07 Aug What you didn’t know! What is Spanish immersion?

More and more people are looking to learn a new language. Whether as a hobby or necessity, there are many people who are looking to learn Spanish, but don’t know how to start.

The truth is, there are many methods for learning to speak Spanish as a second language, however, one of the most effective is immersion.

You may be asking yourself,  what is immersion? In fact, it’s not complicated at all.  In short, immersion is the constant exposure to a second language in order to learn it more quickly.

In most cases, this exposure consists of living in a community that speaks the language you want to learn. This process is typical of exchanges abroad and summer stays in colonies.

Another type of exposure that we can also observe in cases of immersion, is when the learner is put in contact with the language for many hours a day.

This means that, regardless of whether the area where you live speaks the language you intend to learn or not, if the classes are given in that language or you are exposed to it, you will be able to learn it faster.

Why is the language immersion system more effective?

Learning a new language is a goal that many people set for themselves throughout their lives. Although it may seem like a rather complicated task, the reality is that learning a second (and even third) language is not that difficult.

Although everyone has a different learning pace, the phrase that is most often repeated when learning something new is: “Practice makes perfect.

No matter how many hours of your day you spend reading about the rules of Spanish grammar, if you don’t practice this language enough, it will become more difficult for you to learn and express yourself fluently in it.

To avoid the learning process becoming a bumpy and frustrating road, it is recommended that you use immersion courses as a method of study.

Not only will you be able to learn many more things, much faster, but you will end up full of knowledge about the culture you will be exposed to, making your study process a fairly complete experience.

Therefore, if you want to improve your level of Spanish, or learn to speak it from scratch, it is important that you understand why immersion courses are the best option available.

Benefits of learning by immersion

Learning Spanish can be a little difficult at first, however, you should not despair or give up. There are many ways to learn to speak Spanish, and one of the most effective is immersion.

These are some of the reasons why you should consider taking an immersion course to learn to speak Spanish:

• Greater confidence. One of the problems that students of a new language face is shyness. You may be overcome by insecurity when expressing yourself in Spanish because you feel that you still have a lot to learn.  However, by following the immersion learning model, you will have no choice but to speak the language of the natives. So, little by little, you will acquire more confidence to get by in this language and be able to make yourself understood.
• Think in Spanish. One of the benefits of Spanish immersion courses is that you will not be exposed to your original language. This means that you will start thinking in Spanish, rather than thinking in your native language first and then translating.  In fact, it is this tendency to translate everything that often gets in the way of achieving fluency and understanding when learning a new language. By spending a period of time immersed in another culture, you will end up expressing yourself naturally in it, without the need for systematic translation.
• Improve oral communication. This is the main objective of this type of course, because when you are exposed to the language for a certain period of time, you have to relate to your environment using it.Since the most effective way to learn to speak Spanish is to speak it constantly, this type of course is ideal. By interacting with native speakers, you will achieve a high level of knowledge in terms of grammar, as well as clear pronunciation.
• Cultural immersion. In addition to gaining the necessary knowledge to learn a new language, this process is a cultural immersion experience.  You will be able to mingle with the people of the community, learn about their customs, traditions and lifestyles. Furthermore, by listening to different accents, you will be able to improve your understanding and skills in the language.  Likewise, being in contact with a culture different from your own will enrich your knowledge in general and will encourage you to continue learning the language.
• Enjoy the experience. This type of course will not only help you in your language learning, but it is also an incredible life experience. You will be able to meet all kinds of people with whom you can form friendships.In addition, you will be able to carry out recreational activities, because, even when you go out to have fun, you will be in contact with the language, so you will continue learning. These types of experiences are usually quite special and you may make friendships that last a lifetime.

Learn Spanish faster with Spanish immersion

Whether you decide to take a course abroad for a better immersion experience, or decide to enroll in a school where all courses are taught in Spanish.

Your best ally when learning Spanish, or any other language, is constant practice.

Although knowing all the theory and rules is quite important, if you don’t apply this knowledge in a practical way, you will get stuck in the process of learning another language.

That is why Spanish immersion is the best way to learn if you want to become fluent in this language. What are you waiting for to start learning Spanish in the best possible way?