Immersion: The Best Strategy for Beginner Language Learners

When starting out in a new language I like to immerse myself in the world of that language as much as I possibly can. I've been doing it for Arabic, which I recently started to learn. For me, it's the best technique for beginner language learners.

[marcusviniciuspereira]

Hi Steve,

I had very dificult to learn english, but after know your site (Lingq) I dropped out my english course because I only want to sleep there.
I really like this kind of strategy where the main actor is me and only my motivation can bring the fluency.
I am really grateful for you and the Mairo Vergara that is your ideas translator in my country.
Now I am capable to understando 80% of you say and I am continuing improving my english.
Recently I started to study German and l am using this tecnique of immersion.

Thanks for your tips.

[RussianWithMax]

Hell, yeah! The same happened with me with Chinese! Something you even don't understand how quickly and naturally some phrases comes out from your mouth. With no thinking, just instant response. Thank you a lot! Спасибо большое!:)

[elijahschnake]

Though I'm not a beginner any more, I feel like I've made so much progress with my Mandarin the last few months by using Lingq, everyday listening and reading. For my next languages, I'll definitely be using Lingq heavily. Thank you Steve.

[raqui]

Words of wisdom. As every new knowledge to learn. The learning process works in the same way. I admire you so much Steve.

[marcosschleicher]

I am brasilian and i use your videos to practice my listening. Thank you, Steve. Your advices are the bests. I wish you success in Arabic, man.

[jeffersonlebrao]

I know that you already heard about "shadowing" tecnique. It helps me a lot to understend better, it's not only to improve the pronunciation. I have used this tecnique intensively for about two months listening and repeting trying to reproduce the sounds with the same accuracy. So if you are able to reproduce the sounds you will understend better. For begginers it need to use a text with audio, but it possible to make it without a text if the listener have some experience with the language. I recommend to use this tecnique with Voice of America, they use a limited vocabulary with a low pace.

[LearnSpanishWorld]

Spot on Steve! I love your videos and the information that you give us. Excellent Video! I enjoy listening to you, you have a way about the way you communicate with your subscribers. Thanks for sharing your wisdom amigo :)

[donquixotedxd]

شكراً ستيف، ساجرب هذه الطريقة في تحسين اللغة الانجليزية عندي

[deandrareynolds]

I'm using this strategy with MrRealPolish's 100 Daily Stories and I am learning more through his bite-sized stories about everyday life more than when I went to Poland and took 5 weeks of language class years ago. Because that was so long ago, I forgot all the grammar I knew at one point, but now as I repeatedly come across certain word endings in his stories, I'm naturally learning those same grammar rules with very little effort.

[luisalbertousugaguzman]

Thanks a lot Steve, your videos so valuable as usual

[fernandoramoslopez]

Hi Steve, Could you please recommend me some learning resources for learning basic Modern greek? Thank you for your inspiring content!!

Greetings from the Canary Islands, Spain.

[shareroz]

Hi Steve, Do you know the book "The arabic between your hands"? The vocabulary of the book is visual and progressive, with context, a good audio, and it's completely in Arabic. It's easy to find on Internet. Thanks Steve for your teachings!

[Entenderinglês]

Parabéns Steve vc é uma inspiraçao pra todos nós begniners!

[ldz]

That's truth, how more languages you know, more knowledge you have and consequently more passive vocabulary you will have.

[haydenspilman]

Thanks Steve! Your awesome. Appreciate the videos.

[yodude]

Thank you so much for your inspiration you truly motivated me to learn new languages

[BenJabituya]

Hello, Steve.

I once tried learning Hindi, at the age of 18. There used to be a school that was held every Sunday. They only did drills, but not much immersion. I watched the films in that language without the aid of subtitles and got absolutely nowhere. I was not very happy with the school, so I dropped out after a year and a half. I was hoping I'd get Rosetta Stone Hindi software, but it was too expensive, and it cost me a great deal of interest in learning the language. The school that taught Hindi closed permanently in 2001.

[georges]

Hi Steve, my question is this: I work at a primary school and I am always amazed at how many kids between 7-11 yrs old, speak a language just by one of their parents talking their native language to them. They can speak and understand fluently I can say but do not yet know how to read or write....Could you please explain to us, what is happening there? AND most importantly HOW we can use the same principles to learn a new language ourselves? What is the "method" used there? Thank you :)

[dreamingoffluency]

Thanks for the great video Steve! 2 questions. You seem to be recommending a very 'active' form of immersion, lots of repetition, lots of active listening. Are less active forms of immersion also useful? For example just listening to Arab music for the enjoyment? Secondly, once you have a grasp of verbs and the like, would you then go back and classify them as hollow or irregular or does the classification matter less to you than the actual language use? Hope these are clear. Best of luck in your Arabiyyah!

[pearlfinder]

أتمنى ان استمع لبعض ما ستقوله باللغة العربية يوما ما من يدري كيف ستظهر مواهبك فيها...شكرا على جهودك.