The ‘Good Language Learner’: Immersion

Many people think the only way to really learn a language is to live in a country where the language is spoken as a native language.

Homestay courses in English-speaking countries can be a very effective way of improving your English but, I think, much of the reason for this is because, by choosing a homestay course, you are choosing to dedicate your time and effort to language learning.

If you spend your time in an English-speaking country using your phone to translate, or continuously texting and face-timing friends at home, keeping up with social media in your first language, or worse, hanging out with others who speak your native tongue, you will benefit little from the experience.

On the other hand, the internet can open a world of English in your own home. You can choose to watch English-language TV and film, join online language exchange communities, listen to songs, challenge yourself to prepare recipes from English-language cooking sites.

So if you don’t have the time to go abroad to learn English, why not spend some time bringing the world of English to you?

 

Have a look at my posts on news, songs, films and online activities for English learning.