How to learn a language

Immersion is one of the fastest ways to acquire language skills.  Being thrust in an environment where you’re forced to adapt can lead some people to make great strides in their language efforts.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that immersion is not for everyone.  In fact, it brings its own share of problems.  Make sure you know them before deciding that traveling to a foreign country and gutting it out with the locals is exactly what you want to do:

1. It’s exhausting.  Immersion is a lot of work, both physically and mentally.  It thrusts you upon a high-pressure scenario where you’ll need to adapt, lest be left standing in a corner with nothing to do.
2. It’s terribly frustrating during the first couple of weeks.  Imagine being in a place where nobody speaks your language and all you know of theirs are ten survival phrases you memorized during the plane trip.  Things as simple as ordering food and finding the nearest bookstore can lead to frustrating experiences.
3. You can end up learning bad language habits.  Immersion is an unstructured environment for learning — you can pick up just as much wrong things as you can correct ones.   Without a teacher to watch over you, misheard phrases you use that go uncorrected are likely to be fossilized into semi-permanent habits.  They’ll take a lot of work to undo.

Immersing yourself in a language, along with its accompanying culture, is one of the best ways to acquire it.  In fact, many contend it’s the only way to complete master it.  How you are able to get into a situation where you can immerse yourself is a whole other story entirely.

Naturally, being dropped into a foreign country is an immediate opportunity for immersion.  Barring having a UFO kidnap you and throw you in the middle of a strange land (or being sent there through your work), though, you will likely have to approach the whole matter in a more deliberate manner.

If you’re willing to travel, there are many opportunities available.  A few ones you can look at include:

• being an exchange student (assuming you’re still young enough to put in that much time in school)
• going on an extended vacation (provided you have to cash to fund it, of course)
• seeking foreign job placements (always a favorite for adventurous types)

Of course, you can also find immersion opportunities locally, which would be a great way to supplement your weekly language classes or language software lessons.  You can get a job at a local organization for the source country of your target language (e.g. embassies or a group like the Alliance Francaise).  One often overlooked opportunity is playing host to foreign guests (such as transients and backpackers), many of whom will only be too happy to indulge you in your learning activities.

Whichever way you decide to go, there are many option for a language learning immersion both abroad and in your backyard.  Make sure to explore these options.