Week 13a: Monday, 1 December 2014

Posted by Zakumi on November 28, 2014

(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.

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Replies

    • Zakumi December 1, 2014 1:55

      I can see you understand what the concept of "complete immersion" means, Hui Ying. Complete immersion can only work in China if the English-speaking person wants to learn Chinese!

  • Amy November 30, 2014 14:21
    Oh John ,I have to say ,I still cant agree with you .Imagine this ,if you have a friend who is a foreigner and live with you in China ,but can only speak English ,you have to communicate with he/she,when you are talking ,you are complete immersing in English.I this case ,you will complete immerse in the atmoshere of speaking.Maybe it is a special example,but I just want to say ,it is possible ,and just depend on that you want to do it or not ,I think .
    And Helen is OK ,she was just busy these days.Maybe you will see her comment in a minute.
    • Zakumi > Amy December 1, 2014 1:52

      Sorry Amy, it appears to me that your understanding of "complete immersion" is not completely correct! What you suggested, may work partly, but it is not "complete immersion" as everyone around you and your foreign friend would speak Chinese. To be "completely immersed" in another language, so to speak, means that everyone around you speak that language and you are the only one speaking your mother tongue; so, you are "forced" to speak the other language if you want to communicate. ;-)

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    • Zakumi December 1, 2014 1:48

      I agree with you that it is best to learn English in an English-speaking country, Yao Zengjun, but it is not always so easy and it is a very expensive exercise. So, if you want to go, I hope your father has started saving for your trip long ago! Yes, John did come to help you (like many other foreign teachers); just a pity not all the students realize how much it can help when having a foreign teacher! ;-)

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    • Zakumi December 1, 2014 1:37

      You are right, Xu Yang; "complete immersion" can only work in an English-speaking country. If one's own country has another language which is generally spoken, one can't learn English as effectively as when living in an English country.

  • yinghaiyang November 30, 2014 14:02
    A proverb may explain the first question.That is "when in Rome,do as the Romans do",i think.When we are in foreign country,we should be accustomed to the atmosphere.We should learn from local people.When people live in UK,most of people around us speak in English.And if you live with a hoststay,they will correct your mistake and help you in your accent.It is impossible to get some of the benefits of "complete immersion" without going an English-speaking country.It is difficult for us to change our habits.When we are in china,we can not touch foreign culture.When learning in school,what we learn is just the surface of English.
    • Zakumi > yinghaiyang November 30, 2014 14:42

      I can see you understand this method very well, Ying Haiyang. It is true what you said about "just touching the surface" when learning English in China. China has been isolated from the English-speaking world for so long that it is still an unfamiliar experience to most students to learn a second language. And because the Chinese population is so vast, and so few Chinese people speaking English, I don't think it would ever become easier to learn English in China! I also agree with the saying about Rome you mentioned, as it would certainly help one if you are a homestay-student in an English country; but I personally believe there are some reservations (conditions) to that! If I have to compromise my principles because of the customs or culture of the host nation, I will not submit to the "Romans"! If the host country can't respect my principles, can they expect from me to respect their culture or customs? But I guess that people normally have some understanding for other's beliefs and principles. :)

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    • Zakumi November 30, 2014 14:26

      Fang Xue, so nice to see that you are back with us! I am happy when I see you here, because I have a soft spot in my heart for you (I know you didn't know that as it doesn't look like it in class, right?! But it's true!) and I am glad you are part of our class! Well, I agree with you if you mean that "complete immersion" is a difficult method to learn English. It is also true that if one is not completely immersed into this method (and what it includes), it can also not work well. It can therefore not work in China as one needs a complete English language environment for it to be successful. Hope you will be back in class tomorrow! ;-)

  • Amy November 30, 2014 13:28
    I think complete immersion in something could make you concentrate all on the things ,and then ,you will gain more .So complete immersion in learning a languuage is the same.If you are learning a language ,and complete immersion in it ,you learn the language by your heart,and you will learn it well. I think it is possible to get some of the benefits of "complete immersion" without going to an English-speaking country.The best way is speaking English with your classmates ,your roommates.You can appoint with each others that speaking English as possible as you can .I think the reason why our English is so poor just because we dont practice more.If in our spare time,we can practice our English and complete in it ,I think our English will improve soon.
    About the role plays ,if I organize homestays,I will ask the students some questions like"What kind of homestays do you like ?""Do you want to raise pets?" "What size the room do you want to live"and so on .If I am the students who want to stay with a host family ,I will provide information as much as possible to find a most suitable host family.
    • Zakumi > Amy November 30, 2014 13:54

      Sorry Amy, I can't agree with you that one can get some of the benefits of "complete immersion" if one doesn't leave one's own country for the other country whose language you want to learn! Are you sure?! How would you ensure that your friends would speak English to you?! How many Chinese students have such a satisfactory command of English that they can, and would like to, speak to you in that language?! It may work in other countries, but not in China! It wouldn't even work in Beijing or Shanghai where there are many foreigners as anywhere you go, Chinese people would still speak Chinese! I am not convinced that you are right! ;-)

      Btw Amy, how is Helen doing lately? Is she okay now? I sent her a text msg over the weekend to find out, but the msg was returned, undelivered. Is her phone out of order? I guess I will get an answer tomorrow ..

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