method in teaching English via Skype
As a rule, the method of full language immersion does not have a negative impact on the proficiency of the native language, but at the beginning of the study you may experience linguistic discomfort, confusing words from both languages.
Of course, each method has its pros and cons. Language immersion cannot be considered an ideal way to learn a language via Skype or on your own. It may not suit some people at all. Let's consider its advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits of the language immersion method
We list only the main advantages that the immersion method has.
- Speaking skills improve, and this is the most important goal in learning any language. Your vocabulary will increase at an astronomical rate.
- You will forget about the language barrier. The immersion method completely immerses you in a language environment in which, willy-nilly, you need to speak. If you are studying with a teacher, insist that the training be conducted 100% in English.
- The ability to listen and understand the interlocutor improves. By immersing yourself in a language environment, you not only learn how to speak, but also learn to perceive what your foreign interlocutor is saying to you. Accents, slang, and idioms in speech will no longer scare you, especially if you study with a native speaker.
- A pleasant bonus is the improvement of memory, because your brain will work in an enhanced mode, creating new neural connections that will not only help in mastering the language, but will also delay old age.
Disadvantages of the language immersion method
Despite numerous positive reviews from both teachers and students, the language immersion method has several limitations:
- Not suitable for beginners and beginners (does not apply to children!). If you decide to learn a language using the immersion method, then you should already have a sufficient level of language proficiency. Imagine that you only know a couple of words in English and can count to ten, and you are asked to attend a scientific conference in English. How long will you stay there? The answer is obvious.
- Not suitable for those who want to learn the language very quickly. One or two immersions are not enough to master a language.
- Psychological discomfort because you cannot use your native language. Of course, it will pass over time, but at first it will be difficult. You may also misunderstand something or not understand it at all. You'll have to get out of it as best you can. These troubles most often occur among beginners.
- There are few courses (both online and traditional) where you can find a true immersion method. We have already talked about this, that often under the immersion method they provide you with a communicative technique, where the teacher still uses his native language.
- Expensive. If you find courses with a real immersion method, with native-speaking teachers, then this pleasure will not be cheap.
Immersion in the language environment: programs in Russia
In the Soviet Union, since 1918, secondary education could be obtained in Russian or the national (republican) language, which is very similar to the method of language immersion. But foreign languages, unfortunately, were taught using the grammar-translation method.
Needless to say, schools still use the traditional method of analytical language learning, where language exists on a theoretical plane, without reference to practice.
And how can you teach a whole class of children with different abilities to learn a language to speak, without a decent material base to watch the same films in English, with textbooks, mostly by Russian authors, not native speakers, and in another 45 minutes 1-2 times a a week? Add to this problems with discipline and a lot of paperwork that the teacher needs to deal with at the beginning and end of the lesson. There is no time for diving anymore.
Kindergartens and private schools are gaining popularity, where practice language immersion techniques. Children from a very early age learn the language in the same way as their British or American peers. But not everyone can afford such kindergartens and schools. Although there is still a gap at the end of the tunnel.
On a note:
If you are interested in expanding your English vocabulary in a minimum amount of time, we recommend that you read the article
What about adults? After all, you won’t go to kindergarten or school anymore. Not everyone can afford to go to live for six months or more in English-speaking countries. How to immerse yourself in a language?
In addition to daily lessons with a teacher via Skype, which significantly saves you time and money, the Internet provides a lot of educational and authentic resources in English.
The most important principle is to the language immersion method worked- try to increase exposure – amount of information in a foreign language. For children, these are songs and cartoons in English, children's books, programs and games. For teenagers and adults - podcasts, films and TV series, English-language TV channels, adapted and original literature, communities of interest on social networks.
In the next article we will look at how you can immerse yourself in a language at home.
In contact with
Language immersion as an effective language teaching technology
Course participants
Litvinenko E.V. (Pavlodar city public cultural enterprise “Nursery-garden No. 25”)
Kaupina A.O. (Pavlodar, State Public Enterprise "Nursery - Garden No. 82")
Kaliakbarova A.S. (Pavlodar, State Public Enterprise “Nursery – Garden No. 27”)
Sokolova E.S. (Leninsky village, State Public Enterprise "Nursery - Garden No. 15")
Akanova Zh.S. (Aksu city, State Public Enterprise “Nursery – Garden No. 19”)
Zagrebelnaya M.V. (Pavlodar city public cultural enterprise “Nursery-garden No. 116”)
PROBLEM DEFINED:
Insufficient language development, observed in children at present, causes, in turn, a decrease in the level of cognitive activity and the emotional-volitional sphere.
Objective of the project:
the use of language immersion as an effective technology for the speech development of preschool children.
Hypothesis:
If various types of speech activity are used in a certain system, then language immersion will be most effective.
To achieve the set GOAL
were determined tasks :
1. Study scientific and pedagogical literature.
2. Get acquainted with the experience of teachers - colleagues on this topic.
3. Systematize methodological and didactic materials on this topic for use in organizational educational activities.
4.Create a subject-based development environment for language immersion for preschool children.
5.Develop tools for identifying the language abilities of preschool children.
Methods and techniques for
language immersion
- Bilingual component
- Theatrical activities
- Mnemonics
- Didactic games, etc.
Work on the second stage with...
children
Bilingual component
teachers
parents
Didactic games
Consultations “Language implementation”, “How language immersion occurs in my group”
Assistance in creating the PRS (actions “My Native Land”, “Corner of the Kazakh Language”)
For Kazakh scholars: development of leaflets for the corner “We are studying the Kazakh language”
Event “Today we speak only Kazakh language”
Creation of PRS
Consultations for parents
Theater productions
Development of mnemonic tables on lexical topics
Master classes
Kazakh national games
Creation of theaters
Parent meetings
Regime moments in Kazakh language
Conversations. For example: “Let’s help children learn the Kazakh language” or “How can I help my child during language immersion”, “Share your experience during language immersion”
Master classes
Finger gymnastics
Competition “We know the Kazakh language”
Production of handouts about language immersion (brochures, leaflets)
Physical exercises
Participation in theatrical productions
Identification of the level of development of knowledge of the Kazakh language
Development of a language implementation plan
Creation of little books “My first books in Kazakh and Russian”
Campaign “I also want to learn the Kazakh language”
- “Tell mom and dad new words”, “What words did you learn at home?”
Stages of language immersion work
- Analysis of language knowledge. Drawing up a work plan. Organization of PRS
- Using various technologies for language implementation
- Re-analysis of language knowledge. Drawing up a plan for individual work. Development of consultations for teachers and parents
Identification of knowledge of the Kazakh language
in children
Doesn't understand much of the language
Know both languages
Doesn't know a second language at all
Knows another language
Levels of language knowledge of children in the group
Work in kindergarten
Directions
Speaking
Listening
Exercise
1. Vocabulary. "What do you know? (see)"
Correctly name the names of objects
2. “Repeat after me”
Criteria
3. Writing a proposal, a story
1 point for each word
Repeat after the teacher
Expected Result
1 point for each word
Most: 8 points
Making a sentence or story based on a picture
Suggestion – 3 points.
Most 5 points
Story – 6 points
Most points for a story – 6 points
Points: 19-17 points - high level, 16-14 points - standard, 13 and below - low level
Creation of a stand
“Learning the Kazakh language”
Creating a corner
"Kazakh language"
Theatrical and gaming activities solve a complex of interrelated problems
Cognitive development
Social development
Development of diverse ideas about reality (different types of theater, professions of people creating the performance); - observation of natural phenomena, animal behavior (for transmission by symbolic means in a dramatization game); - ensuring the relationship between construction and theatrical play for the development of dynamic spatial concepts; - memory development, learning the ability to plan your actions to achieve results.
Formation of positive relationships between children in the process of joint activities; - nurturing a culture of knowledge in adults and children (emotional states, personal qualities, assessment of actions, etc.); - instilling in the child self-respect and a conscious attitude towards his activities; - development of emotions; - education of ethically valuable ways of communication in accordance with the norms and rules of life in society.
Speech development
Promoting the development of monologue and dialogic speech; - enrichment of the vocabulary: figurative expressions, comparisons, epithets, synonyms, antonyms, etc.; - mastery of expressive means of communication: verbal (regulation of tempo, volume, pronunciation, intonation, etc.) and non-verbal (facial expressions, pantomime, postures, gestures).
Aesthetic development
Development of movements
Introduction to highly artistic literature; - development of imagination; - involvement in joint design activities on modeling costume elements, scenery, attributes; - creation of an expressive artistic image; Organization of collective work when creating multi-figure plot compositions; - learning to independently find image techniques and materials.
Coordination of actions and accompanying speech; - the ability to embody the mood, character and process of image development in a creative movement; - expressiveness of the execution of basic types of movements.
Mnemonics is a system of methods and techniques that ensure effective memorization, preservation and reproduction of information, and of course the development of speech.
Mnemonic table- this is a diagram that contains certain information. Mnemonic tables are especially effective when learning poems.
LEARNING POEMS AND Rhymes USING MNEMOTECHNIQUES
The grass is turning green, the sun is shining, a swallow is flying towards us in the canopy with spring.
A.N. Pleshcheev.
"THE FIRST-ROOM" There is a Christmas tree in front of us: Cones, needles. Balls, lanterns, Bunnies and candles, Stars, people. N. Nishcheva
Main types of didactic games:
- playing with objects (toys, natural materials, etc.);
- printed board games;
- word games.
-Transformation of “Non-Fairy Tale” into “Fairy Tale”
We change the lines with the names of the heroes and again turn to the table:
A crow on the queen's head...
Crown in the field...
-Plot development
Consider the selected situations and answer the questions:
How can anyone benefit from this?
What harm?
What will people (animals, objects) who are nearby think? ?
-"Bundle"
Connect the characters of the fairy tale.
The connection can be made through a common supersystem or an intermediary, a place. In this case, the key task of the fairy tale arises
- “Before the fairy tale of the new fairy tale”
We solve the problem, look for and eliminate inconsistencies in the invented plot. At the same time, we are not introducing new characters, but making do with the ones we have.
"Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs"
Positive sides
Negative sides
- have better mental abilities and are attentive.
Possibilities
Later they start talking
- more inventive and resourceful
- previous acquisition of two or more languages
Mixing words from 2 languages
- strong memory and flexible mind.
If parents or educators pay less attention to one of the languages, then there will be uneven learning of the two languages
- memory development
- protected from mental disorders
Difficulties in learning two languages
- characterized by rational thinking
- development of thought processes
- future prospects
There will be no support from parents, which will complicate the work of the teacher
- learn new languages easier
- easier to socialize
- more open to diverse cultures
- understand emotions better
- more chances to get a good job
AS A RESULT OF THE WORK:
- increased qualitative side of speech ;
- appeared speech emancipation ;
- there was an understanding that speech must be clear , sonorous, expressive, leisurely ;
- children mastered dialogic and monologue speech, according to age characteristics, allowing each child to show intellectual initiative;
- improved memory development– the ability to retain events and reproduce them sequentially;
- perceive emotional condition other people, evaluate actions;
- communicative partnerships ;
- many valuable human qualities
such as: observation, cheerfulness, sociability,
initiative, mutual assistance, cooperation,
- position: “I can!”
SUCCESS
TARGET
PLAN
SYSTEM
Rule #1 – MOTIVATION!
Interesting, accessible, rich, memorable.
One of the most effective ways to quickly master a foreign language is to immerse yourself in the language environment. It should be immediately noted here that immersion is not necessarily associated with a trip or move to another country. Let's look at possible immersion methods in more detail.
Diving while in an English-speaking country
Of course, moving or staying for a long time in another country can give phenomenal results in learning a language. In this case, rapid comprehensive learning occurs. You are forced to speak English to buy groceries, go to doctor appointments, and so on.
Learning this way is like learning to swim by being thrown off a boat. We have to swim, there is no other way out.
So it is with a foreign language. We hear English spoken everywhere, we have to communicate with native speakers, watch programs in the language, and at this moment the knowledge is absorbed by itself. After a few days of being in the environment, any student already communicates well in a foreign language, can order pizza or call a taxi.
Perception is greatly enhanced and the skill of understanding speech is acquired. This is a skill that is sorely lacking when you learn a language only from textbooks. You know the words and phrases, but when you hear them, the brain does not associate them with what is in memory.
You don't have to move to another country to study intensively. Often, to get the fastest results, it is enough to spend 2-3 weeks. During this time, you will be forced to quickly learn to speak English and understand speech.
A simple holiday with accommodation in a language environment is usually enough to take your English language skills to the next level. Unless, of course, you sit all the time in a hotel with fellow countrymen from Russia. With this approach, it doesn’t matter what country you are in. No foreign speech around - no changes in knowledge.
Many people now probably thought that it is good for those who have the opportunity to constantly travel to English-speaking countries in order to improve their language skills. But for example, one of the founders of Genius English, Vladimir, lives in Brussels, where most people speak French. However, in the city center, communication is mainly in English. Vladimir’s wife and daughter speak Dutch, and he uses Czech and Russian to communicate with business partners.
This suggests that while in one country you can be immersed in five language environments. Another example can be given - Giuseppe Mpezzofanti. This is a man who was fluent in 38 languages and never left Italy. If you search the Internet, you will find many other similar examples.
In other words, you can master the English language without leaving home if you use the tips and immerse yourself in the environment even without going abroad.
Immersion in English without going abroad
When diving without leaving Russia (or any other country), it is important to adhere to the rule - you should be interested in the environment where you are diving. Surround yourself with a context in which you will enjoy being.
That is, if your goal is to learn a language for travel, then use sources and resources for travelers. If your goal is to read literature in the original language, start reading simple or simplified works of literature in English as quickly as possible.
Diving into an uninteresting topic can be a serious blow to your motivation. And loss of motivation to achieve your goal will lead to the fact that you will not be able to voluntarily devote time to learning the language. This means you won’t make any progress towards knowing the language.
The best immersion is using materials in the context of your purpose. Watch programs, films, and TV series that interest you. Read books and articles that interest you. If you are learning a language for travel, read descriptions of hotels, apartments, apartments and reviews on booking.com and airbnb.com in English.
Some students paste stickers with English symbols on all objects in the room in order to quickly remember the names of all household appliances and things in everyday life.
If you need English for professional growth, be sure to read professional literature, study publications on the topic of work, participate in discussions on forums and on social networks.
You can systematize the various methods of language immersion in the following list:
- Films and TV series in a foreign language;
- Broadcasts in English;
- Articles and publications on various topics;
- Audio podcasts and audio books;
- Electronic and paper books and magazines;
- Websites for travelers;
- Websites for communicating with native speakers;
- Platforms and services for comprehensive immersion.
The list is advisory in nature and you can supplement it at your own discretion. It is important to remember that in addition to immersion, a constant increase in vocabulary is necessary. That is, even if you move permanently to the UK or the United States, sooner or later you will still be faced with the need to expand your vocabulary.
Without a serious increase in your vocabulary, you will not be able to gain a sense of language - that level when you understand the meaning of phrases without additional translation of individual words in your head.
It is ideal when immersion in a language environment is carried out using various resources. For example, in the mornings you read articles and books in the original language, in the afternoon you communicate with a native speaker via Skype or chat, in the evenings you watch movies and TV shows.
To communicate with native speakers, you can join special communities where students help each other learn the material. This practice is necessary to accelerate the acquisition of speaking skills.
An integrated approach allows you to diversify the language into all areas of your life. The ideal solution would be to use a platform for teaching English that contains various ways to learn and reinforce the material. In addition, the platforms allow you to systematize your approach to learning and allow you to build an effective schedule for repeating material.
For example, on the Genius English platform you will find:
- Video lessons for every day
- Online chat for communication
- Cards to increase vocabulary
- Conversation club for communication
- Skype tutors
- Effective materials, textbooks, workbooks.
A little more detail about each point.
1. Video lessons for every day
20-minute video lessons will allow you to master basic knowledge in a short time with maximum efficiency. Each lesson is structured in such a way as to assimilate the necessary material with optimal load and the required regularity.
2. Online chat for communication
Online chat allows you to quickly get involved in the use of written language in English. This is an indispensable element of communication in modern life, filled with communication through instant messengers.
Pay attention to how many messages you send to your loved ones, friends and colleagues via instant messengers or social networks during the day. This is already a separate direction of communication between people.
3. Cards to increase vocabulary
Increasing your vocabulary, as we said above, is the key to feeling the language. When you can understand humor in English, this will be a signal that you are beginning to feel the language like a native speaker.
4. Conversation club for communication
A conversation club is a way for students to communicate with each other. The teacher is present in communication as a coordinator. Students choose topics for conversation themselves. As a rule, in a conversation club, communication is about everyday topics: everyday life, recreation, vacation, weekends, travel, and so on. That is, everything we talk about in everyday life.
5. Skype tutors
English practice via Skype is used only as an additional tool for immersion and practice. Skype tutor is very helpful when you need to solve a specific problem with pronunciation or something else. It's like practicing in a conversation club, only individually with a teacher.
6. Effective materials, textbooks, workbooks
Of course, the availability of high-quality textbooks and workbooks is a real help in studying. Textbooks based on the method of accelerated learning of the English language allow you to quickly master and consolidate the material.
The success of the entire education often depends on the quality of textbooks. Bad materials are based on ineffective methods that force people to learn a language for years. Moreover, because of this mistake, you can easily lose motivation and refuse to continue moving towards your goal.