Most of you have seen the commercials touting a foreign language program using a very well known Olympic gold medalist swimmer. This popular and very polished software package, known as Rosetta Stone, is an excellent example (but not the only example) of a total immersion language program. But the commercials touting ‘The Fastest Way to Learn a Language – Guaranteed’, don’t necessarily paint the complete picture for the prospective buyer.
What is it?
Let’s start by exploring what is meant by ‘total immersion’. A total immersion system is any program that thrusts you into a foreign language without any (or difficult to access) assistance in your native tongue. The basic idea is to learn by picture/video and audio reinforcement – the same way you learned your native language as a child. The concept is very simple – present a situation, dialog, or group of pictures and challenge the user to (initially) ‘guess’ the native word or phrase that applies to the situation. Variations on this basic theme include audio and picture only, sentence building and grammar reinforcement lessons. Other DVD based programs present common situations in video with on screen clues (sometimes pointers to what the actor is describing), eventually providing the answer with no user interaction. More extensive computer programs include voice recognition to assist you in learning the native accent. Through these methods, the student is expected to easily and quickly absorb the new language. In practice, however, it’s not as simple, nor as fast as advertised.
Where it Succeeds
As you might guess, some aspects of a language are easier to convey with pictures than others. Immersion programs do the best job at teaching object vocabulary – otherwise known as nouns. It’s expected that when someone sees a cat, they will eventually figure out the word that corresponds to the cat over time. A cat is a concrete easily identifiable object, and I am sure you can think of thousands more. Similarly, colors and numbers are easy, because they are easy to represent in pictures. These programs also do a good job at conveying the meanings of action verbs, particularly in the present tense. It’s obvious to the student when someone is eating, drinking or walking and so on.
Immersion is also a great way to introduce a pre-teen to a foreign language. By their nature, kids are more responsive to this type of teaching and tend to soak up that material like a sponge – the younger the better.
Where it Fails.
Naturally, since these types of courses perform well with nouns, action verbs in the present tense, you will see a lot of them. Some of the cheaper programs rely exclusively on the present tense, while some of the more costly programs make attempts at past and future tenses. It’s fairly difficult to represent past and future verb tense using pictures and video, and it’s often done after reinforcing the concepts of ‘yesterday’ and ‘tomorrow’, which also require fairly creative pictures! Abstract verbs are also fairly difficult to represent in pictures, such as ‘to have’, ‘to feel’, ‘to believe’, etc… Other problems include object vs. personal pronouns. Specifically, the concept of him/her vs. he/she is almost impossible to convey in pictures.
But, perhaps the biggest issue of all concerns the adult learner. Many studies (as well as personal experience) have shown that adults learn much faster using native language cues and explanations. As adults are already versed in a native language, they can more readily relate native grammar to the differences in the new language. Total immersion programs can actually lengthen the amount of time it takes to learn a language in an adult when used as an exclusive learning tool.
In Summary
Despite these potential shortcomings (particularly for adults), don’t write off total immersion entirely – just don’t expect to use it as your primary language learning source. At the very least, make sure you accompany any total immersion program purchase with a good phrasebook, dictionary, or beginner’s course book – especially if you are dealing with a different alphabet or script. The presence of these native language ‘helpers’ will go a long way to enhance your learning experience, and quell any frustrations you might experience. For even better results, take the immersion course after taking any beginner course with English reinforcement. I will explore these other methods in coming articles, and until then, best of luck!
Visit The Foreign Language Resource for other articles, links, and reviews of foreign language products for the aspiring linguist! Be sure to check out my Visual Link Spanish resource while your there!
By: Chris Katheman
Posts Tagged ‘Foreign Language Learning Resources’
Foreign Language Learning Resources – Which is Right for You? Part 1 – Total Immersion Programs
December 5th, 2009Foreign Language Learning Resources – Which is Right for You? Part 2 – Audio Programs
September 20th, 2009By now, most people are familiar with audio books. In fact, in the internet age, a tremendous proliferation of audio books and learning tools has spearheaded a number of very successful ventures, including online free libraries as well as companies like Audible. A variety of courses are available on CD, as well as through downloadable content (mp3 or Audible). There is even a unique device called “Playaway” marketed on a standalone player.
Where it Succeeds
When done correctly, audio only programs are the most versatile and can be the best option for the adult learner. The one factor you cannot beat is convenience. Wasted time, driving to and from work, the store, etc… can become a rewarding experience with these audio programs. I have personally converted all of my CD audio programs purchased over the years to mp3 format for easier use in the car (it’s easier to hit pause on an mp3 player to think about your response). Best of all, audio programs, by their nature, require native language instruction. Native language cues and explanations are critical to the success of adult students.
Where it Fails
All language courses benefit from accompanying written material, regardless of platform (audio, computer, immersion, etc…). While most audio programs include a small booklet with some basic dictionary style translations or common phrases, there are a relative few that include more than that (save the Living Language series). Once you get into the program, you will want to see how the language looks on paper – that’s a guarantee. Access to the written material will help you progress much more swiftly. This is an added expense, and finding the proper companion books is not an easy task.
Additionally, audio language courses vary tremendously in quality – of both the audio quality itself, and the actual lesson content. I have run across at least two programs where the audio quality was not of sufficient fidelity to help anyone learn anything (one of the programs turned out to be defective; the other was just cheaply produced). Unfortunately, without a good number of reviews of specific products, it can be difficult to make the correct decision, so be sure to check review sites before making any purchase.
As with any course, the content of the lesson is paramount. With cheaply produced audio courses, all you get is a person reading a word or phrase with a translation – over and over again. This continues with little backtracking to previously learned material. These are the types of programs to avoid at all costs. Courses increase in quality from there on up, to include almost classroom style presentations. Pimsleur products are an excellent example of a top quality, classroom style course. Other issues with content revolve around irrelevant material. “See Jane Run”, etc… will get you nowhere on vacation. Carefully choose programs that include relevant phrases and situations that you may actually encounter!
Finally, there can be issues with the pace of the lessons. Some courses present the material too fast (it’s never a problem if the pace is slower). If the material is presented to quickly, you will be reaching for the pause button far too often, which impedes your progress.
In Summary
I love this format as a first introduction to a foreign language. The convenience factor is unmatched, and the task of learning a foreign language is well suited to it. But you have to be very careful in choosing the best program. Some audio programs are absolutely terrible, and some are outstanding. Keep a sharp eye on the reviews at various websites. Additionally, you must select at least one dictionary or phrase book to go with your program, if one is not provided. Be on the lookout for part three, where I will explore the best way to select a companion book, or books to compliment your audio or immersion course.
For more great information on foreign language resources for English speakers visit www.foreignlanguageresource.com. Be sure to check out my Visual Link Spanish resource while your there!
By: Chris Katheman
