Studying Overseas: Explore the Benefits of Language Immersion June 15, 2015

What is the best way to learn a foreign language? There are basically three options: 1) You can study by yourself using resources from the internet or books. 2) You can sign up for classes at a local school. 3) Or, you can move to a country where the language is spoken and learn through immersion. Here at NYEA, we believe that language immersion is by far the best way!

Get full-time language exposure

What does it mean to be completely immersed in a language? Basically you hear it everywhere, even outside the classroom. Your ears are being filled by the sounds of the language every day. No matter where you go, you can’t escape it. There are some special programs that allow people to experience full language immersion in their home country, but these environments are often artificial—you will still hear and speak your native language when you are not in class.

At NYEA, you will experience language immersion on two levels: In the classroom and in the city of Manhattan itself.

Improve English pronunciation

Language immersion is a great way to improve your pronunciation in a second language and here’s why: In a regular language classroom, your pronunciation will be guided only by your instructor’s accent. Even if your teacher is a native speaker of the language you want to learn, you only have a single example to follow! But if you are studying in the country where the target language is spoken by almost everyone, you will constantly be hearing it from a variety of people all the time. Of course, while hearing native speakers talk is helpful, you must also try to speak in the target language! Your ears and your mouth will begin to “remember” the sounds as you speak.

If you use NYEA classroom drills together with real-life experience on the street, you will have a better chance of improving not only what you say in English, but how you say it.

Lose your fear of speaking

Of course, speaking and listening are not easy, especially if you are afraid. When studying another language, it’s easy to get embarrassed about making mistakes. The concern that you might be misunderstood or laughed at is completely normal. But that fear will make it impossible to truly learn another language. You only learn by doing, so if you are afraid to use the language, then you will never improve.

NYEA believes that being dropped into a foreign country where you are studying is the best way to lose your fear, which is why we established our school in New York City. If you’re surrounded by the local language every day and must use it to get around, you will have to deal with your fear and embarrassment very quickly.

Learn the “real” language

Once you forget your fear and embarrassment about language learning, you can feel free to begin learning the “real” language. “Real” language is very different from classroom language! Even with a good teacher, your learning will be limited by what is taught in class. You may learn and practice grammar, vocabulary, speaking, and listening, but you won’t learn the many different ways native speakers use it in the real world.

That’s why studying language abroad, especially in a big city like Manhattan, is such a good opportunity. Hearing English from your neighbors, store clerks, and people in the street will give you an understanding of words and phrases that are common in everyday life. There’s a lot about language that cannot be taught in the classroom or books!

Go beyond the language

A valuable part of learning any language is learning the culture that goes with it. You can certainly learn words and grammar in a classroom; you can also learn how to have basic chats with the local people if you try. However, it is the culture, traditions, customs, food, and dress that help bring a language to life. While you’re staying in another country and studying the language, you will gain an appreciation for how another group of people lives and you will learn the differences between cultures that you won’t easily find living in your home country.

At NYEA, we think that the best language immersion also comes with cultural immersion as well. There is no better place to immerse yourself than in New York, one of the biggest and most culturally diverse cities in the world!

Build personal connections

Beyond studying language and learning culture, one of the best things about studying a language by immersion is that you are introduced into another world with a lot of other people just like you—far from home and excited to learn. Having a group of strangers put together in a new place with a common interest in learning a new language helps create deep friendships that will last a lifetime.

The time you spend in class and outside of it with classmates and the shared experience of learning together is well worth the effort. And even if you make mistakes, remember that your classmates are right there with you, so enjoy the new challenges ahead!

Take it home with you

Experiences and friendships are important, but language skills can also last a lifetime if you use them. Learning a language by immersion gives you valuable skills that many people in your home country do not have. You can use them not only to take vacations and make new friends, but also to succeed in business. If that is one of your goals, New York is a great city for taking that first step. Whatever you decide to do, the connections you make, no matter how big or small, can open you up to a wider world.

We hope these ideas make you want to take the opportunity to study in a language immersion program abroad. You might never get another chance, so don’t wait!

If you’re lost about where to study, what about studying with us in New York? You can learn more about NYEA’s English programs here.