(1) Video lesson continue: Encounters in the UK
We'll complete Activities 3, 4 and 5 of this lesson. In Activity 5, three questions will be discussed. Students can answer questions 2 and 3 in their comment to this lesson. I repeat the questions here:
1. What is "complete immersion"?
2. Why is it seen as such a good way to learn a language?
3. Is it possible to get some of the benefits of "complete immersion" without going to an English-speaking country? If so, how? If not, why not?
(2) Activity 6: Role plays:Role plays in pairs: Student A is planning to study abroad in the UK and stay with a host family. Student B works for the company that organizes homestays. B will interview A in order to get all the information needed to place the applicant with a suitable host family. A answers the questions and explains what their requirements for their ideal host family would be like.
Replies
Your understanding may be correct, Zhu Qianfeng, but only if you understand that it can only take place in the country whose language you'd like to learn! If that is not what you understand, then pse read my reply to Zheng Chunyu above as I can then actually write you the identical reply! :)
I agree, Men Yaqiong, that the host parents play a crucial role in the success of a homestay (which is another format of "complete immersion", maybe even the most effective way). If they are kind and always let you feel at home, language learning, and life in general would become a pleasure. So, they are probably playing the most important role, as you mentioned.
Aha, you have overcome the problems, Zheng Chunyu! Good to see you back! Your reference to "complete immersion" may be correct, but when we talk about language learning, it is quite far from the correct meaning! If you want to learn a language through the method of "complete immersion", it can only work when you live in the country whose language you want to learn where you are completely surrounded by the culture and the target language. However, I can see from your explanation in your second paragraph that your understanding of "complete immersion" is correct, BUT, from your third point, I am not so sure anymore! If I jump into a deep lake, while under the water, I am completely immersed. So, only water around me, and I will become like the water, completely wet! Maybe your artificial atmosphere in the bedroom would work for a few minutes, but you can't live in the bedroom for the whole duration of your studies! What happens the moment you stick your head out by the door (to start living!)? Yes, every Chinese person you meet will talk Chinese to you! It can only work as it is designed to be when in an English-speaking country. ;-)
Liu Weifang, it looks like you understand the meaning of "complete immersion", but then I can't understand how you can say it can work in a non-English speaking country?! Yes, there may be many foreigners around you, but what language would you speak when addressing your own countrymen? Of course, your mother tongue! So, then it is not "complete immersion" any longer. About the role play, I guess a Japanese student would not have the same requirement as a Chinese student as they are not so full of hatred as the Chinese, right? A wise attorney once said this to a friend: "If you hate somebody, you will become just like him" ... ;-)
To the question 3, my answer is "NO".Because whatever form it is without going to ehglish country,it will only means "learn"for us but “life” in there.
You understanding of the concept of "complete immersion" is very correct, Yang Xiaoyan. And you are right too about it being a real challenge as it is not easy (specially in the beginning when you are unsure of yourself and everything around you is strange, etc); but, it is probably the most effective way learning another language. It can therefore not work in one's own country as the environment around you should be that where the target language is spoken by everyone.
2、 a form of baptism in which all of a person's body is submerged
3、 the act of wetting something by submerging it completely.
The individualized approach lets the students understand its national the local conditions and social customs ﹑ history and so on.They can have more opportunities there to practice what they have learned.It is hard to master set phrases and expressions the people who are learning English.
Complete immersion is a constructive way you can tackle the problem.
There is no way can replace it to help learners more.But many people don't have this chance.They also can speak English very well.Watching the diglossia movies is a good way which could promote us listening and speaking ability.But if you want to learn authentic English phrases，the beast way is that you should be sure to talk to locals as much as possible.
Shelly, when you quote something which is not your own thoughts, you always have to quote the source too! So, your three points about the meaning of "complete immersion" (I guess that is what it is) are coming from somewhere, maybe a dictionary. You can then say ... "according to a dictionary (and if you know the name, you may even mention that), this is the meaning ...", or mention the points and thereafter mention the source. As it is now, it looks like it was your own great invention to explain the words! Okay, it doesn't matter in China ... but aren't you on your way to explore the world?! ;-)
Oh yes, I agree that this concept is a constructive (and very effective) way of learning English (the "problem" you mentioned!). But unfortunately, as you also mentioned, not many have the opportunity to do that (probably because of the costs involved). However, going abroad and study in such an environment is surely the best way of learning authentic English. We (the foreign teachers) can't teach you how to do that; it can only take place in a completely English environment. Btw, what is "diglossia" movies?! Even the spellchecker here on this website indicates that something is wrong with that word! ;-)
Jiang Dan, I'm not sure that your understanding of "complete immersion" is totally correct. While it is true that it can't work if you are not in an English-speaking country (if that is the language you want to learn), it isn't just about being buried into something that interests you. If that is correct, it should work in non-English speaking countries too. The question is about the place where you 'bury' yourself into something interesting to you, and what is the purpose of doing that.
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