Be CAREFUL of Language Immersion

Language Immersion, on its own isn't a golden ticket to becoming fluent in the language and here's why.

For an in-depth guide to language learning, subscribe to my 10 Secrets.

#languages #languagelearning #polyglot

[rebeccamiko]

So true! I'm an American who lives in Japan. I can be completely immersed in the language, but still not learn a thing! Adults need some kind of context to begin to learn a language. You gotta do a bit of structured learning to get the jist of the grammar and some vocabulary before you can just do a full-on immersion.

[Alex]

Great advice. I started learning Spanish a month ago and I have found out very quickly for myself while immersion and lots of input is great I still need to do a bit of work on other parts each day including speaking, vocabulary revision, looking up specific things I am unsure about such a specific piece of grammar.

[zoeywyllie]

Immersion is best at two distinct stages of learning a language, the near beginning where you need to train to hear the different sounds of the language more and recognise words, and then once reaching a pretty good fluency (around B2 level or where you meet the "pub test" level)where immersion can help on picking up words and iron out subtle pronunciation issues and to just give general maintenance. Of course it is useful throughout for constant input but I've found thats where the impact is greatest

[thenaturalyogi]

I think immersion works if you have a basic level of understanding of a language, or if you just need to get the confidence to use it. Immersing without context doesn't work in my opinion.

[remaguire]

I learned to speak very good conversational German in 9 months by immersing myself in the language. I lived there but probably most importantly, I lived with my future (German) wife. Actually, there is a saying in German that the best way to learn the language is "auf dem kissen" (on the pillow). I drove her nuts with questions.

So, I guess you're right, Steve, I immersed myself in the language, but got my "bits and pieces" from my German girlfriend. It worked.

[jpnpod]

Immersion is the absolute most important part of language learning. But as adults, we need a bit of conscious, non-immersive study as well. SRS, grammar lessons and what not. I think that's more-or-less what he's trying to say.

[elenaekanathapetrova]

I think it is a good solution if you are aware what are you doing.
it needs a self-reflection and plan of course

[TheGreatHealth]

Immersion works when you are in the native country of the language you want to learn because you listen and speak and get corrected on the spot by a native speaker. if you are not in that country then you need immersion plus other things.

[eugeniaglugan]

Thank you for your app and the inspiration!

[pressfinchat]

But of course! *Comprehensible* input is a big part of Stephen Karshen's theory of language acquisition.

[Louisianish]

Input is essential, but you yourself need to make an effort to *output* in the language daily (i.e. practice *speaking* the language from day one). I speak from experience when I say that the best way to find out what you don’t know in a language is to speak it everyday. What has also quickly helped me find out what I don’t know has been my attempt to raise my son in my heritage language (Louisiana French). He’s 2 now, and I am seeing some of the fruits of my labors, though. 😊

[J_Trask]

I just realized it sounds like Steve is talking about the Pareto Principle (or 80/20 rule of nature) to learn most effectively.

[marina_andriiva]

I really like your videos! Thank you for your advice, you are very inspiring!😍😍😍😍

[belstar]

I noticed that in some non European languages i can't understand anything. because the vocabulary has nothing in common with other languages that i know.

so far i only focussed on immersion it worked great for languages like Spanish or even Russian. but for Korean it doesn't work because everything is so different.

but the big problem i have now is that i am also learning a few languages from india. that just don't have any studying material. but plenty of locally made media like movies youtube videos audio books. but those assume you know the language already.

[ailblentyn]

I think the power of immersion also depends on your personality. My boy spend a year in school in Germany when he was 6, and didn’t learn any German beyond a few words. Maybe immersion works well for the very extraverted.

[therick]

Depent of the lenguage i am learning german and I fisrh did only inmersion without help and i can understand a lot
But japanese i can just understand the sound but not the words in the transciction or subtitules

Then if Steve talk about going to the country without the base of lenguage we can't learn much because the People not are very nice with you they have a life and they have responsabilities if you go how a kid it can work or if you go to the contry with a lenguage base you can learn there with friends because you can talk in the lenguage and the peoples are more nice because you can understand a talk a lot with them

I am spanish and the inmersion work if you not need learn ver much fast and are relax you can only used inmersion for 1 o 2 hours but if you want because you couldn't understan very much and you can't get happy but i belive that learn a little studiying to read in the lenguaje or understand the sistem of writing if the lenguage is with another system and then we can used it and somewords that we learn for we be very much emocionanted with a base of the lenguage to understand somethings or somewords

I am spanish and if i did a mistake it doesn't important because i am learning and i can improve my lenguage
But you can corectme i will learn more and i used resourses diferent that Steve but i can learn with me favorit resourses and it work, and it is eficient to me because there are more ways to learn or a lot of resourses eficients

[sweetdurt]

If you rotate the champion logo 90 degrees clockwise, it looks... Sussy

[ozanarcan]

Hi mister Steve, I'm from Turkey 👋

[ronlugbill]

Immersion is for young children or intermediate or advanced adults. Beginner adults do better with a bilingual approach to start with, then switch to immersion once you are intermediate level.

[FC-BS]

I think imersion works if you're also studying some vocabulary and a lot of grammar at the same time