Immersion language learning, or ILL, is widely accepted as the most effective classroom learning program available. If you are a teacher (or even a student trying to learn English as a second language), it’s not likely that your school offers a full immersion program for learning English. But you can create an immersion environment in your own classroom!
As we have already discussed in this blog, the key to language acquisition is experiencing it and making emotional links with the language in real-world context. This can be difficult when you live in another country and are not exposed to the language you are learning except when you enter the classroom. And then, many traditional English courses rely on grammar exercises, vocabulary memorization and exams. But today, more and more schools around the world are beginning to change their programs to use immersion in the classroom.
An immersion program means that students are learning a variety of subjects in English (or the language they are trying to learn) at least 50% of the time. While there is an initial drop in student performance when they participate in an immersion program, statistics show that they do catch up, and usually continue to excel further than their peers in the long run.
While you might not be able to influence other teachers or your school’s director into incorporating a full immersion program, you can try to implement this method into your own classroom!
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