Who Do Immersion Programs Work For and Why?

We often get asked about Spanish immersion programs.

Can we recommend a good immersion program? Where is the best place to find one? Etc. And, my usual response is that I don't recommend immersion programs for most students.

In this video, you'll learn:
- Why immersion programs don't work for most students
- Who immersion programs work for and why
- The main principle of language learning that immersion programs work against

[realfastspanish]

Have you had a similar experience with an immersion program? Please share your experience below!

[tobikrutt]

I went to Mexico for a two-week immersion program and it was super duper helpful. However there are some caveats to why that was the case for me, I think. First, I did not go to an immersion program until I had been learning Spanish on my own for about 2 years. I was probably at a B1 level, so I was able to converse in a basic way. I stayed with a married couple that didn't speak any English, or if they did, I didn't know it because we only spoke Spanish. In the school I went to, my lessons were generally either private, or perhaps with one other person.
The teaching was completely interactive and conversation-based, and sometimes involved playing games which were fun and useful. Oftentimes during a lesson, I would identify some specific topic that confused me and we would stop and focus on that thing until I got it, and in that way I had several "aha" moments that resolved problems I had been unable to figure out on my own. Everything was in Spanish of course, but there was no big prohibition about asking about something in English if I just couldn't figure out a way to get it across any other way.
The reason why the immersion experience was so incredibly helpful to me is because of the fact that I was only hearing and speaking Spanish 14 hours a day, and I had to think on my feet to communicate. After every day's lessons, which were about 4 hours, I would take the bus down to the city center to the park and strike up conversations with random people, which was a bit intimidating but really valuable.
But the big breakthrough came on the Monday of the second week. I was having a conversation with my hostess over breakfast, and I realized I was late for school. I grabbed my stuff and ran out the door and about halfway to the school I suddenly realized that I had forgotten I was speaking to her in Spanish! For the first time, I had stopped translating from English to Spanish in my head. It was like a switch flipped in my brain. After that, there was a big improvement in my ability to speak, and especially in my comprehension.
When I got back to U.S., I listened to a podcast that I had listened to just a couple of weeks before I left for Mexico. Before the trip, I understood maybe 50% of it. When I got back and listened to the exact same podcast, I understood about 95%.
I am just beginning to study Italian now, and once I get to a B1 level, I plan to go to Italy to do a 2-3 week immersion program.

[KathyAdamsClark]

Thanks! I have always dreamed of an immersion program. Now, I'll go back to my day to day studies and just keep plugging away. Thanks!

[stevepowell]

I found your advice very useful, the spaced repetition table reinforces the idea of learn and relearn very well and I am going to create a timed schedule for my wordlists. One thing I know well is embarking on a piece of conversation and slamming into a "brick wall" when you have either forgotten or simply don't know the next word and end up floundering for a work around! The word association idea is also great advice. One useful resource is 'Google translate'. Although sometimes! there can be issues with incorrect translations, I use it to get a take on how a word should sound. I do weekly spells of Spanish immersion often with a local native speaker and I find that you need quite a degree of knowledge of the language already to get fluidity especially to understand colocations - how people really converse, beyond the classroom! So all your advice hits my challenge and learn points, Muchas gracias por esto.

[marilyn]

The core truth is that there is no "quick fix" with language. Unless you are (maybe) a Mensa person (and what % of the population might that be???) there is no short cut to language learning. People who want to "be fluent" in 3 months are not dealing with the reality of how the brain works and retains information, let alone can apply the info in a live, unpredictable situation.
I LMAO when I see the click bait saying "I learned (insert language here) in 30 days/3 months". Wow, maybe enough to squeak by for sure, but not enough to comfortably live and work abroad. Reality slaps you in the face😁

[adameggers]

Let me start with, as always I enjoyed the video. But my experience with an immersion program was different. I spent 1 week in a 1-1 program in Mexico learning Spanish. Before I went, I had spent 2 months in classes, 4 days a week. And when I got back, I continued with daily practice. What I found was the immersion helped me ¨level up¨. I came back with greater facility in using what I learned both prior to and during my immersion program. But to your point, I kept up with regular practice afterwards to help keep what I had gained. Just wanted to share my experience.

[TheRealJoseramirez]

During my IT career I had very many training courses. Most dealt with entirely new concepts. Some were extremely intensive; 12 hour days over a periods of two, three or four weeks with certifcation exams at the end which had to be passed.
I often thought that I could recall or remember little of the vast amount of information. However, a phenomenon that surprised me several times was that, some time later, often many weeks I would find myself employing methods, data, facts and information I had learned on the courses without recourse to reference books or notes.
So, I'm not entirely convinced by your conclusions.
Furthermore, I believe I'm right in saying that the Diplomatic Service uses similar methods to bring their people up to a high level of fluency in the target language.
Mind you, not everybody wants to willingly endure that level of discomfort. It is arduous!

[HappyTrekkers]

I originally took a French immersion-style class. The class had some basics in English but much of the class including instruction was immersion. I did not find it useful and in fact, became frustrated. I'm fairly analytical which means I want to know why something is what it is and this can be a problem with a language because the rules do not equate. However, I may need to work through that process before ultimately landing on that conclusion with any given rule. Processing of information requires some time and I found I was spending more time trying to figure out what the instructor was saying through context, body language, and limited vocabulary than I was locking in certain concepts or vocabulary. I eventually left and am now taking Spanish and it is going much better. The association and the repetition are definitely more helpful.

[SecretAgentMan]

This video feels like a biased sales pitch as the author is trying to entice students to spend money with his business rather than with an immersion program.

[deeh]

I’m planning a 6 (possibly 11) week immersion course in Mexico, combined with living there for 1-2 years. So I assume that combined with some continued on my own learning outside of those 6 weeks, while living there, should put me in a good position to acquire the language.

[ProfTom]

Great points. Thanks! Based on quite a few one-week immersion programs in Latin America and Spain I'd say it's a "both/and" situation rather than "either/or". Years ago when I did exactly what you report -- fly in/fly home - I forgot almost everything pretty quickly. But now I'm a bit smarter about it and I combine the immersion with tons of hours at home learning via Internet tools, Skype tutors, etc. In that case, the longer duration sessions in the immersion programs are a great way to solidify the at-home learning. Plus the cultural exposure is a great motivator.

[marilyn]

As a Spanish teacher myself, I rather agree with this, spaced repetition is really key. Repetition, in general, is hard because it is boring. Making the repetition "novel" and entertaining is the challenge for most people. That is where a good teacher who provides practice that is meaningful can help.

[leslieclaire]

I agree with your points in this video. I did an immersion week in Mexico and it was really fun. Small, interactive classes and great teachers. 5 hours a day with homework. It was a great experience and a great starting point but my learning continues.

[shamimgough]

In total agreement with you. I experienced the same. I thought I could not learn Spanish. But you have summed it all up in 15 minutes. I've taken the same steps. Now I'm moving forward, learning fast and correctly. All my doubts are disappearing. You seem to understand the phycology of learning. Why not write a book for those who don't follow you. It's really of help

[MatthewBrandon]

Im American born with 2 years of French and 2 years of Spanish both at college level, spaced apart. I live in miami where I have a lot of Spanish exposure but wouldn't say I'm immersed here. Most of my relationships have e with native Spanish speakers so I have home exposure 😂. I am thinking about doing 5 weeks of immersion in Medellin in a program that is one-on-one and conversationally based. My goal is jump start my conversational abilities. What are your thoughts on this type of experience.

[grapewelch]

My husband was assigned to another country to work with a company there for six weeks and was sent to Berlitz every Saturday for three months before going. When he got to the country, he spent 5 days in an immersion program. He became modestly able to speak the language while there, and was able, for the most part, to understand his colleagues as they spoke. BUT, upon return home, he wasn't able to continue speaking the language and is now trying to relearn the language. I went to another country in a community college's 3 week study abroad program. We students stayed, separately, with families that primarily spoke the language. During the week, we had four hours of language classes each day, then were out visiting different areas. I didn't really learn the language, did improve my vocabulary somewhat and became comfortable with speaking the very basics. The main thing that I learned (with the encouragement of the wonderful family I stayed with) is that it is ok to TRY to speak, to make mistakes and try again. I am still friends with that family and want to return to see them.

[WillySemprini]

As a Spanish teacher myself, I rather agree with this, spaced repetition is really key. Repetition, in general, is hard because it is boring. Making the repetition "novel" and entertaining is the challenge for most people. That is where a good teacher who provides practice that is meaningful can help.

[MyPapagio]

This seems to defy my understanding of what immersion actually means. You should not be using your unspoken native language (thought) to learn a new language. Instead, like a toddler, your learning of a new language should not involve translation in any way. This seems to contradict what this instructor is telling us. Immersion is not about translation or even memorization. But, all about direct visual, audible, verbal association.

[alynmahoney]

I did an immersion program for only 2 weeks and it helped solidify stuff I'd already learned. It was much easier to retain new vocabulary and grammatical structures. But before the trip and after, I kept doing home "immersion" - virtually everything i do is in Spanish. I still do spaced repetition and am very consistent. So I can definitely see it being more like cramming if you're not being consistent before and after, but for me it was great.

[stevencarr]

All great advice.

When I first started learning German 40 years ago, there were no Youtube teachers.
There were 3 methods.
a) Textbooks - everybody knew they didn't work
b) Evening classes - everybody knew they didn't work
c) Living in Germany and immersing in the language.

So if you met somebody fluent in a foreign language 40 years ago, you could almost guarantee they had immersed in the language abroad for 1 year at least, probably at least 2. Exceptions were rare.

So I think people have the same feeling today. A person fluent in a foreign language must have immersed themselves in the country, because that's how it works.

Except things are different from 40 years ago. And short term immersion courses might be a great holiday (I've been thinking of doing one for just that reason), but short term is not long term. Learning a language takes time.