It has been a lot of controversy about how best to learn a new language.
Traditionally, the cool method was dominant. But immersion programs became more important and got strong supporters.
Language immersion methods first acquired a fortress in Canada, which has two official languages. This happened when a group of teachers was convinced that immersing an English-speaking child in a fully French-speaking system would give the child a much better knowledge of French than regular classroom teaching. French immersion programs are now common in Canada.
Immersion is not only for students. There are other types of immersion programs designed for adults, in particular, travel-based programs, where you can spend time in Russian learning Russian, for example, stay in a Russian-speaking family. Israel has a language immersion program for recent immigrants.
However, research was inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of immersion programs compared to traditional classroom teaching methods.
Professor Michael Ulman, a professor of neuroscience at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, for example, found that mixing the two methods can be counterproductive because the brain behaves differently using different methods. Mixing methods could cause your wires to intersect, so to speak.
Guardian writer in the UK, Jonathan Foer, argued that, although he was not talented in languages, he was able to learn a completely new language in 22 hours. This was done using the new Memrise method, which focuses on memorizing the most common 1000 words in a new language using the “meme” method or phrases. For example, Foer thought that James Bond shoots a gun at Dr. No and says “okay-doy” to memorize the word bondoki in the language of Lingala, which means “gun”.
The method of teaching the languages of Michael Thomas is very great in using the words of a new language that has common roots (for example, many English words come from Latin, Greek, German, French and further, even have Sanskrit origin from Iran). Thus, you can quickly learn hundreds of words in a new language.
With these words, it is remembered, it is stated, immersion becomes much easier.
Various teaching methods have also formed language learning programs.
For example, the extremely popular Rosetta Stone is based on the philosophy of immersion. They do not translate words into English, you have to understand words and phrases like a child, looks at images, figures out contexts, listens to sounds, etc.
Others strongly disagree. For example, Fluenz language learning software claims that adults do not learn as children, and that explanations in English, from the point of view of the English speaker, are absolutely necessary.
They also emphasize the importance of the old-fashioned, individualized tutoring system, which has been ideal since the time of Socrates. Their language programs are highly valued by promising organizations, such as the elite units of the US Navy, senior UN and UNICEF staff, Fortune 500 leaders, and Harvard Business School.
Software companies such as Rocket Languages, on the other hand, undergo traditional classroom teaching methods such as educational vocabulary, verb conjugations, etc. Using computer games to stimulate learning using other parts of the brain. This is done along with the study of speaking, culture and context.
Since the study is inconclusive, the only conclusion we can reach at this stage is that you should choose the best style that will work for you.
At the same time, common to all methods is the need for practice and diligence. That is why programs that you can use in a very portable mode on the go, for example, on your drive to work or in your car, are very effective.
Many of these programs have money back guarantees, so you should try different methods and see which one is right for you.
Once you know the main differences in the philosophy of learning a language, you are in a much better position to make your choice regarding the best way to learn a new language.
