How to Immerse Yourself in a Language

Language learning is a long process that can take years. But what if you want to learn a new language the same why you learned your very first language? While immersion is not the most popular method for learning new languages, it allows you to absorb the language you’re learning and truly get to know the language and the culture. Read on to learn how you can truly learn a language through immersion.

1

Resist the urge to translate.

  1. Given that you might already know some of your target language, you might end up translating what you see or hear into your native language. However, this is not how immersion works. Immersion means understanding the language without the guide of your native language.
    • If you are watching a TV show or movie in your learning language, don't use subtitles in your native language either. Instead, turn on subtitles in the language you're learning, that way you can understand what the characters are saying.
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2

Choose books, TV shows, movies, songs, and comics you've already seen before.

  1. In other words, watch, let's say, a movie that you have already watched before, except in your target language instead of your native language. That way you'll have a general idea of what happens, so you'll understand a little bit of what they're saying.
    • Not only can you somewhat understand what they are saying, you can also learn more than when viewing media you never have before.
    • If what you're seeing was originally in your target language you'll also get the full experience as some things may have been lost in translation.
3

Learn to think in your target language.

  1. Thinking in the language you're learning not only makes what you say more natural and understandable, it also allows you to understand and truly get to know the culture. You'll understand why they do the things they do, why they view things how they do, and how they see the world.
    • A common mistake is thinking in your native language and then translating those thoughts into the language you're learning. By doing this, you won't experience the benefits that you would get.
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4

Change your device's language to the language you're learning.

  1. This will force you to understand your target language since you would meed to to navigate your device. While it may seem intimidating to take this extra step, however that's what makes it fun.
    • Do this for a few minutes a day. Set a reminder for every day to switch to your learning language. Set a timer for about 10 minutes, then after the timer is over, switch back to your native language. After a couple weeks, change it to 15 minutes and so on.
5

Have conversations with native speakers in the language you're learning.

  1. You can simply download an app for this (such as HelloTalk, HiNative, or iTalki) and find a person to chat with.
    • Tell them common phrases in the language you're learning, such as "Can I have the menu?" or "What's your name?" and "Where's the nearest bus stop?". These are all useful phrases to know in your target language.
    • If the person you're chatting with starts speaking or translating to your native language, tell them to stop. The point of this is to immerse yourself in the language.
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6

Watch YouTube videos in the language you're trying to learn.

    • If you use auto captions, keep in mind that they aren't always correct, so what the captions say may not be the same as what the person's saying.
7

Read articles in your target language.

  1. They all allow you to immerse yourself in your new language and help you learn it.
    • If the article comes in multiple languages, read it in your native language first and then your target language. That way you'll understand what the article is saying a little bit.
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      Tips

      • It’s important to understand the culture as language and culture are very closely tied together.
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      • It’s okay if you don’t understand the majority of what is being said. In fact, it’s completely normal, you’ll learn as you go.
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      • It is actually possible learn grammar and pronunciation through immersion.
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      References

      1. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/ways-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-language
      2. https://blog.chatterbug.com/en/language-immersion-home/
      3. https://blog.languageconvo.com/language-immersion/
      4. https://www.goabroad.com/articles/language-study-abroad/tips-for-language-immersion-at-home
      5. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/foreign-language-immersion/

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